By Carla Branch and James Cullum
alexandrianews.org
The lighthouse at Jones Point Park. (Courtesy Photo)
When Alexandria reached a settlement with the federal government over construction of the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge, plans to redesign Jones Point Park seemed afar into the future. The future is now and the National Park Service is nearly ready to accept construction bids and begin construction in October.
While NPS owns the 65-acre park at the southeastern edge of Alexandria, the city has leased it from NPS for many years and taken responsibility for the park’s operations. We relinquished control of Jones Point Park when construction on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge began but have met with NPS on a quarterly basis since they selected a plan for the park,” said Jim Spengler, the director of the department of parks, recreation and cultural activities for the city.”While the park has remained open to the public during bridge construction, it was always envisioned that it would be closed once construction in the park began.
“We are grateful that NPS has included us in the planning process and accepted our input. Construction drawings are nearly complete and I would expect NPS to go out for bid some time in late summer,” Spengler said.
Kate Barrett, the Jones Point Park project manager for NPS confirmed Spengler’s opinion. “We anticipate that the successful bidding contractor will be given a notice to proceed with the improvements in October, 2010,” she said. “The construction is anticipated to take 18 to 24 months and during that time the park will be closed to the public with the exception of the Mount Vernon Trail. The trail will be kept open throughout the construction period although it may be relocated as construction activities warrant.”
The one element that remains under discussion is parking under the bridge. Both Virginia Congressman Jim Moran (D-8) and Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille have written to Maryland and Virginia Department of Transportation officials asking them to reconsider a previous parking ban there.
“During the design and early construction stages of the current Woodrow Wilson Bridge, the Potomac Crossing Corporation (a public/private partnership representing the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Federal Highway Administration and the District of Columbia) had assured the City of Alexandria that the parking that was temporarily lost during construction would be reinstated. However, the terrorist related actions of September 11,2001, and the concomitant federal security restrictions altered these promises as stated and noted in the Record of Decision document. To date, the current park and roadway design does not allow needed parking beneath the bridge itself in order to serve the park and historic sites. The City would like to renew the discussions of restoring parking under the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in light of advances in counter-terrorism measures, as well as the proposed park design. It is our understanding that in order for the prior parking decision to be reversed, that VDOT and MDOT would need to make a recommendation to FHWA who then would make the final decision, ” Euille’s letter said.
The Mayor has received no response to date.
The Park Design
In 2007, the National Park Service completed the environmental review process for the Jones Point Park Environmental Assessment. The NPS determined that the selected alternative will not significantly affect the environment and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact. That choice did not make City officials or the Park’s Old Town neighbors happy. Nonetheless, those are the plans moving forward.
Goals are to create a park that:
Balances natural, recreational and cultural resources and opportunities
Integrates the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge as an integral element of the park’s design
Protects and conserves as much of the existing natural habitat as possible
Improves its habitat qualities – such as woodlands, wetlands, tidal marsh areas, shoreline and woodland groves
Provides recreational amenities such as: Pathways and trails; Fishing access from the shoreline, with cleaning stations and a canoe/kayak launch ramp
Protects cultural and historical resources in accordance with the recommended Treatment Plan that is an element of the Memorandum of Agreement, such as: a Lighthouse and District Cornerstone Marker; Shipways; a finishing pier; other sites and events associated with the property’s pre-historic, colonial, 19th and 20th century history and the interpretation of the natural and historic resources of the park through a comprehensive signage and exhibit system
Provides for the continued use of the park by local residents through the continued presence of community gardens and the enhancement of existing, and the provision of new and informal, picnicking, and strolling areas
The selected alternative (Alternative 4A) includes:
An access road that will connect to a new cul-de-sac at the south end of Royal Street and extend east to a 95-space parking area. A vehicular turnaround will be located west of the Potomac River. The cul-de-sac, perimeter barrier system and landscape plantings will be located just south of the turnaround.
A tot-lot and an 80×40 yard multi-use field oriented east/west will be located north of the parking area.
A 110×60 yard multi-use field oriented northwest/southeast will be located south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in a similar location as the existing field.