For Immediate ReleaseFor More Information, Contact
August 24, 2006
PIO# 199-06/rdo		Brian Hannigan, Director of Communications, or
Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300
Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300


National Park Service Releases
Jones Point Park Environmental Assessment



After more than six years of planning and debate on the renovation and redesign of Jones Point Park, the National Park Service (NPS) has released the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA), which includes a concept plan for the park. The Draft EA, which will undergo further public review and comment, was released to the public on August 18, 2006. The NPS Draft EA Preferred Alternative calls for one multi-use field south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, which differs from the preferred option sent by City Council to NPS in June 2005. Given the difference in the City Council preferred option and the preferred plan presented by NPS, City staff will assess the impacts posed by the NPS plan on existing and planned park programs.

The NPS preferred alternative will be open for public review and comment for a period of 60 days beginning August 18, 2006. A formal public hearing by the National Park Service is scheduled for September 13, 2006 from 6 - 9 pm at the Radisson Hotel Old Town, located at 901 North Fairfax St., Alexandria, Virginia 22314. Verbal and written comments can be provided at the public hearing. Once the public comment period is closed, the National Park Service will make a determination on a final approved plan that will proceed to full design and construction phases.

As part of the mitigation impact from the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge, Jones Point Park received funding from the federal government to undergo redesign and renovation of the park area.

Copies of the environmental assessment will be available for public inspection at all Alexandria City Public Libraries and can be downloaded from http://parkplanning.nps.gov by selecting “George Washington Memorial Parkway” from the drop-down list.

For more information, call Kirk Kincannon, Director of the City's Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, at 703-838-4842, or e-mail kirk.kincannon@alexandriava.gov.


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