Community Comments on Fort Ward by Robert L. Madison March 12, 2009

March 12, 2009

Ms. Laura Durham
Open Space Coordinator
Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
1108 Jefferson Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

Dear Ms. Durham:

The Alexandria Historical Association has long been an advocate for researching, understanding and protecting Alexandria’s unique and rich historical past.

Accordingly, we are most concerned about the numerous unprotected marked and unmarked graves located on land owned by the City and within Fort Ward Park. This public park is operated collaboratively with your Department and the Office of Historic Alexandria; and it contains the historic Civil war era park, a museum connected with the fortification, a concert amphitheater, and numerous sites for picnicking including large group picnic shelters.

It appears that after the Fort Ward Civil War era fortifications were abandoned in the mid 1860s, a number of “Freemen” – newly emancipated African Americans - settled at the site. Over the ensuing years this settlement grew and included a Church, a school, an undetermined number of housing units and an area dedicated to human burials. Although the church, school, and houses no longer remain, a formal cemetery with headstones, fenced and owned by Oakland Baptist Church, is located on a plot of land that can only be accessed through the park. Several marked and an undetermined number of unmarked graves (suggested by depressions in the soil) are located outside the fenced Oakland Church cemetery on what is assumed to be City property. The area immediately adjacent to the cemetery is used by your Department for equipment and materials storage, composting, a small tree nursery, a green house, and a utility building – all of which give the appearance of a light industrial site – a use of the land that seems incompatible with the historical and cultural aspects of the park and the adjoining residential neighborhood.

The City of Alexandria is nationally noted for protecting and interpreting its rich historical past which reaches back to the Colonial era. This, of course, includes the military aspects of the American Civil War period as evidenced by the reconstructed, well maintained and interpreted Fort Ward. This fort is acknowledged to be the best preserved of the entire system of area civil war fortifications and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. At the conclusion of hostilities when “reconstruction” began, there existed a period of City history less well understood and appreciated. This is particularly true for the African-American communities situated in the western end of the City, particularly near to the Episcopal High School and the Virginia Theological Seminary.

It should be noted that a deep concern for history is reflected in Alexandria’s recently adopted ‘Vision principles’ which is the Council approved guide for setting overall City priorities. These include a vision for the City where:

“The history and heritage of different cultures are celebrated.“

“We preserve and celebrate our historical roots and diverse heritage from the 18th century to today, and residents understand and appreciate the City's history.”

“We preserve our historic neighborhoods, homes, and other historic buildings and other historic sites and maintain our distinctive architectural character and design.”

This vision also recognizes that:

“Alexandria's history contributes to the local economy through tourism development.”

“Open green spaces, trees, streetscapes, public spaces and canopied streets are located throughout our community and are attractive and well-maintained.”

“Parks, trails and green spaces are incorporated in the urban center and coordinated with nearby neighborhoods. “

Based on this vision, the Alexandria Historical Society recommends the following actions regarding that portion of Fort Ward Park adjacent to the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery:

Immediately fence off that area of Fort Ward Park where grave markers now exist and where depressions in the soil suggest the existence of unmarked graves.

Using available in house resources at the Office of Historic Alexandria, conduct a preliminary historic site analysis. Conduct interviews with persons who may have family and other personal connections with the community that once existed on Fort Ward property. Investigate City Archives, old newspapers, property records, and other sources for clues about that community.

Move the adjacent and more industrial type operations of the Parks and Recreation Department maintenance, parking, storage and composting facility to other locations out of respect for this heritage and human burial area.

Working with Oakland Baptist Church and individuals who have personal connections with and/or knowledge of the community that once occupied this site, develop interpretive signage to educate park visitors to the known history of this “lost” community.

The City of Alexandria can be justifiably proud of the manner by which they rescued the Freedmen’s Cemetery in the southern end of the City from private ownership, conducted a professional archeological survey of the grave sites, and sought, selected, and funded erection of a memorial. Can the City do less on property it owns and over which it exercises complete control?

This position was approved by the Alexandria Historical Society Board of Directors on March 10, 2009. If the Alexandria Historical Society can be of assistance in these endeavors or if you have questions, please feel free to contact me at 703.683.2636.

On behalf of the Alexandria Historical Society Board of Directors:



Robert L. Madison
Vice President
Alexandria Historical Society, Inc.

