[Archived] City of Alexandria Seeks Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission Endorsement for the Pocket Parks Improvement Plan

For Immediate Release: January 17, 2020

The City of Alexandria presented its Pocket Parks Improvement Plan (Plan) to the Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission on Thursday, January 16. The public is invited to review and provide comments on the Plan.

The Plan examines the City’s 25 pocket parks, which are defined as being municipally owned parks that measure less than half an acre. The Plan is a study of each park’s history, existing conditions and future needs. Through the Plan, strategies are identified and prioritized to achieve short- and long-term incremental improvements for these parks.

In 2018, City staff conducted an initial outreach, including site observations, surveys, and workshops, to gather an understanding about park users’ preferences, including areas that should be enhanced, transformed and preserved. This information was used to develop the draft Plan for the 25 City pocket parks.

Over the summer of 2019, feedback on the draft Plan was solicited through surveys and community meetings. Staff refined the plans to incorporate the feedback received and developed an implementation strategy for each recommendation. A cost estimator is currently reviewing the plans to develop the budget. Based on the result, an improvement plan will be established for each of the 25 pocket parks. Recommendations from the plan will inform future budgetary and resource decisions.

View the Plan and send comments for the Park and Recreation Commission to Ana Vicinanzo, Urban Planner, at ana.vicinanzo@alexandriava.gov by February 19. The Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission will hold a public hearing about their endorsement of the Plan on February 20, at 7 p.m., at Mount Vernon Recreation Center (2701 Commonwealth Avenue).

For more information, contact Ana Vicinanzo, Urban Planner, at ana.vicinanzo@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5494.  

Note: The Plan supports the implementation of the approved 2002 Strategic Master Plan for Open Space, Park and Recreation, and therefore does not require Planning Commission approval.  

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact ana.vicinanzo@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.5494, Virginia Relay 711