FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 16, 2008    

Community Meeting on Proposed Pocket Park in Del Ray
Tuesday, September 23

The public is invited to attend the second community meeting about a proposed pocket park in Del Ray on Tuesday, September 23 at 7 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. Residents will have the opportunity to review and discuss draft designs for the proposed pocket park, located at 1 and 7 East Del Ray Ave. The property was acquired in January 2008 as part of the City’s Pocket Park Program.

The purpose of the meeting is to solicit comments from the community about the draft plans for the park that would support a passive, neighborhood use of the property. City staff has integrated the ideas generated from the June 2008 meeting and drafted alternatives for the park design. Comments from the September 23 meeting will be used to complete the park design. The City will present a final design proposal to the community for discussion later this fall. The final design will then be forwarded for a public hearing and approval by the Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission.

Pocket parks are designed to meet the needs of those who live or work within about a tenth of a mile of their location. They are less than 20,000 square feet, and may include such elements as public gardens, seating areas, passive open space, landscaped areas, important natural features, or trees.

Persons unable to attend the meeting can send written comments to the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, Attention: Laura Durham, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria, VA 22314, or e-mail laura.durham@alexandriava.gov.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, please call Laura Durham, Open Space Coordinator, at 703.838.5095, ext. 350 (TTY 703.838.4902), or e-mail laura.durham@alexandriava.gov.