Copies:
William D. Euille, Alexandria City Mayor
Members of Alexandria City Council
James K. Hartmann, Alexandria City Manager
J. Lance Mallamo, Director, Office of Historic Alexandria
Kirk Kincannon, Director, Alexandria Department of Parks and Recreation

Fort Ward Park Update by J. Glenn Eugster March 23, 2009

Fort Ward Park Update
March 23, 2009
Prepared by J. Glenn Eugster

Fort Ward Park Community Meeting: City Presents Findings & Recommendations

On Wednesday night, 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 may comment on this new information, which is on the City‘s website at: http://alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/recreation/info/FWPresentations3-18-09.pdf

The deadline for comments in Friday 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.

Ft. Ward Park and the Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration by J. Glenn Eugster July 23, 2008

Ft. Ward Park & the Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration
Remarks by Susan Cumbey, Director of Ft. Ward Park Museum and Linda Vitello, West End Business Association

July 23, 2008

Prepared by J. Glenn Eugster

On Wednesday July 23, 2008 I attended a Networking Event at Ft. Ward Park Museum which was sponsored by the Museum and the West End Business Association (WEBA). It was attended by approximately 30 residents, business leaders and elected officials. The event featured remarks by Susan Cumbey, Director of the Ft. Ward Park Museum and Historic Site and plans for the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. The following is a summary of what I heard for your information.

Speaker: Susan Cumbey, Director, Ft. Ward Park
Susan Cumbey began her presentation by giving an overview on Ft. Ward Park and its role in the Civil War. She described Ft. Ward Park as a “wonderful historic park” and “one of the best examples of a civil war fort within the metropolitan Washington, DC region”. She indicated that the park was identified by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the ten most endangered sites in 2006. Ms. Cumbey said “the park is one of the best preserved sites in the remaining system of Civil War defenses of Washington, D.C.”. The park includes some of the original walls of the Fort as well as a restoration of the buildings and features that existed in the 1860’s.

Ms. Cumbey indicated that Ft. Ward is the 5th largest of the 143 defenses of Washington, D.C. The Fort was started in 1861 and is a model of military engineering for that time period. According to Ms. Cumbey the Fort was dismantled in 1865. The wood and armament were removed and the earthworks abandoned. Despite the abandonment the Fort stayed largely in tact until the early 1950’s when the residents and leaders of the City’s west-end took a greater interest in this historic asset. These leaders sought to make the area a historic site and park. They were assisted by the Seminary Hill Association and various community leaders.

Dorothy Starr, one of the community’s leaders, was instrumental in the restoration effort and encouraged the City to do archeological research on the Fort and the first City preservation project on the site. These and other efforts lead to the designation of Ft. Ward Park in 1964. The Museum and Historic site opened on Memorial Day in 1964 and was given National Civil War Centennial Recognition. Ms. Starr was honored for her work.

Since the creation of the Museum and Historic Site additional work has been done to stop the erosion of the earthworks, the gun platforms were replaced and there has been a renovation of the Ft. Ward Centennial Gate.

Ms. Cumbey noted that the museum has over 4,000 objects and interprets Civil War-time Alexandria and the defenses of Washington, D.C. She said, “There is no comparable visitor center [on this subject] in the D.C. area”.

Ms. Cumbey said that the museum was active in the Civil War Trails Program of Virginia and uses the trail to promote the economic benefits of heritage tourism. For example, approximately 30,000 people visited Ft. Ward Park’s museum and historic site this past year.

Ms. Cumbey can be reached at Ft. Ward Park. Her phone number is 703-838-4848. The website for the Ft. Ward Museum and Historic Site is: oha.alexandriava.gov/fortward/

150th Anniversary Ideas and Plans
The Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration begins in 2011. However, the events surrounding this historic event will start in 2009. The leaders of WEBA and Ft. Ward Museum have been involved in discussions for two years. The Friends of Ft. Ward (see: oha.alexandriava.gov/fortward/fw-friends.html) entered into a fiscal sponsorship agreement to help the effort. WEBA Leaders formed a committee for Alexandria and were scheduled to meet with Historic Alexandria on July 24, 2008.

