[Archived] Rebuilding Together Alexandria Partners with the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities to Improve Neighborhood Parks

For Immediate Release: June 9, 2017

The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities PARKnership program announces a community partnership with Rebuilding Together Alexandria to improve the neighborhood parks in Hume Springs and Lynhaven. Rebuilding Together was awarded $500,000 for projects in these neighborhoods through Project Reinvest grants. The organization is one of only two grant recipients in the state of Virginia. The two park projects include:

• 3550 Commonwealth Ave.
  The 0.58 acre site had previously been a dormant substation. The City’s purchase of the property in 2009 required that Virginia Electric Power Company demolish and remove the substation and complete all necessary environmental remediation. In October 2011, neighborhood volunteers used donated plants and mulch to install two gardens, a walking path, shade trees and park benches. In 2016 the City completed the Neighborhood Parks Improvement Plan that includes a design for the park, building upon the volunteer efforts, with a plaza and game tables, a tricycle track and picnic area. The funding from Rebuilding Together Alexandria will go towards implementation of this plan.

• Four Mile Run Park at Dale St.
  This section of Four Mile Run Park is located along Dale Street, behind Cora Kelly Elementary School and Recreation Center. The 2014 Citywide Parks Improvement Plan recommended transforming the currently vacant space into a community garden. A new community garden will help address the City’s need for gardening opportunities in the Arlandria community. The funds from Rebuilding Together Alexandria will be used towards a design and implementation of the garden through collaborative effort between the Park’s neighboring residents and organizations.

This is the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities third partnership project with Rebuilding Together Alexandria. 

Click here for additional information about the PARKnership program. For additional information about the park and its improvements, visit https://www.alexandriava.gov/91392.

Rebuilding Together Alexandria
Rebuilding Together Alexandria is an award-winning, mission-driven organization that creates healthy neighborhoods for Alexandria residents by providing free repairs to maintain affordable housing for low-income homeowners, revitalizing community spaces, and creating home ownership opportunities.  Since 1986, more than 24,000 volunteers have worked on 2,000 projects, leveraging $7.5 million worth of in-kind value to Alexandria.  Rebuilding Together’s work contributes to helping the City remain economically, socially and culturally diverse. For more information about Rebuilding Together, visit www.rebuildingtogetheralex.org.