Seminary Hill Association, Inc. (Seminary Hill) regarding Fort Ward Park

SEMINARY HILL ASSOCIATION, INC.

4009 North Garland Street

Alexandria, VA  22304

March 15, 2009

VIA E-MAIL

Mr. Kirk Kincannon

Director, Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities

1108 Jefferson Street

Alexandria, VA  22314

Dear Mr. Kincannon:

I am writing to provide comments on behalf of the Seminary Hill Association, Inc. (Seminary Hill) regarding Fort Ward Park (the Park).  While we will continue to press for better communications from the City regarding all meetings, policies, and planning efforts involving the Park, our most immediate concerns are as follows:

1. Management of park uses:  Immediate steps must be taken to prevent the overuse and abuses of the Park that have occurred over recent years, most notably the excessive crowds, noise, trash, and alcohol consumption that occurred on Labor Day Weekend of 2007 and 2008.  These situations must not be allowed to recur in the future, starting this Spring and Summer.  Seminary Hill has been waiting since November 5, 2008 (when you, Pat Lidy and I met in your office to discuss Seminary Hill’s concerns regarding Fort Ward Park) to see a concrete crowd control plan to prevent such situations.  I would like to set a meeting with you and Captain Hassan Aden of the Alexandria City Police Department sometime in April to discuss this.

1. Amplified sound:  Seminary Hill supports establishing a policy prohibiting amplification of any sound—music, voice, etc.—in the Park, with the exception of City-sponsored activities in the Amphitheater.

1. Alcohol use:  Seminary Hill supports establishing a policy prohibiting alcohol use in the Park, with the exception of City-sponsored events.

1. Protection of grave sites:  The deterioration of grave sites in the Park is deplorable.  Immediate action should be taken to provide at least some minimal protection of these sites, and the identification and protection of other possible unmarked grave sites must be a top priority.

1. Budget:  With the exception of the protection requested above for the grave sites, all spending under the current CIP budget should cease and desist until the public has an opportunity to comment on the forthcoming draft action plan and a new, approved Park plan is in place.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Joanne Lepanto

President

cc: Jim Hartmann, City Manager

Laura Durham, Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities

Seminary Hill Association, Inc. Board of Directors

Captain Hassan Aden, ACPD

Susan Cumbey, Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site

Walton Owen, Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site

William Schreiner, Friends of Fort Ward Park

Adrienne T. Washington