Fort Ward Park: Marlboro Estates Update April 7, 2009

Fort Ward Park: Marlboro Estates Update

April 7, 2009

Prepared by J. Glenn Eugster

The following information is a summary on the public and private activities related to Fort Ward Park in Alexandria, Virginia.  Should you have questions or comments about this information please call me at 703-845-8947 or by e-mail write to: glenn_eugster@comcast.net

Recognition & Restoration of African American Graves

1.  Grave Areas within the Maintenance and Nursery Area:  Following the City’s public meeting on Fort Ward Park, and two newspaper articles, the Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities Department began removing maintenance vehicles and equipment from the park maintenance and nursery area.  The maintenance yard had been expanded by the City, without a Special Use Permit or any public input, to place vehicles and equipment on top off and adjacent to the graves of African Americans who lived within the area before the City created the park.  

Unfortunately City maintenance vehicles are using the maintenance area almost daily and continue to drive and park on top of known grave areas.  The City Manager, Mayor and City Council members have been contacted about this degradation of grave areas.   

2.  Oral History Interviews:  The City Archeologist, Pam Cressey, in cooperation with Susan Cumbey, Director and Wally Owen, Assistant Director, of Fort Ward Park Museum and Historic Site, are working with local historians and community leaders to interview people who lived within the Fort Ward Park area.  This first-hand information will provide the City with information about the historic and cultural values within the park.  The results of the interviews will be combined with other oral history interviews, which were done by the City in 1996 and earlier this year, to provide a more sound basis for future decisions and park interpretation. 

Fort Ward Park Action Plan

1. Fort Ward Park Community Meeting: City Presents Findings & Recommendations

On March 18, 2009, Kirk Kincannon of the Alexandria Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities department, and Lance Mallamo of the Office of Historic Alexandria, presented the City’s findings and draft recommendation to more than 100 citizens at T.C. Williams High School.  Using a Power Point Presentation and occasional technical assistance from City staff, Mr. Kincannon and Mallamo presented an overview of the verbal and written comments they have received during the public engagement process.  

From the comments the City outlined “Possible Immediate Actions” to be taken to respond to the public comment process which closed on March 13, 2009.  Short term actions were defined as up to 3 to 5 years.  Long term actions were defined as over 5 years.

The 16 page presentation included one page of findings and one page of possible general immediate actions.  The speakers verbal comments about the actions enhanced the brief text that was displayed and emphasized a number of points including:

*  There is a whole other story at Fort Ward Park including African American and Native American history.  The whole site [park] is historic.

*  The City is working to relocate the maintenance yard and move vehicles off of grave sites in the nursery area.  Stewardship plans will be developed by the City in the future. 

*  There are way too many picnics and vehicles at Ft. Ward Park.

*  There will be controlled access to the graves within the maintenance yard and nursery area.

*  Amplified music and alcohol will be controlled through permits and enforcement.

The presenters indicated that their intent was to seek input on the findings and possible immediate actions.  The public comment period ended on March 27, 2009.  Neither speaker indicated what the process for future public involvement is.  Kirk Kincannon indicated that he has accepted a job in Boulder, Colorado and will be leaving the City in April. 

Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities 

1.  Richard J. Baier named as Interim Director of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities:  Alexandria City Manager James K. Hartmann recently appointed Transportation & Environmental Services Director Richard J. Baier, P.E. as Interim Director of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities, effective April 7, until a new Director is appointed. 

Fort Ward Park Funding

2.  City Council Members Asked to Provide Funding in 2010:  The Mayor and City Council were contacted and asked to help dedicate City funding in the 2010 budget to address ongoing problems at Fort Ward Park including the protection, restoration and interpretation of African American graves. Two of the seven members, Councilman Wilson and Krupica, replied to the funding request.  Councilman Krupica wrote, “As we are cutting back grass cutting, tree services, are not paving roads or fixing sidewalks in this year's budget, I think it will be a challenge to find significant money for work at Ft. Ward. As you may also know, we are cutting positions in the park program and they have lost their most senior park planner to another jurisdiction and that position isn't going to be filled due to the economy. We'll review whether there are opportunities to move money around, but I don't want to create any false expectations. As we are cutting back on basic services to make ends-meet, it will be hard to find money for anything new, no matter how useful it is“.

Councilman Wilson wrote, “ It is wonderful to see the great momentum that is building now on this issue. This was actually a question at the City Council candidate's debate on Thursday evening.

I will keep you updated as this proceeds (and I hope you will do the same for me). I suspect that some of these issues will get raised as part of our budget deliberations--where hopefully we can set aside some small allocation of capital funds. It will be difficult given the environment we are in, but I will certainly look for all opportunities“.

 The next public hearing on the City’s 2010 budget, which does not include funding for Fort Ward Park, is Saturday April 13, 2009.  The City Council’s last work session on the finalization of the add and deletion list for the budget is Monday April 20, 2009.