Do you support Arlington County funding a park improvement project in Nelly Custis Park?
Yes
Should there be a play area for 5-12 year old children?
No
Should there be site furnishings such as benches and trash receptacles?
Yes
Should there be a tricycle loop?
No
Should there be plantings for shade and beautification?
Yes
What other elements would you like to see included in the scope of work?
The first and foremost item should be the drainage. I know that the county added a rain garden in the first plan for mitigation, but I believe that the Department of Environmental Services should be brought in to do a study given the severity of it. Even after a short rainfall, the park does not drain adequately for use. The mitigation of this type of project could be much larger than the county is anticipating and I think it would be good to know that as soon as possible before moving forward on plans and a budget.
If all goes well with the drainage mitigation, then here are a few ideas of amenities that serve multiple uses while keeping the quaint park’s character. If the bamboo must be removed, it might be really nice to add back a very similar kind of tree and plant grove for children to play in that takes up the current amount of space, while providing privacy for the adjacent homes. Boulders exist at Virginia Highlands Park and I think they could be a nice feature too and used as added seating in place of benches on west side of the park, while serving a dual purpose of letting kids climb on them. A few people mentioned butterfly or edible gardens, which could also serve a multipurpose, for beautification and education. These types of gardens planted along the fence or in areas near seating that cannot be used for recreation would be a great addition to educate kids about types of plants and the ecosystem. Plus adults may love seeing the flowers and gardens while relaxing nearby. I can imagine some people even hosting Saturday educational programs to teach kids about types of plants. I don’t know of anything like that now in our Aurora Highlands’ neighborhood parks. Trees should remain and more added for shade especially in the existing playground that’s for older kids, where elementary-aged kids use the equipment for summer camp and I’m sure it’s hot. A water fountain, which is listed as a priority in the NC Plan and a necessity, should at least have been considered a part of the top amenities for improvements in this park along with the listed benches and trash receptacles. At DPR’s budget starting at $30k for a water fountain, I think a fountain could be useful to the children that use the park and the many neighbors too. It would make it easier for groups that would typically have to carry in their plastic water bottles or cups only to throw them away and make more trash. New fences should be added. The back wooden fence is falling apart in sections and nails were coming out (Recently some areas were repaired, but it might be time to replace it). The chain link fence should be upgraded and a small fence should be added by the east side where the playground is to help keep the park and the designated play spaces separate.
Comments
The park is very small and serve people of all ages and uses daily as one of our last centrally located green space parks in the neighborhood. Large plastic playgrounds exist all over our neighborhood and there is not a need for more. So delicate attention to placing any amenities, including consideration of their size, should be very carefully considered so that current use for playing, exercising, dog walking, relaxing, and so on can continue while keeping the existing contiguous green space which provides the most flexible use of space for all.
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22202Do you support Arlington County funding a park improvement project in Nelly Custis Park?
Should there be a play area for 5-12 year old children?
Should there be site furnishings such as benches and trash receptacles?
Should there be a tricycle loop?
Should there be plantings for shade and beautification?
What other elements would you like to see included in the scope of work?
The first and foremost item should be the drainage. I know that the county added a rain garden in the first plan for mitigation, but I believe that the Department of Environmental Services should be brought in to do a study given the severity of it. Even after a short rainfall, the park does not drain adequately for use. The mitigation of this type of project could be much larger than the county is anticipating and I think it would be good to know that as soon as possible before moving forward on plans and a budget.
If all goes well with the drainage mitigation, then here are a few ideas of amenities that serve multiple uses while keeping the quaint park’s character. If the bamboo must be removed, it might be really nice to add back a very similar kind of tree and plant grove for children to play in that takes up the current amount of space, while providing privacy for the adjacent homes. Boulders exist at Virginia Highlands Park and I think they could be a nice feature too and used as added seating in place of benches on west side of the park, while serving a dual purpose of letting kids climb on them. A few people mentioned butterfly or edible gardens, which could also serve a multipurpose, for beautification and education. These types of gardens planted along the fence or in areas near seating that cannot be used for recreation would be a great addition to educate kids about types of plants and the ecosystem. Plus adults may love seeing the flowers and gardens while relaxing nearby. I can imagine some people even hosting Saturday educational programs to teach kids about types of plants. I don’t know of anything like that now in our Aurora Highlands’ neighborhood parks. Trees should remain and more added for shade especially in the existing playground that’s for older kids, where elementary-aged kids use the equipment for summer camp and I’m sure it’s hot. A water fountain, which is listed as a priority in the NC Plan and a necessity, should at least have been considered a part of the top amenities for improvements in this park along with the listed benches and trash receptacles. At DPR’s budget starting at $30k for a water fountain, I think a fountain could be useful to the children that use the park and the many neighbors too. It would make it easier for groups that would typically have to carry in their plastic water bottles or cups only to throw them away and make more trash. New fences should be added. The back wooden fence is falling apart in sections and nails were coming out (Recently some areas were repaired, but it might be time to replace it). The chain link fence should be upgraded and a small fence should be added by the east side where the playground is to help keep the park and the designated play spaces separate.
Comments
The park is very small and serve people of all ages and uses daily as one of our last centrally located green space parks in the neighborhood. Large plastic playgrounds exist all over our neighborhood and there is not a need for more. So delicate attention to placing any amenities, including consideration of their size, should be very carefully considered so that current use for playing, exercising, dog walking, relaxing, and so on can continue while keeping the existing contiguous green space which provides the most flexible use of space for all.