Some of the projects and activities that are being considered for the anniversary include:

A September 20, 2009 event to recognize the City of Alexandria. The event and the Museum will be open to the public.
A 2010 kick-off event which will include an evening program with music and historic re-enactors.
Linda Vitello of WEBA is thinking of a series of lectures on the Civil War that will be held in 2010 or sooner.
A 2011 encampment to be held in Ben Brenman Park. The event will include balloon ascension.
A 2012 Civil War Boat Cruise to discuss the significance of the port, Alexandria waterfront, Ft. McNair, and Roosevelt Island. The boat tour may include a reception and dinner.
A Civil War Re-enactment at Ft. Ward. The event would be held on a weekend.
A lecture series on the Civil War in Alexandria.
Various projects involving Alexandria’s Office of Archeology and a Civil War Bicycle Tour.
A symposium on the Defenses of Ft. Ward.

Audience Ideas and Comments
Following Susan Cumbey’s remarks the audience was encouraged to make suggestions for the anniversary. The following ideas were shared.

The effort should be tied into the school system.
The effort should be linked with Alexandria’s Black History effort. There is an opportunity to show the point of view of African Americans during the Civil War.

Ms. Cumbey noted that the VA Commission wants to have diverse view incorporated. She noted that there will be a public dedication of the Freeman’s Cemetery in 2011 or 2012 and promotion of the event will be important to the anniversary.

Restaurants could serve Civil War food during the anniversary.
A scavenger contest could be held.
The effort could include the churches.
The effort could involve the African America community.
The anniversary could include the “home-front” storyline. It could include religious groups and tell the story of the “uncivil war”.

Commonwealth of Virginia Anniversary Efforts
The City of Alexandria Civil War anniversary activities are being influenced and assisted by the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Sesquicentennial Commission. The Commonwealth leaders are assisting communities to “understand our past and embrace our future” and they are working to develop a comprehensive exhibit for the anniversary by 2011. For more information on the VA portion of this work (see: www.virginiacivilwar.org)

West End Business Association (WEBA) Assistance with the Anniversary
Linda Vitello noted that Councilwoman “Del” Pepper has been involved in the Alexandria committee’s efforts. She also noted that John Stanton and Shelia Roy Peck had the original idea to bring a committee together.

Ms. Vitello said that she “wants the West End of Alexandria to be the star in the crown of the anniversary”. She said "Ft. Ward is the major Civil War site in the City and that Alexandria, VA is a Civil War site itself”. She added that WEBA wants to bring the economic, tourism and historical people together and create a win-win situation for the commemoration. Linda added that, “We want to promote Ft. Ward for outside and inside visitors”.

What Can You Do To Help?
Ms. Vitello offered the following ideas to business leaders and residents who want to help this anniversary effort.
Get on the Civil War anniversary mail and phone list to work on, or with, the WEBA committee. Provide your ideas, expertise and assistance to the effort.
Tell your friends and neighbors about the effort. Tell at least three of your friends!
Give money to the Alexandria anniversary effort. Gifts to WEBA or the Friends of Ft. Ward Park, for the Sesquicentennial, will be tax deductible. Businesses wishing to contribute can be a sponsor. There are opportunities for others to be in-kind sponsors and monetary sponsors.
The west-end business community is considering a promotion with a coupon book to encourage people to support stores and businesses that help to sponsor the anniversary.

Linda Vitello is the point of contact for further information on the WEBA anniversary effort. Her phone number is 703-845-6156. Her e-mail address is: lvitello@nvcc.edu

A proposal to expand existing parking and picnic areas February 19, 2009

Tuesday February 19, 2009


Dear Neighbors,

We need your help!

Over the last several summers the City of Alexandria has repeatedly permitted large groups of people, from several hundred to nearly one-thousand, to use the community picnic areas in Fort Ward Park. These groups played amplified music which far-exceeded the City’s Noise Ordinance and created traffic and parking problems inside and outside the park. In addition the City has expanded the size and intensity of the park maintenance operation to serve other City parks without regard to homeowners or the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery.

The City is currently circulating a proposal to expand existing parking and picnic areas within Fort Ward Park that will intensify the use of the park and increase noise and traffic problems within our neighborhood.

The leaders of the City Parks & Recreation Department and the Alexandria Parks & Recreation Commission are advocating that Fort Ward Park be used for more City-wide “special events”, and have scheduled an all-day Memorial Day Jazz Festival on May 25, 2009.

