City of Alexandria, VA

RSS

Text Size

Page updated Jun 18, 2013 10:01 PM

Comments

No Comments Posted Yet

Share With...

Facebook

Twitter

GMail

Yahoo! Mail

AOL Mail

Hotmail

My Email

RSS Options

Citywide Park Planning

The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities began a multi-year process to develop a Citywide Large Park Improvement Plan in summer 2012. The goal of this initiative is to study and understand the existing conditions and future needs for Alexandria’s parks that are over 20-acres, municipally owned, and have multiple uses. The Citywide Parks include: Four Mile Run Park, Simpson Stadium Park, Chinquapin Park, Henlsey Park, Holmes Run Park, and Ben Brenman/Boothe Parks (click on each to go straight to the draft plans).

These parks serve as vital open spaces for our community, providing recreational opportunities, areas for picnic and relaxation, and ecological benefits to the City. Through the Citywide Large Park Improvement Plan, RPCA intends to determine budgeting priorities and recommendations for both short and long term incremental improvements, ensuring the Parks serve Alexandria’s needs now and into the future.

Process

In fall 2012, the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities asked for your input on the City’s large park short and long-term needs. We wanted to know how you use the parks, what you like in the parks, and what you hope to see in each of these parks in the future. By December we heard from over 585 individuals, including those who sent in comments by survey and attended workshops. Since then staff has analyzed the feedback and tried to best balance all park user input to create Draft Park Improvement Plans.

We now invite you to review the draft plans both through a survey and at upcoming Park Workshops to let us know: Did we hear you? Have we considered the needs of everyone who uses the park? What else can be improved? What is the priority? The public comment period will be open until the end of June 2013. After that point we will refine the plans based upon public feedback. Once the plans are finalized we will develop an implementation strategy including incremental phasing of plan components and cost estimates.

Please contact Dana.Wedeles@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5491 with questions or concerns.

Fort Ward Park and Museum Area Management Planning

To provide comment of the Fort Ward Park and Museum Area planning process, please email Laura Durham, Open Space Coordinator.
- Brainstorming Sessions

Draft Park Plans

CITYWIDE DRAFT PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS

There are a number of recommendations that apply to all six of the Parks. While not specifically called out in each Draft Park Plan, the final document will include an implementation strategy for:

Universal accessibility in all renovation plans
Improved trash receptacle locations and recycling program
Standardized way-finding and park regulation signage
Identified location for public art, in collaboration with the Office of the Arts Public Art Master Plan (currently underway)
A standard number of bike racks for major park entrance

FOUR MILE RUN PARK (existing conditions map)

Click here see the draft plan, based on the identified user needs below and existing site conditions, and to let us know what you think. You can also attend a park workshop on May 15, 7:30 – 9 p.m. at Cora Kelly Recreation Center, 3600 Commonwealth Ave, Multi-Purpose Room to discuss the plan.

This is what we heard from you (click here to see a full Summary of Community Feedback on Four Mile Run Park)

Athletics

Develop better pick-up game areas
Install covered dugouts and fix the backstops
Renovate the courts
Re-orient field #3 for better shade and enhance seating area
Install netting along Frank Mann field
Improve parking for athletic fields

Natural Resources

Preserve and enhance the Park’s natural areas, including the wetlands
Remove invasive species
Plant trees along the alleyways

Access

Improve the connections between the trail, pathways and Park uses
Build a bridge over the channel to connect areas of the Park near Cora Kelly
Re-pave the asphalt trail through the Park and connect it to Cora Kelly Recreation Center and School

Athletics

Develop better pick-up game areas
Install covered dugouts and fix the backstops
Renovate the courts
Re-orient field #3 for better shade and enhance seating area
Install netting along Frank Mann field
Improve parking for athletic fields

Design and Fixtures

Increase Park security through CPTED
Cluster activities at entrances
Formalize the overlook at the entrance to the wetlands
Install area for fitness equipment behind Cora Kelly Recreation Center
Add more park furniture
Remove unfenced dog area and provide a fenced dog area
Install a community garden
Install mile markers
Locate the playground in a more visible location
Provide natural play spaces such as boulders and climbing features

CHINQUAPIN PARK (existing conditions map)

Click here to see the draft plans, based on the identified user needs below and existing site conditions, and let us know what you think. You can also attend a park workshop on June 5, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Chinquapin Park Improvement Draft Plan Review, Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Road.

This is what we heard from you: (click here to see a full Summary of Community Feedback on Chinquapin Park)

Access

Improve mobility for pedestrians and vehicles
Create a car-free shared-use path around the loop during non-school hours
Improve wayfinding
Connect the Forest Park trail to the loop
Improve parking lots to have thru-ways

Athletics

Designate an area dedicated for sports use/turf
Cluster the tennis and basketball courts for shared lighting
Replace the tennis court lighting and rotate the courts to regulation alignment

Passive and Open Space

Preserve the pastoral green space, while accommodating multi-use sports
Renovate the picnic area
Re-grade the center of the loop, install drainage and re-seed
Connect the playground/picnic area/rec center with a walking path
Remove invasive species along the Forest Park Trail
Fix or remove the WWII-era stairs around the Park and make stronger connection to historic uses

Park Activities

Remove the unfenced dog area and incorporate a fenced area in the park
Install event support facilities near pavilion (electrical, water, etc.)
Designate an area for potential future farmers market
Expand access to gardening
Renovate playground equipment and include shade
Install equipment for outdoor fitness equipment

SIMPSON PARK (Existing Conditions Map)

Click here to see the draft plans, based on the identified user needs below and existing conditions, and let us know what you think. You can also attend a park workshop on June 12, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave, Multi-purpose room

This is what we heard from you: (Click here to see a full Summary of Commuity Feedback on Simpson Stadium Park)

Access

Provide easier parking access for the fields
Create better connections between facilities and pathways
Install steps from Monroe Ave to the Park
Create bike connection from Del Ray to Potomac Yard Park

Passive Space

Provide passive open space (benches and place for frisbee, etc.)
Identify a tree receiving location
Create succession plan for garden

Dog Area

Provide shade, lighting, tress, seating and new surfacing in the Dog Park

Athletics

Replace bleachers at Big Simpson
Provide better drainage on Big Simpson
Provide facilities for concessions
Provide netting for foul ball protection
Replace blue building with equipment storage
Replace press box at Little Simpson field

Playground

Renovate playground to include equipment for multiple ages and rubber surfacing
Provide shade in the playground

HOLMES RUN PARK SYSTEM (Map of existing conditions)

Click here to see the draft plans, based on the identified user needs below and existing conditions, and let us know what you think. You can also attend a park workshop on May 21, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Samuel Tucker School, 435 Ferdinand Day Drive, Multi-Purpose Room.

This is what we heard from you: (click here to see a full Summary of Community Feedback on Holmes Run Park)

Safety

Install mile markers along the trail
Improve security through patrol and fewer “hidden areas”
Install lighting along Beatley Bridge

Dog Area

Create small dog area within Duke Street Dog Park

Playground

Remove the fenced in former playground in Tarleton Park and relocate benches
Replace playground equipment and include natural play features

Access

Improve trail under the 395 overpass
Designate bike and walking areas around the S. Jordan area of the trail
Formalize the pathway and improve ADA Access along the South side of Holmes Run Parkway
Connect All Veterans Park to Duke Street and to the Library

Design