A new plaque honoring past arborists has been installed at Alexandria’s Fort Ward Park, adding to the existing Charles W. Hendryx Memorial.
City of Alexandria’s Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities spokesperson Catrice Callands confirmed to ALXnow a new plaque was added to the Fort Ward Arborist Memorial. The arborists honored on the plaque are Gregory A. Kernan, Jennifer Hollings, Tere O’Rourke, John Noelle and John Marlin.
Alexandria’s annual Adopt-a-Park program is returning this spring, bringing community groups together to beautify the city’s parks and open spaces.
The program is kicking off with a celebration hosted by the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities from 6-7:30 p.m. next Wednesday, March 18 at 2900 A Business Center Drive. The event is an opportunity for applicants and groups to connect with fellow volunteers, meet city staff, review updated procedures, get supplies and ask questions about the program.
Former Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson is settling into his new role as executive director of NOVA Parks and says he has inherited an organization in good shape.
A “very diverse set of revenue” — with operations ranging from golf courses to waterparks — allows the regional body to “weather various storms,” said Wilson during a presentation to the Fairfax City Council earlier this month. He was named the organization’s next executive director in August and began serving in October.
A relocated children’s area, enhanced lighting and multi-use courts are just a few of the proposed recommendations to revitalize John Ewald Park (4452 Duke Street).
Plans have long been in the works for the West End park, and the city’s Park and Recreation Commission will hold its public hearing on the improvements on Thursday (June 26) at 7 p.m. at Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4653 Taney Avenue).
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Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities is seeking vendors for the fourth annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4643 Taney Avenue). The party’s on October 11 (Saturday), and the deadline to be a vendor is August 1.
Alexandria leaders are praising NOVA Parks Executive Director Paul Gilbert, who recently announced that he will step down by December.
Gilbert has led the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority for 20 years. In Alexandria, his organization acquired the Winkler Botanical Preserve in 2022, and owns and operates Cameron Run Regional Park and Carlyle House Historic Park.
A new park could be coming to the Carlyle neighborhood; built directly under the tracks at the Eisenhower Metro station
During a discussion last night of the FY 2026-2027 Long Range Planning Interdepartmental Work Program, city staff teased upcoming plans for a new park at the Eisenhower Metro station.
For years, City reports have confirmed that John Ewald Park on Duke Street is in rough shape, but the ball started rolling last year on plans to revitalize the lackluster space.
A new survey posted by the City of Alexandria asks for public feedback on plans to transform the park. Proposed new additions include a second basketball court, picnic pavilion, parkour equipment and more.
The City of Alexandria is soliciting public feedback on plans to revivify one of the city’s most underutilized parks as the project heads into a design phase starting next year.
The City is hosting a series of meetings — including one tonight at 7 p.m. at Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4643 Taney Avenue) — about long-awaited plans to fix up the city’s fairly underwhelming John Ewald Park.
“NOT GOING BACK” and “CHILDLESS CAT LADIES VOTE” are among a flurry of chalk messages adorning the concrete barriers at a closed-off Alexandria park near the home of Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance.
Pieces of chalk have been left near the Jersey barriers at Judy Lowe Park (7 E. Del Ray Avenue), which is near Vance’s home in Del Ray. The messages have been made recently, as the city announced late last month that the park would be closed when Vance returned home from the campaign.
The Judy Lowe Neighborhood Park (7 E Del Ray Avenue) is reopening… kind of.
Around a week after the City of Alexandria closed the park at the request of the Secret Service, the City said the park is reopening with a “modified schedule with intermittent closures until further notice.”
