parks | ALXnow

Traffic and Parking Board unanimously approves Polk Avenue sidewalk despite neighbor objections

Published July 27, 2022 at 3:50PM

Where the sidewalk ends on Polk Avenue (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

While several neighbors along Polk Avenue shared thoughts on city plans to replace a stretch of parking with a sidewalk, there was no discussion from members of the Traffic and Parking Board before they unanimously approved the plan.

The city is planning to build a new sidewalk that connects two dead-end stretches of sidewalk that cut off abruptly into dense underbrush. The city said the sidewalk construction will help students in the neighborhood walk to Polk Elementary and Hammond Middle School.

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Alexandria planning more community discussions for plans to light athletic fields

By Vernon Miles

Published July 12, 2022 at 1:30PM

Alexandria City High School Friday Night Lights at Alexandria City High School on September 17, 2021. (Via Elijah Walter Griffin, Sr.)

The City of Alexandria is planning to host a meeting later this month to discuss plans to light athletic fields around the city.

The idea behind adding lighting is to provide additional capacity to accommodate an increasing strain on the city’s fields. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 21 at the Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4653 Taney Avenue).

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Parks department hopes to net new athletic structures for park off Eisenhower Avenue

By Vernon Miles

Published July 11, 2022 at 2:30PM

Hensley Park concept plan (image via City of Alexandria)

Plans for the revitalization of Joseph Hensley Park (4200 Eisenhower Avenue) are headed to review at the Planning Commission and could see new field nets added to the popular athletic fields.

The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA) is requesting three 20-foot tall netting and fencing structures, with two backdrop structures along the first and third baselines of the two diamond ballfields and another netting structure along the east side of the rectangular field.

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Alexandria plans to bring lights to more athletic fields, but some neighbors say lights bring more hassle

By Vernon Miles

Published June 14, 2022 at 2:45PM

Alexandria City High School Friday Night Lights at Alexandria City High School on September 17, 2021. (Via Elijah Walter Griffin, Sr.)

Alexandria’s athletic fields could get new lights to keep games running later, but the prospect has already drawn backlash from some field neighbors who say the lights only create more of a nuisance.

In a community meeting last week, Jack Browand, division chief of Parks and Cultural Activities, said the lights are part of a push by city government to extent the usable hours of the city’s overcrowded fields.

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Historic ship re-sinking to start next month at Ben Brenman Park

By Vernon Miles

Published April 12, 2022 at 9:50AM

Pieces of 18th-Century ships waiting to be scanned (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Work is scheduled to start next month on one of Alexandria’s more bizarre projects: putting a set of historic ship hulls recovered in Old Town back underwater.

Ben Brenman Park Pond (4800 Brenman Park Drive) near Cameron Station will be playing the part of Davy Jones’ Locker for the project. The city is hosting a meeting on-site next week to discuss the project.

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Alexandria’s (possibly) worst park could be getting money for a makeover

By Vernon Miles

Published March 7, 2022 at 9:55AM

Ewald Park, image via Google Maps

Ewald Park is in notoriously rough shape, but the City of Alexandria is looking for grants to start revitalizing the Duke Street park.

At a City Council meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday), the Council will consider a grant application (Item 14) to the 2022 Land & Water Conservation Fund in an effort to help finance the park revitalization originally approved in 2015.

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Athletic field off Duke Street getting new 30-foot-high netting

By Vernon Miles

Published February 14, 2022 at 2:30PM

Witter field, photo via Google Maps

To help neighbors tired of ball-related destruction, Alexandria is planning to add some new nets to a field just off Duke Street.

Alexandria is planning to put up some towering new netting around the Witter Recreational Fields (2660 Witter Drive).

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Alexandria mulls adding pickleball facilities to local tennis courts

By Vernon Miles

Published February 8, 2022 at 3:45PM

Pickleball courts, via Frankie Lopez/Unsplash

Alexandria’s Park and Recreation Commission is deciding whether to add pickleball courts to more local tennis courts and is looking for public input on the decision.

At a virtual public hearing on Thursday, Feb. 17, the Commission hosting a public hearing to get public feedback on the proposal. The Commission is looking at where to put the new courts, as the funding has already been allocated for the needed infrastructure and court markings.

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Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 21, 2021 at 5:00AM

Ice & Lights: The Winter Village At Cameron Run in 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

NOVA Parks Ice + Lights welcomes 50,000th visitor — “Ice & Lights in Alexandria was an all-new attraction for the public when it opened in 2019. New displays and attractions are added every year to keep it fresh and appealing.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Alexandria sees COVID cases surge, locals urged to reduce risks — “Those precautions, the city specified, include considering moving holiday celebrations virtual, testing, getting a booster shot and avoiding travel if possible.” [WUSA9]

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Registration for Alexandria’s suite of winter activities starts soon

By Vernon Miles

Published December 3, 2021 at 10:45AM

The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities has announced a suite of winter activities for locals of all ages starting early next year.

The city has a seasonal rotation of activities, with everything from full sports and activity camps to lighter day-activities. The age range of the activities varies wildly. The full list is available online and broken down by category.

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New overhaul could turn Simpson Park synthetic, along with other upgrades

By Vernon Miles

Published November 5, 2021 at 10:50AM

Safe! An Old Town run. Old Town businesses beat Del Ray businesses in the third-ever Del Ray vs. Old Town Softball Battle at Simpson Field on June 30, 2021. (Courtesy Elijah Walter Griffin Sr/Griffin Vision Photography)

Among the changes being considered for Eugene Simpson Stadium Park is a refit of the field itself to take it from natural grass and dirt to astroturf.

Park enthusiasts typically have mixed feelings on astroturfing, but the change would make the park more usable in various weather conditions and comes as the city is facing a dire shortage of park space for various sports.