Park Authority Public Meeting Tuesday on Westgrove Park Plan

(Editor's note: This story originally ran April 1, but we are re-featuring it since the meeting is this week, on Tuesday.)

The Fairfax County Park Authority will host a public comment meeting on April 30 to gather input on the draft master plan for Westgrove Park. 

The current draft master plan for the park is here in a PDF format. 

At the meeting, staff will provide background information about the park, current site conditions, and elements of the draft master plan. A moderated public comment session will follow staff presentations.

Located at 6801 Fort Hunt Road in Alexandria, the park was used as a sewage treatment plant until the late 1980s when operations were ceased; any related facilities were either removed or buried onsite, according to the Park Authority. A wastewater pump station within the park continues to be operated by the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, Wastewater Management Division. The property was leased to the Park Authority in 1986 for a future park site and was ultimately transferred to the Park Authority in 2001.  A master plan process for the park began in 2004 and was indefinitely deferred due to the lack of community consensus in 2005.

The interim off-leash dog area was installed and opened to the public in November. The draft Master Plan affirms the off-leash dog area as a permanent use and recommends park uses and facilities for the park, including:

• Outdoor classroom resource affiliated with Belle View Elementary School
• Trail network
• Open lawn areas for community use
• Resource protection zones

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on April 30 in the Belle View Elementary School cafeteria.

The Park Authority invites the public to review and comment on the draft Master Plan. Comments will be accepted now through May 31, 2013. The draft master plan may be revised based on public comment, prior to presenting to the Park Authority Board for approval. Those wishing to speak at the meeting may sign up in advance by contacting the Public Information Office at 703-324-8662 or via email at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov/parks. You may also sign up at the meeting. 

Comments can also be mailed to: Project Manager Jay Rauschenbach, Fairfax County Park Authority, Planning and Development Division, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 421, Fairfax, VA 22035. Comments may also be submitted via email to Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov. For more information call 703-324-8662.