* Park&Rec Eisenhower endorsement

[Bruce Dwyer]

January 20, 2000

Mr. Robert O. Cassada
Programming and Scheduling Division
Virginia Department of Transportation
1401 East Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23219

Dear Mr. Cassada:
The City of Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission wholeheartedly
endorses our city’s application for TEA-21 funds for the Eisenhower Valley
Greenway Project.  The Commission has recently undertaken a joint review
with the Planning Commission concerning the effective use of open space in
our urban environment.  Many people estimate our city will be “built-out” by
2020, heightening our concerns now about preserving and establishing open
space for the future.  One of the themes that has emerged in public meetings
is the need for linear parks or greenways connecting our destination parks,
something that is very difficult in a densely developed urban area.
Greenways with multi-use trails also serve the recreation needs of our
residents so they can bicycle, walk, or roller blade for exercise.  Perhaps
the greatest benefit of greenways comes from people who choose to bicycle to
work or to school, or to the local shopping center, or just to a friend’s
house for a visit.   These trips replace trips that otherwise would be taken
by vehicles clogging our streets and fouling our air.
This Eisenhower Valley is the location of four major destination recreation
facilities.  Hensley Park is a major softball and soccer facility. Cameron
Park is a Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority multi-recreational
facility with swimming pools, batting cages, and miniature golf.  Lake Cook
is a local “fishing hole”.  Ben Brennman Park, a short distance off the
Valley corridor, will open soon as a major destination park for the city
with a lake, multi-use trails, and athletic fields.  The Eisenhower Valley
Greenway Project will significantly improve the safety and desirability of
accessing these parks by bicycle or foot by Alexandria City residents as
well as residents of Fairfax County.
Our Commission believes that the Eisenhower Valley Greenway Project has been
designed to address both recreation and transportation concerns.  Having a
greenway will substantially improve the livability of this rapidly
developing area of the city.  We recently worked with the single developer
of the Potomac Yards site in the northern section of the city to assure that
this single large development would have the parks and linear trails needed
for a pedestrian and bicycle friendly environment.  Unlike the Potomac Yard
site, the Eisenhower Valley is already partially developed and many projects
are on the drawing boards of many developers.  The city must take a
leadership role for planning and funding in this situation.  We are
encouraging the city to seek funding assistance from developers as future
sections of the greenway are constructed adjacent to their properties.  This
proposed project is important to establish a specific greenway plan now as a
blueprint for the entire length of the Eisenhower Valley transportation and
recreation corridor.
Thank you for your consideration of our views.  If I can be of any
assistance with additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me
at 703-836-3420.

Respectfully,

Judy Guse-Noritake
Chairperson
Park and Recreation Commission