Park & Recreation Commission to Hold Public Hearing on FY 2023 Community Matching Fund
For Immediate Release: October 13, 2022
The Park and Recreation Commission will hold a public hearing to receive comments from the public on the staff recommendations on the applications received for the Fiscal Year 2023 Community Matching Fund on Thursday, October 20 at 7 p.m. at the Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center, 1605 Cameron Street. Following the public hearing, the Commission will hold its regular monthly meeting.
If you are unable to attend the public hearing, comments will be accepted by mail or email until 5 p.m. Thursday, October 20, 2022. Please mail written comments to RPCA, ATTN: Lucresha Murphy, 1108 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 or email to Lucresha.murphy@alexandriava.gov.
City Council approved $100,000 funding for the FY 2023 Community Matching Fund. The Community Matching Fund is an opportunity for groups to receive 1:1 matching funds to assist the City in the implementation of beautification, conservation, program enhancements and facility improvements. To date, the City has funded $211,152 in projects that have upgraded athletic fields, planted community gardens, beautified parks, expanded community composting, developed a teen center, renovated playgrounds to provide better equipment and accessibility, and expanded outdoor exercise opportunities for seniors.
City staff are recommending the approval of approximately $73,000 for the following projects:
- Project Name: Lake Cook Pocket Park
Location: Lake Cook Pocket Park
Total Project Cost: $25,000
Match: $12,500
Volunteer Time: 20 Hours
Description: This project includes planting native trees, implementing invasive management, and signage to help identify the park and create a sense of place upon which future improvements can be built.
- Project Name: Tucker Community Garden
Location: Armistead Boothe Park
Total Project Cost: $21,238.38
Match: $10,619.19
Volunteer Time: 160 Hours
Description: The Tucker Community Garden Project will develop and ‘green’ an underutilized natural space adjacent the Samuel Tucker Elementary School and provide an outdoor learning classroom for students. This project will engage with all sectors of the West End population via the public school; provide an opportunity for environmental engagement for the community; enrich the communities youth with a learning opportunity that has lifelong impact; and provides an outlet for environmental engagement that is in short supply for many of effected residents for whom this project will serve.
- Project Name: Paddling Access at Four Mile Run
Location: Four Mile Run Park near the end of Commonwealth Avenue
Total Project Cost: $436,885
Match: $50,000
Description: The project is a public water access point, including a raised boardwalk from the Four Mile Run Trail to a gangway extending to a floating dock, maintaining ADA-compliant slopes and level landings at appropriate spacing. The dock would include a transfer platform for wheelchair entry to a kayak, and the launch point would have a roller-entry/exit, which increases safety for launching and landing, particularly for unassisted paddlers.
For additional information, view the Park & Recreation September 15, 2022 Meeting Information and Staff Reports or email Lucresha Murphy, PARKnership Manager, at Lucresha.Murphy@alexandriava.gov
The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Lucresha.murphy@alexandriava.gov or Virginia Relay 711.