[Archived] City of Alexandria Seeks Public Comment on Proposal to Memorialize Captain Ryan Wojtanowski at Windmill Hill Park Living Shoreline

For Immediate Release: February 27, 2018

The City of Alexandria is seeking public comment on a proposal to memorialize Captain Ryan Wojtanowski at the Windmill Hill Park Living Shoreline located at 501 S. Union St. The proposal was forwarded by the City of Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission. 

Ryan “Captain Ry” Wojtanowski was a dedicated and active member of Alexandria’s Environmental Policy Commission from October 2010 until his death in 2016, and served as its representative to the Alexandria Waterfront Commission.  Captain Ry was a mariner, fisherman, and an advocate of Alexandria’s riverfront, aiming to protect it as a public amenity and to ensure its long-term environmental health. As a recognized expert in riverbank construction, he was a valuable resource to City staff in the early planning of the City’s flood mitigation project and strongly encouraged solutions that provided public access to the Potomac River that were environmentally sound, closely imitated natural conditions and included the use of appropriate native plants. Through his advocacy efforts, City staff successfully updated and received approval from City Council for the removal of the deteriorated concrete bulkhead at Windmill Hill Park and replacing it with a naturalized shoreline nearing completion on the City’s southern waterfront. 

In addition to his environmental stewardship, Captain Ry was a poet. Shortly before his death, he was appointed by the Alexandria’s Commission for the Arts as the City of Alexandria Poet Laureate. Fittingly, he delivered his first poem as Poet Laureate by officially opening the 2016 City of Alexandria Earth Day Festivities.

The public is invited to provide comment on the proposal to memorialize Captain Ryan Wojtanowski at the Windmill Hill Park Living Shoreline through Friday, March 30. Those interested in providing comments will be able to record their comments by email to jack.browand@alexandriava.gov, subject line: Captain Ryan Wojtanowski, or by mail to Recreation and Parks, Attn: Jack Browand, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria VA 22314. All comments received or postmarked by Friday, March 30 will be evaluated by the City Council Naming Committee.

For additional information, contact Jack Browand, Division Chief, Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities at 703.746.5504 or by email at jack.browand@alexandriava.gov.