What did Council members say to city department managers and staff about Fort Ward Park and the proposed management plan during the Public Hearing?

Alexandria, VA. City Council Public Hearing on the Fort Ward Park and Museum Proposed Management Plan.  

By J. Glenn Eugster

January 24, 2015

What did Council members say to city department managers and staff about Fort Ward Park and the proposed management plan during the Public Hearing?

Councilman Justin Wilson:  

Do you do research in advance of archaeology?

Is the current Memorandum of Agreement between city departments a form of the proposed Implementation Committee?

How do you notify the public [about projects]?

Are there alternatives to the storm water projects?

Are there other Fort Ward Park plans “floating around”?

We should extend the public notice period from 7 to 10 days, create a work group and have staff identify all the groups [to be involved]. 

I want to look at how to better align management responsibilities at Fort Ward Park.  

The opening paragraph to be added is irrelevant.

Councilman Timothy Lovain:  

I’m familiar with a highway project where the Department of Transportation wasted millions of dollars because oral histories weren’t done.  We need to aggressively interview elders.  Oral histories are cost-effective. Look at grant opportunities to do this work.

Councilman John Chapman:  

Can we make the advance public notice for ground disturbing activities time period 10 instead of 7 days?

Trust is an issue.  I definitely want a group to follow implementation to insure that things are being discussed with the descendants and the community.  We don’t want to fight an uphill battle because we haven’t communicated.

Citizens distrust words and want action.  

I don’t have a problem with with adding Allison’s sentence [to the opening paragraph].

Councilwoman Del Pepper:  

Oral histories are the only way to go [to find graves].  I’m excited about this information and the idea that we might find more graves.

I’d like to see an exhibit at the Fort Ward Museum on the community that lived in [what is now] the park.

We seem to be missing trees at Fort Ward Park. When do we plant more trees?

The plan calls for planting 24 trees each year.  That seems puny. What about the Friends of Fort Ward helping to plant trees?

What about the dog park?

Councilwoman Allison Silberberg:  

I agree with the need for an Implementation group.  It will help our process.  

I have more understanding of this since meeting with the residents.  It is important to get it right.  There are hard feelings and this park is part of that.  We have a chance to begin to heal.  I suggest that we add one sentence at the beginning of this detailed and long document plan. That one sentence will now read:

The City of Alexandria affirms that significant parts of Fort Ward Park are hallowed ground.

What would Mr. Day or Viola Lawson say about this?  Imagine what went on in the 1950-60‘s.  We were told about eminent domain, threats and intimidation.  The term “hallowed” goes a long way toward beginning to heal.  Words matter.  If the grave markers were discarded that is unfortunate.

The [Fort Ward] community was a living place.  The statement that the Acting City Manager proposed is legalese and by committee.  Mine is about feeling and healing.  Add the sentence to begin healing and offer the feeling of the plan.

We should move the garbage dumpster.  

The park can’t be an unleashed dog park.  

I heard others say that the [ground disturbance map] is incorrect.  We need to be open to making it correct.

Mayor William Euille:  

I want us to do a work session before we act.  It is important to get it right.

I embrace “Find the Graves”.  Build in and have protection of hallowed ground.  There should be more opportunities for oral history, revising the MOU and storm water management options.

I don’t want to accept Allison’s sentence on hallowed ground.

Have a Implementation Work Group to watch and observe; make certain that there is trust; and help with money, money, money.  I want us to do something in a respectful manner.

Councilman Paul Smedberg:  

Oral history work is important.  The bottom-line is to find the graves.  

We need to carefully frame the work session.  I heard concerns about future development.  What does this mean? Get all of the issues that need to be addressed on the list to organize the work session.

Alexandria, VA. City Council Summary

The Fort Ward Park and Museum Management Plan, along with the following actions, was unanimously approved.

1. The final plan is to include the City Manager’s opening paragraph adding Ms. Silberberg’s sentence on hallowed ground.

2.  City Manager to hold a working meeting before the city acts.

3.  City Manager to create an Implementation Group.

4.  Do oral histories to help find the graves in the park.

1. Expand the public notice period for ground disturbing activities from 7 to 10-days.

1. Identify and agree upon alternatives to the storm water projects in the management plan.

7.  Look at possible ways to better align management responsibilities at Fort Ward Park.