Fort Ward Observer: Soil Erosion Continues From Fort Ward Park Maintenance Yard

Soil Erosion Continues From Fort Ward Park Maintenance Yard

Fort Ward Observer.  June 8, 2015.  J. Glenn Eugster

Soil erosion continues at Fort Ward Park as a result of excavation for archaeology within the Fort Ward Park maintenance yard.

For more than seven years the park maintenance yard, which was created without public notice or city approvals, has neglected to consistently practice soil and water erosion control.

A recent examination of the maintenance yard and Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery revealed that large areas of soil have not been replanted and as a result topsoil has been carried downhill after rainstorms settling in front of the cemetery entrance.

Over the years water runoff from the maintenance yard has caused damage to burial areas within the adjacent Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery. Evidently discussions are underway between City and Oakland Baptist Church leaders to redesign the storm water project that the Alexandria City Council approved in February.

Redesign of the storm water project may turn out to be a good thing for the park, the church and the public. However, soil conservation practices should be taken before, during and after construction of the project. At a minimum city leaders should follow the same laws, regulations and ordinances that they require residents and developers to follow.

Fort Ward Observer: New stormwater project at the Fort may impact park burial area

New stormwater project at the Fort may impact park burial area
Fort Ward Observer
J. Glenn Eugster
June 10, 2015

City and Oakland Baptist Church leaders have been working quietly together behind the scenes to redesign a project to manage water runoff from Fort Ward Park. Water from the park’s maintenance yard has been flowing into the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery, as well as the Old Oakland Church Cemetery, for years causing soil erosion, gravestone damage and the subsidence of burial areas.

Last week, without public notice, city employees from the Alexandria Department of Transportation and Environmental Services began to place stakes along the route where the new project will be constructed. A recent examination of the area where the new project is proposed reveals that the route being considered will cross a burial area that was identified by the City Archaeologist, Dr. Pamela Cressey, while she worked for the city.

Dr. Cressey indicated verbally and in writing that the grave that she found during her investigation had been damaged when the City of Alexandria graded and paved the road leading to the park maintenance yard. She indicated to church leaders and members of the Fort Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society, Inc. that earth moving equipment used by the city had removed the top of the coffin. She was unable, at that time, to locate the body which may have also been removed during the road grading.

For a short-time the burial area, which is within the Old Oakland Church Graveyard of the park, was marked during archaeology work. Following that work Recreation Department park maintenance workers outlined what they thought the extent of the burial area was with stones they found nearby.

More recently J. Lance Mallamo, Director of the Office of HIstoric Alexandria, disputed Dr. Cressey’s archaeology work and cast blame for the destruction of the burial site and the coffin on the Ruffner family members who owned this part of what is now Fort Ward Park. SInce he arrived from New York Mr. Mallamo has been a reluctant advocate for the protection of sacred areas within the park and his recent opinion about this grave seemed to be more about his “sense of history” than Dr. Cressey’s factual archaeology work. As a result, the grave is not marked and vehicles using the maintenance yard have driven over the burial site.

Hopefully City of Alexandria leaders will make this most recent decision-making process public, and seek public input, before decisions are made final and the work goes forward. Legally and morally it is important for city leaders to protect known burial areas within Fort Ward Park.