Leaders from Marlboro Estates, the Seminary Hill Association, Inc., the Oakland Baptist Church, the Friends of Fort Ward Park, and other government and private organizations are concerned that the City’s proposal will adversely impact important historical and cultural values of Fort Ward Park and the quality of life of adjacent homes.

Please plan to attend and share your views at the Fort Ward Park public meeting on Wednesday February 18, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.. The meeting will be held at St. Stephens & St. Agnes School at 4301 West Braddock Road.

I hope to see you tomorrow night! Please call me if you have questions.

Glenn Eugster
4022 Ellicott Street
Alexandria, VA
703-845-8947

Community Input on the Current Facilities and Operations at Fort Ward March 10, 2009

Ms. Laura Durham, Open Space Coordinator
City of Alexandria, VA
Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities
1108 Jefferson Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

March 10, 2009
Dear Ms. Durham,

This letter is in reply to the City’s Feb. 9, 2009 request for input on the current facilities and operations at Fort Ward Park. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the two City-sponsored community meetings and provide written comments. This dialogue is an important way to engage residents in the long-standing traditions of park protection, historic preservation, heritage tourism, education and recreational enjoyment in Alexandria.

Summary Recommendations

I recommend that the City of Alexandria take the following actions for Fort Ward Park.

1. Reaffirm the City’s 1982 commitment, to the Commonwealth of Virginia and the National Park Service as part of the National Register of Historic Places designation, to operate Fort Ward Park as a Historical Park with recreation activities and plantings that are consistent with the historic nature of this park, and indicative of the City‘s total commitment to the preservation of the site. We urge you to keep the focus on history at Fort Ward Park. Perhaps the following purposes for Fort Ward Park could be incorporated into the draft action plan.

a. To preserve and interpret historical resources related to Fort Ward Park’s role in the Civil War and the defense of Washington, D.C. and the pre-and post-Civil War periods in Alexandria, Virginia.

b. To conserve this portion of the linkage of open space that contributes to the character and scenic values of Alexandria.

c. To provide recreation uses and activities consistent with the historic nature of the park and its trees and planting beds.

1 of 5
2. Limit all future special events to those uses consistent within the historic nature of this park. Uses, however, that draw large crowds and have no particular tie to the historic nature of the park can and should be placed in other Alexandria parks which do not have such a historic designation. Such parks as Ben Brenman, Chinquapin and Oronoco Bay, and Northern Virginia Park Authority areas may be more appropriate for large crowds.

3. The proposed new picnic pavilions, restrooms, paved trails, and parking facilities for Fort Ward Park, described in the City’s October 16, 2008 Facility Study & Recommendations, should not be approved by the City until park historic and archeological sites are surveyed and a master plan is developed for the park’s protection and use. A master plan, as well as Special Use Permits, will ensure that new uses will be consistent with the historic nature of the park, located appropriately and will not destroy historic areas.

4. Use the funds that are proposed for new facilities, paved trails, and parking areas for park-wide historic and archeological surveys, staff for the improved management of park users during peak periods, and park master planning. These tasks should be the City’s top priority for this historical park.

5. Prohibit alcohol and amplified music within Fort Ward Park to discourage activities that are inconsistent with a historical park, family picnicking, and children’s play areas. Allow amplified music for City-sponsored concerts at the amphitheater provided they are consistent with, and enforced through, the City’s Noise Ordinance.

6. Re-locate those portions of the City’s Nursery and Maintenance Yard activities that are currently located on top of, or adjacent to, African-American grave sites.

7. Begin working now with the City Office of Archeology to better understand the pre-and post-Civil War periods with the goal of broader interpretation for the expected sesquicentennial crowds at Fort Ward Park in 2011. This is a story yet to be told.

8. Empower the Friends of Fort Ward Park, or another qualified private non-profit organization, to help secure

2 of 5
public and private money and in-kind services, through
donations, grants, and revenue generation techniques, to supplement funds provided annually by the City for Fort Ward Park Museum and the entire park.

9. Modify the Fort Ward park boundary to add the 54,088 square foot parcel at the end of Fort Ward Place and along Van Dorn Street. City staff indicates that this parcel is actually is part of the park, although the Fort Ward Park map presented at the public meetings, does not include it. Evidently, according to staff, the property was dedicated to the City from the Marlboro Development Joint Venture in
1978. It is zoned R-8, while the rest of the park is zoned POS. If additional staff assistance is needed the property could be added to the City's list of open space priorities that the Northern VA Conservation Trust is assisting Alexandria with .

