[Archived] City of Alexandria Invites Community to Join the Conversation About Funding Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities Services & Programs

For Immediate Release: October 1, 2018

The City of Alexandria invites residents to attend one of a series of workshops in October that will help determine how Alexandria tax dollars and fees will support programs and services offered by the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA). 

RPCA has engaged the services of GreenPlay, a nationally renowned parks and recreation management consulting firm to assist in updating its Resource Allocation and Cost Recovery Model and Policy. The model and policy, along with RPCA’s Financial Assistance Policy, guide the Department in determining appropriate fees, subsidy and assistance. This model is based on the community’s shared values, the vision for the future and the Department’s mission, and is intended to assist the Department in ensuring a fiscally responsible process for proactively planning for the future.

The City is asking Alexandria residents to attend one of a series of workshops to be hosted by GreenPlay as a component of the planning process. The workshops involve small group discussions where City staff will collect the community’s input on how each of RPCA’s services and programs benefits the community. Participants in the workshops will provide input on the community benefit verses individual benefit of each program and service provided by the Department. City staff will use this input to help develop Resource Allocation Policy options to present to City Council this winter. Each workshop will be held at a different location throughout the city and will last approximately 90 minutes. Refreshments will be provided at all workshops and child care will be available at three workshops. Each workshop will feature prize drawings, including a $50 gift certificate toward programs and services offered by RPCA.

Community input is essential to this process and Alexandria residents are invited to attend one of the following sorting workshops; RSVP requested:

• Wednesday, October 17, 3-4:30 p.m.
  Glory Days Grill Community Room, 3141 Duke St.
• Wednesday, October 17, 6:30-8 p.m.*
  William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5650 Sanger Ave.
• Thursday, October 18, 9:30-11 a.m.*
  Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St.
  
• Thursday, October 18, 3-4:30 p.m.
  St. Martin de Porres Senior Center, 4650 Taney Ave.
  
• Thursday, October 18, 7-8:30 p.m.* 
  Oswald Durant Arts Center, 1605 Cameron St. 
  (with the Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission)

* Free child care is available

RSVP for your preferred workshop online, in-person at any City of Alexandria recreation center or by calling the Registration & Reservation Office at 703.746.5414. For additional information, contact Laura Durham, Division Chief, Recreation Services, at laura.durham@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.5450. 

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation, email laura.durham@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.5450, Virginia Relay 711.