Alexandria Seeks Name For Upcoming Waterfront Park

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The City of Alexandria has opened a survey to choose the name for the new waterfront park under construction at the base of King Street. The decision to strip the original name of Fitzgerald Square so the park could undergo a formal naming process drew ire from supporters of Irish American heritage.

Alexandria residents can suggest names for the new park in an online online survey through Nov. 16. A public hearing will take place on Nov. 15, from 7 p.m.-9 p.m., at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe Street.

Aside from seeking name suggestions, the survey asks residents if the new park should include the adjacent Waterfront Park or be a separate park. The City Council Naming Committee will incorporate survey feedback and public hearing in a recommendation to City Council. The Naming Committee adopted the staff proposal for the naming process on Sept. 27.

When City Council approved the waterfront plan in 2012, Fitzgerald Square was used as a placeholder name. It was named after Col. John Fitzgerald, an Irish immigrant, American Revolution war hero, and founder of the first Catholic church in Virginia (now the Basilica of Saint Mary).

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The city happened to remove the Fitzgerald Square name as Irish Americans celebrated St. Patrick's Day on March 17. In a press release, the city says although the waterfront plan incorporated public input, there was no formal naming of the park with public feedback. Meanwhile the Ancient Order of Hibernians - Herbert-Cady Division started a petition demanding the city restore Fitzgerald Square as the park name.

Construction is underway for the new park, at the site of the original King Street park along with the former Old Dominion Boat Club building and parking lot. Inclement weather delayed the expected park opening for the Oct. 12-14 Portside in Old Town festival. The park will likely open this fall, but there is no set finish date.

The park opening this fall is an interim park with an open plaza, waterfront promenade, shade structures and a flexible space that can convert into an ice-skating rink and concert amphitheater.

Several years later, the interim park will close for construction of flood mitigation infrastructure and other amenities for the permanent park.

For more information about the park, visit alexandriava.gov/Waterfront.

Rendering via City of Alexandria