10. Establish a single and easily accessible point of contact for regular communication, collaboration and information between the Fort Ward Park managers and the public they serve.


Background

These comments are intended to provide City staff, as well as local elected officials, with ideas and suggestions which will help define and guide improvements at Fort Ward Park. The comments reflect my interests and concerns, as well as the conversations I have had over the last eighteen months with a broad range of interests including the: residents of neighborhood communities including Marlboro Estates; former residents of the Fort Ward property before the City took ownership of the park; members of the Oakland Baptist Church; managers and staff of the City’s Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs, Police Department, Office of Archeology, Parks & Recreation Commission; the leaders of the West End Business Association, Friends of Fort Ward Park Board, Seminary Hill Association Board, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, Coalition for Smarter Growth, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers, National Alliance of Faith & Justice, and National Park Service.

3 of 5
Many residents, government and group leaders are deeply concerned about the City’s ongoing management of the park, its historic sites and park users. City actions within the park have been taken without Special Use Permits or opportunity for public review and comment. These actions have intensified the use of the park for a solid waste transfer station; large unmanaged special events with alcohol and excessively loud amplified music; and a park district maintenance operation. The current nursery and maintenance area has been developed on top of the graves of former residents of the park area.

The City’s actions particularly over the last several years have destroyed and neglected historic African-American historic and cultural heritage, neglected arboretum tree and shrub plantings, hindered the use of the park by visitors, and had an adverse impact on the quality of life of adjacent homeowners.

Residents of the surrounding neighborhoods and group leaders are concerned about the City’s October 16, 2008 proposal for the major expansion of picnic pavilions, more paved parking areas, new restrooms, and paved trails. The Facility Study & Recommendations for Fort Ward Park was developed and posted on the City’s website without public input or review. In fact, the more than 100 participants at the two public meetings the City held were not supportive of the Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities Plan.

The document does not respond to concerns made by the public over the last two years nor does it include a plan for the entire park. Specific recreational facilities are proposed to be located in areas of the park where freed African-American slaves lived, and many are buried, following the end of the Civil War and the military occupation of the area.

The City’s proposal unilaterally ignores the documented historic and cultural heritage of the park that eventually justified it being designated to the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places.

I understand, based on discussions with Commonwealth Historic Preservation Office, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers, that the City’s past and

4 of 5
proposed actions at Fort Ward Park will jeopardize the 1982
designation of Fort Ward Park on the National Register of Historic Places. Surely losing this designation will hurt tourism efforts and reflect poorly on the City’s reputation as one of the premier areas for historic preservation in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

At the second public meeting on March 4, 2009 Roger Blakeley of the Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities Department told attendees that due to proposed City budget cuts “Some of the [user management] things we tried to do last year we might not be able to do today“. He also told the audience that archeological surveys and master planning are very expensive and we don‘t have money for these tasks now. With budget cuts looming, and cutbacks in staff and user management services predicted, the idea that the City would develop more facilities and encourage more recreation users is misguided and will make existing problems worse. If anything, the City should use existing funds to do the needed archeological surveys and master planning, and better manage existing use. This type of basic information and service is an essential foundation for good decision-making in the future.

The City and Commonwealth are now planning for the sesquicentennial celebration of the Civil War in 2011. This is a celebration of our history and Fort Ward Park. We look forward to the City’s draft action plan on March 18, 2009.

Sincerely,


Glenn

J. Glenn Eugster
4022 Ellicott Street
Alexandria, VA 22304
703-845-8947
glenn-eugster@comcast.net




5 of 5

Update on Fort Ward Park--Twelve Things You Should Know May 14, 2009

Subject: Update on Fort Ward Park--Twelve Things You Should Know

Date: May 14, 2009

Dear Seminary Hill Association, Inc. Board Members & Liaisons,

Discussions continue related to the protection, management and use of Fort Ward Park. On Thursday April 30, 2009 Tom Fulton, Adrienne Washington, Dave Cavanaugh, Fran Terrell, and I, met with Rich Baier, Acting Director of the City's Recreation & Parks Department, and Lance Mallamo, Director of the Office of Historic Alexandria. The group walked the park for two hours while discussing various concerns, issues, alternatives and actions related to Fort Ward Park. Mr. Mallamo and Mr. Baier provided news about the City's efforts to address some of the ongoing problems in the park including the following information.

