Huntington Community Association Concerned About Activity in Huntington Park

Concern about possible drug activity has sparked the Huntington Community Association to organize a neighborhood walk and clean-up, its members decided Thursday night at the Huntington Community Center.

The group plans to meet Saturday, Oct. 13 at 9 a.m. at the baseball diamond in Huntington Park.

Some members are concerned about the activity that goes on throughout the day and night at Huntington Park, they said at their meeting. During the planned walk, the members will observe any activity while also trying to come up with a proposal to submit to the Mount Vernon Council of Citizens' Associations.

Resident Phil Hartenstein who lives on Arlington Terrace, said his home is aligned with Huntington Park and he often walks his dog in the area. Hartenstein said he's concerned about the people who visit the fishing hole in the park and what they're doing in the area.

"It's a constant stream of people going back to the fishing hole all day and mostly all night," said Hartenstein. "I walk my dog in the park, so we do walk by occasionally."

Hartenstein said he doesn't want to go back there alone to get a closer look, but he said there are times when he has smelled an odor that seems like an illegal substance. However, Hartenstein said he has seen the police patroling the area a little more often than usual.

Harry Shepler, the president of Huntington Community Association, said it's important for residents to report when they see people going into the park after dark or if they suspect there is suspicious activity.

"The more reports they [Fairfax County Police Department] get, the more often someone will check the area."

Shepler said MPO Greg Kottemann of the Crime Prevention Office has stepped up and has done some research and sends more patrol cars to check the area.

The members also discussed problems with parking in the Huntington area. Residents have recently encountered issues with parking and zoning restrictions near their homes. On some streets, parking is not allowed between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Residents with driveways don't have too many problems, but those who don't, have visitors who are ticketed when parking near their homes during the day. Residents are provided one visiting pass, so the members are thinking about proposing the county provide residents with two or three visitor passes or change the restricted hours to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Members of the association will have the opportunity to discuss their concerns again next month when Kottemann attends the meeting on Nov. 1.

The Huntington Community Association meets on the first Thursday of every month to discuss community concerns, renovations/constructions in their area and to get information about local events and county meetings.