Waterfront Operations Weekly Update 3/6-3/10

Waterfront Operations Update: May 6 - 10

Recent highlights:

• Mowing at all parks is on a 7-10 day mowing schedule.
• Mowing at Windmill Hill Park is now under contract on a 10 day schedule. The first mowing is scheduled for mid to late next week. The time between the last mowing from the staff and the start of the contract mowing may be a little longer than the 10 day schedule. This means the grass may look a little longer than usual for a few days. Please contact me for more information or details.
• We have identified several irrigation leaks. Irrigation should not cause standing water, if you notice standing water in the morning when there was no recent rain or flooding feel free to let me know the location and I will make sure there is not an issue with the irrigation at that location. The south half of Founders Park has had the irrigation shut off for the time being.
• Irrigation at all parks was off this week and will resume Monday morning. All parks currently water Monday and Thursday mornings.
• The contract work at Point Lumley Park and Roberdeau Park has started. This work will be complete over the next few weeks.
• Weed control applications has started in some areas. Due to the rain there were no weed control applications this week. Weed control application on walkways and mulched areas will continue throughout the season.
  Herbicide:  MSDS   
  Pre-emergent:  MSDS
• The rope around Founders Dog Park is only covering the areas near the center where the new grass is struggling. Depending on the growth of the grass over the next few weeks you may see plugs of healthy grass appear in this area to help with turf recovery.
• Fertilizations will be done at several locations next week including the Windmill Hill Dog Park.
• Volunteers from CMAA touched up areas of Point Lumley Park and painted the railings.

Coming Soon:

• We are looking at the possibility of using some different equipment to accomplish some waterfront needs. You may see staff working with some equipment such as a Hydroseeder of a device that kills weeds with steam (for applications on the shoreline).
• We are planning on replacing the French drain at the low area of Founders Park with a faster drainage option. This may result in a small ground level drain grate in that area.

Upcoming Windmill Hill Improvements (planned to be done before the end of June):

• The cement at the area near the volleyball court is going to be repaired and a bollard installed to restrict vehicular access.
• Several picnic table pads are planning on being installed (these will be flagstone to match the existing stone walkways) and the old picnic tables replaced.
• We are on placing several benches around the bulkhead.

 Current work on contract is:

• Landscaping around Point Lumley and Roberdeau Parks has started, it is planned to be completed before the end of May.
• Installation of pads for picnic tables and repairs on concrete at Windmill Hill Park.
• Weed Control applications within 10’ of shoreline
• We are looking at contract mowing at some of the Waterfront areas, a cost/benefit analysis is being reviewed to assure proper allocation of resources. Contract mowing at Windmill Hill Park begins next week.
• Connection of irrigation control box to irrigation system at Windmill Hill Dog Park

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, comments or for more information on our projects. 

Eugene    Loew    CPRP, CPSI
Park Manager - Waterfront Operations
Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities
1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria VA 22134
Phone: 703-746-5518  
Email: eugene.loew@alexandriava.gov