Notes: Chinquapin Playground partially closed after vehicle incident

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Tuesday, July 8, the 189th day of 2025. There are 176 days left in the year.

⛈️ Today’s weather: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 5 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 106. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.

• Hazardous Weather Outlook
• Heat Advisory in effect from July 8, 1 PM until July 8, 7 PM
• Flood Watch in effect from July 8, 2 PM until July 9, 12 AM

🚨 You need to know

Most of Chinquapin Playground has been closed to the public following a vehicle-related incident that occurred Saturday, July 5, the City of Alexandria announced Tuesday.

The playground closure affects all equipment except the swings, which remain open for use. City officials cited safety concerns as the reason for the temporary shutdown but did not provide additional details about the nature of the vehicle incident or the extent of any damage to playground equipment.

Parents and caregivers looking for alternative play areas can visit nearby playgrounds at Woodbine, Fort Ward, and Angel Park, according to the city’s announcement.

The city has not indicated when Chinquapin Playground might fully reopen. Families seeking other playground options throughout Alexandria can visit the city’s website at alexandriava.gov/parks/playgrounds for a complete list of available facilities.

Chinquapin Playground is currently closed, with the exception of the swings, due to safety concerns following a vehicle-related incident on July 5. Please feel free to go to some of our nearby playground alternatives which include, Woodbine, Fort Ward, and Angel Park Playgrounds.

To find a playground near you, please visit us online at alexandriava.gov/parks/playgrounds.

This is a developing story. ALXnow will provide updates as more information becomes available from city officials.

Have tips about this story or other Alexandria news? Contact ALXnow at [email protected].

Here’s what else you should know

📜 On this day in 1946: The Alexandria Historical Society held its first public meeting at Gadsby’s Tavern. The new organization was founded to preserve and share Alexandria’s heritage, building on preservation efforts that began in the 1920s when the American Legion acquired Gadsby’s Tavern and the city established its Old and Historic Alexandria District.

🍎 Alexandria residents will get their first comprehensive look at the city’s health landscape when the Alexandria Health Department hosts a community presentation of its 2025 State of Health Report this evening at the Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center. The event, scheduled from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., will feature Mayor Gaskins alongside health department staff and community leaders discussing the findings of a year-long Community Health Assessment.

🚨 The man charged in the June 10 fatal stabbing of 32-year-old Marvin Waters at a Huntington Metro station bus stop was living in a storage unit in Alexandria, according to the Alexandria Police Department.

⚾ Alexandria Aces (14-9) right-handed pitcher Connor Hutchinson etched his name into franchise history Sunday night, throwing the first no-hitter in the team’s 20-year existence during a 7-0 victory over the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (12-13) at Blair Baseball Stadium.

🗓️ Whether you’re looking for family fun, cultural events, or nightlife, Alexandria delivers a full slate of activities this week leading up to the city’s birthday celebration on Saturday. Get the full roundup of events, entertainment, and live music here.

📈 Monday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for July 7, 2025.

1. Police: Suspect in fatal Huntington stabbing lived in a storage unit in Alexandria
2. Metro card data led police to suspect in Alexandria assaults
3. Two hospitalized after July 4 crash near Woodrow Wilson Bridge
4. ALIVE! closes West End Food Hub ‘until further notice’
5. PJ’s Coffee bringing New Orleans flavor to South Alex development

📅 Upcoming events

Here’s what’s happening today in Alexandria, as per our event calendar.

Things To Do

• 10:15 a.m.: Fables and Fun at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
• 2 p.m.: Animal Encounters: Amazing Adaptations with Bar C Ranch at Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreational Center
• 4 p.m.: The Magic of Drew Blue Shoes at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
• 7 p.m.: BeerYoga at Port City Brewing Company

• 219 Restaurant: Justin Gillen Trio at 9 p.m.
• Augie’s Mussel House: Live music at 5 p.m.
• Laporta’s Restaurant: Antonio James at 6 p.m.
• Lena’s: Adrian Duke Project at 6 p.m.
• Lost Dog Cafe: Trivia at 7 p.m.
• Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Trivia at 8 p.m., Pete Baker at 8:30 p.m.
• O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Trivia at 9 p.m.
• Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
• The Garden: Trivia at 7 p.m.

City of Alexandria Events & Public Meetings

• 3 p.m.: Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Commission
• 6:30 p.m.: Community Health Assessment Release Event
• 7 p.m.: Personal Finance and Career Building Workshops
• 7 p.m.: Commission for Women Subcommittee Meeting

Organizing an event? Submit your event to ALXnow’s Event Calendar.