1. The City is removing vehicles, equipment, and materials from the maintenance yard and nursery area. Known graves within the park will be protected with temporary fencing and studied by the City's Office of Archeology. Water runoff, from the City's maintenance yard, that is damaging graves within the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery will be studied to determine what can be done quickly to prevent the erosion of headstones and the subsidence of graves. The City will look into moving the mulch piles next to Marlboro Estate homeowners and African American graves.

2. The City Council has added and approved $50,000 in the 2010 Alexandria budget to begin doing archeology work to identify graves and buildings related to African Americans who lived, worked, worshiped, and are buried on the land that is now Fort Ward Park. The City has also been made aware of funding available for Fort Ward Park from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the U.S. Congress through the efforts of Congressman Jim Moran.

3. The City Council is considering establishing a multi-stakeholder Fort Ward Park Advisory Commission to help address problems and plan for the future of the area. Appointments to this group will be approved by the Council and subject to the City's Open Meetings Act. Various interests from around the City will be selected to participate on this Commission following a more formal and traditional process. The Commission and the date of its first meeting will be announced in the future.

4. The City will create a Fort Ward Park Staff & Community Working/ Stewardship Group that will be open to everyone. More information has been promised by the City.

5. The City is hiring a new Park Ranger to help manage the use of Fort Ward Park on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer. Walter Powell, the Chief of Park Maintenance for this sector, started to perform these duties last weekend and will serve to assist park users and help to see that existing laws and permit conditions are carried out.

6. The City will continue to promote and allow park users to use alcohol at Fort Ward Park with a permit from the Commonwealth of VA Alcohol Control Board.

7. The City expects to set a maximum limit of 250 people on existing picnic areas. The maximum limit of people using the amphitheater will be set at 100.

8. The Fort Ward Park facility development plans that the Recreation & Parks Department is proposing in the City's October 2008 plan for the area, have been postponed until further notice. City park managers will continue to do grass mowing, tree trimming and rut-repair work.

9. Unfortunately it appears that the City will not complete the Fort Ward Park Action Plan that managers proposed at the public meetings in February and March 2009. Mr. Mallamo, former Recreation Director Kirk Kincannon, and Judy Noritake, the Chair of the Recreation & Parks Advisory Commission, presented an abbreviated list of actions to the Mayor and City Council on April 14, 2009 indicating that the public endorsed the list. None of the City's findings, that were presented at one of the public meetings were shared with the Council. Also provided by Ms. Noritake was a list of unfunded requests for 2009. Fort Ward Park Improvements were listed as Priority III (Long Term). The Arboretum, facility, plantings, signage and marketing, was listed as Priority II (Medium Term).
A number of citizens who attended, or watched, the Council meeting have written to Council asking that the public comments be used and the action plan completed. .

10. The effort to protect and manage the use of Fort Ward Park was featured in stories in the Alexandria Gazette Packet, Alexandria Times, and on National Public Radio/ WMAU radio.

11. The community leaders let Rich and Lance know that plans are being discussed to celebrate the birthday of Clara Adams in early June. Ms. Adams, who is buried with her husband within the Fort Ward Park maintenance yard and nursery area, was one of the founders of the Oakland Baptist Church. Her birthday is June 2, 2009 and family members and neighbors are discussing a day and time to honor her memory. More information is available if you are interested in attending the ceremony.

12. The City’s Department of Transportation & Environmental Services began an outreach effort on May 13, 2009 at T.C. Williams High School to receive feedback from the public on stormwater management problem areas and needs, funding options, and next steps. The City’s presentation included a proposal for a new source of funding based on new tax on assessed real estate property value; or a storm water management fee based on impervious areas.

The meeting was the first of four meetings to be held. Glenn Eugster presented information to City officials and their consultants on Fort Ward Park maintenance yard storm water problems impacting the Oakland Baptist Church cemetery. Information was also presented on storm water problems in the drainage swale between the cemetery and the park road that have periodically created problems for property owners in Marlboro Estates. Community leaders discussed this problem earlier with Rich Baier on April 30, 2009.

