Planning For Del Ray Splash Park, Nancy Dunning Memorial Underway

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The "gateway" into Del Ray will be transformed into a new area with a splash park and memorial gardens to honor the late Nancy Dunning under a community improvement proposal in the works.

The Del Ray Community Partnership has taken up the project to build Gateway Park at the corner of Mount Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues. Currently it is the site of a park and the former Colasanto Pool, which has been closed since 2010.

"While the Del Ray community has moved forward, there are friends and neighbors who remember and often speak about the important role that Nancy Dunning played in Del Ray’s transformation," wrote Del Ray Business Association's Pat Miller in a letter. "And those friends feel it is important that the community not forget Nancy and that those newcomers to the now-popular neighborhood learn about who helped make it possible."

Dunning was often known as the "The Queen of Del Ray," so it's fitting that the Nancy Dunning Garden would be the greeting point for those coming into Del Ray. A real estate agent, she's been credited with bringing new business to the neighborhood under her vision for Mount Vernon Avenue. She had been killed in 2003 inside her Del Ray home. The gardens will be a peaceful place to reflect and will include new paving and seating.

The spray park could open by 2020 under city plans. In the meantime, it will become a green space for families to use under Phase 1 construction. This includes taking down the chain link fence, the old wooden posts, and deck over the pool space. The city had already intended to demolish gateway park in 2022, but moved the timeline due to the Gateway Park proposal.

The total project cost is estimated at $418,452 for the garden and $900,000 for the spray park, according to a grant application sent to the city. The partnership anticipates grants and donations can cover the costs. The community partnership received a $48,000 Community Matching Grant from the city for the memorial garden and spray park.

An additional $42,000 needs to be raised by June 30, so community organizations and businesses are stepping up to help. The Del Ray Gateway Night of Giving will raise money on Feb. 26 from 5 p.m.-8 pm at Pork Barrel BBQ. The community partnership will sell raffle tickets for three to five gift baskets, with themes including Dining in Del Ray, Wellness in Del Ray and Dogs in Del Ray.

The Del Ray Citizens Association also donated proceeds from the 2017 chili cook off and the upcoming Home and Garden Tour Saturday, May 12.

Partners for the project so far have been Nancy Dunning's family, the Del Ray Citizens Association, Del Ray Business Association, Del Ray Artisans, Cole & Denny Architects, and Land Planning and Design Associates.

For more information on the project, visit the Del Ray Gateway's website and Facebook page.

Like Del Ray Patch on Facebook.

Rendering via City of Alexandria website