Mr. Baier and Mr. Mallamo expressed considerable interest in working with the citizens of Alexandria to find ways to better protect, manage and enjoy Fort Ward Park. Hopefully future dialogue will be an opportunity to listen to the City's plans for the park and ask questions. I sincerely hope that you will make time to join us for this important gathering.

If you have questions or comments please let me know.

Thanks for your help.

Sincerely,

Glenn

J. Glenn Eugster
Seminary Hill Association, Inc. Board Member--Area 6
4022 Ellicott Street
Alexandria, VA 22304
703-845-8947 (h)
703-489-4207 (c)
glenn_eugster@comcast.net

Community Response to the Alexandria Council Work Session on Fort Ward 2009. April 20, 2009.

To: Mayor, City Council, and City Manager,
Subject: Council Work Session on Fort Ward Park
Date: April 20, 2009

On Tuesday April 14, 2009 I attended the City Council Meeting and listened to the discussions related to the Work Session on Fort Ward Park. I also had the opportunity to review the April 14, 2009 correspondence from Kirk Kincannon and Lance Mallamo to Councilman Wilson; and the April 14, 2009 correspondence from Judy Guse Noritake, on behalf of the Park and Recreation Commission, to the City Council.

Although I appreciate your willingness to discuss Fort Ward Park, I found the oral and written presentations to Council inaccurate and misleading. For the record the following information should be noted and considered by Council as you continue to work to address park problems and community concerns.

First, the statements and reports made at the work session indicated that the discovery of African-American graves in the park was a recent development is inaccurate. In fact, Clara Adams has been buried in the area that is now used for the maintenance yard since February 1, 1952. Neighbors and City employees indicate that workers removed gravestones from existing graves when the City decided to expand the maintenance and nursery area. In 1995 City workers interviewed Mr. Young, a former resident of the area, who indicated the approximate location of the graves in the maintenance yard. In April 2008 I contacted the managers of Black History Museum, Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities Department, Fort Ward Park Operations and Maintenance, and the Office of Historic Alexandria about marked and unmarked graves and no action was taken until March of 2009.

Moreover, at the time that the City began the expansion of the maintenance yard there was no consideration given to the impact of this change on the marked graves within the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery. Alterations to the maintenance yard continue to create water runoff problems that are causing grave stones to erode and grave sites to subside.

Second, the statements and reports outlined a list of seven possible immediate actions to be taken to address identified issues and concerns. It was said and written that “the community members and stakeholders attending the March 18, 2009 meeting endorsed the action list”. It was also written that “there was general agreement in the community that these were appropriate steps to take at this time”. In fact, the list of immediate actions does not accurately reflect the input of the public meetings or the written comments the City received. For example, none of the Findings that were presented at the March 18, 2009 public meeting were shared with the Council. Most importantly the list of actions that was presented on March 18, 2009 were not endorsed by the community leaders or stakeholders. City officials asked the audience to comment on the outline that was presented to the public and said that the action plan would be revised based on the comments received following the meeting.

In addition, the City presenters at the March 18, 2009 public meeting said that they “were supportive of an agreement with the community” to determine “the mission and vision of Fort Ward Park“.

Finally, the oral statements and written reports presented at the Council work session regarding the use of alcohol in the park contradict recent actions the City Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities Department has taken to post regulations in Fort Ward Park. Earlier this month the City posted Park Regulations & Rules” on information kiosks and metal signs throughout the park indicating that, “The consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited”. These notices and signs contradict the stated desire of the Mayor Eullie to be able to have selected groups who use the park use alcohol. In response to the Mayor’s interest Mr. Kincannon said that his department is “looking at applications for the use of alcohol in the park on a permit-by-permit basis”.

Although Mr. Kinacannon concluded his remarks to the City Council by indicating that “We are prepared for problems this year”, it does not appear that community concerns and problems at Fort Ward Park have been addressed. The input that community leaders and stakeholders have provided to the City can help solve the ongoing problems that have been brought to your attention over the last eighteen months. It will however take City action and commitment to follow through rather than the broad general statements communicated to the Council on April 14, 2009.

Please let me know if we can assist in developing the action plan that the City promised when the public involvement process began.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

J. Glenn Eugster
4022 Ellicott Street
Alexandria, VA. 22304