Drainage Improvements-
We are aware that there is a drainage problem in the park which involves water from the newly installed fixture and also storm water, especially during the winter months. This water pools inside the dog area and creates muddy conditions which are unsightly and may have adverse health impacts.
In consultation with the Northern Virginia Soil Conservation District and the Fairfax County Park Authority, we are developing a plan to address this problem, which was designated as our most important priority by the Caretakers at the August 2016 General Meeting.
Phase I of that plan is complete and involved filling in low lying areas of the north end with soil, the addition of a gravel bed around the water fixture, and the creation of a gravel walkway from the parking area to the all-weather entry gate. This work was entirely funded by Westgrove PACK using funds donated by our Caretakers. This part of the plan deals effectively with spillage from the water fixture and light rainfall. Long-time park users will have noticed that even though 2018 was the wettest year ever recorded in the Washington DC area, the standing water problem is not as bad as it has been in past years. However, conditions in the park are still unacceptable and further action is necessary.
Phase II is still under development and will deal with major accumulations of storm water, particularly during the winter months. It will involve building a gravel-filled catch basin to collect the storm water and deal with it according to storm water management best practices. Discussions are also ongoing regarding the best surface for the north end. This project will be more involved and will require the negotiation of a more detailed public private partnership between PACK and FCPA as well as regulatory approval from County Stormwater Management to ensure that sensitive environmental areas nearby are not adversely impacted. This phase of the project will also need to address the sinkhole problem which has appeared in the north end. This is a major undertaking, but negotiations are progressing and we hope to have a detailed plan ready for implementation during 2019.
In the interim, Westgrove PACK purchases and applies straw in the North end to temporarily mitigate the problem. We are not authorized to close the North end regardless of conditions, but park users are advised to use caution and make other arrangements when conditions are unsuitable.
We understand that this problem is a major concern of park users and fixing this problem is PACK's top priority. We appreciate your patience.
Please check back here for updates as they are available. If you would like to be part of our drainage working group, please contact westgrovepack@gmail.com.
In consultation with the Northern Virginia Soil Conservation District and the Fairfax County Park Authority, we are developing a plan to address this problem, which was designated as our most important priority by the Caretakers at the August 2016 General Meeting.
Phase I of that plan is complete and involved filling in low lying areas of the north end with soil, the addition of a gravel bed around the water fixture, and the creation of a gravel walkway from the parking area to the all-weather entry gate. This work was entirely funded by Westgrove PACK using funds donated by our Caretakers. This part of the plan deals effectively with spillage from the water fixture and light rainfall. Long-time park users will have noticed that even though 2018 was the wettest year ever recorded in the Washington DC area, the standing water problem is not as bad as it has been in past years. However, conditions in the park are still unacceptable and further action is necessary.
Phase II is still under development and will deal with major accumulations of storm water, particularly during the winter months. It will involve building a gravel-filled catch basin to collect the storm water and deal with it according to storm water management best practices. Discussions are also ongoing regarding the best surface for the north end. This project will be more involved and will require the negotiation of a more detailed public private partnership between PACK and FCPA as well as regulatory approval from County Stormwater Management to ensure that sensitive environmental areas nearby are not adversely impacted. This phase of the project will also need to address the sinkhole problem which has appeared in the north end. This is a major undertaking, but negotiations are progressing and we hope to have a detailed plan ready for implementation during 2019.
In the interim, Westgrove PACK purchases and applies straw in the North end to temporarily mitigate the problem. We are not authorized to close the North end regardless of conditions, but park users are advised to use caution and make other arrangements when conditions are unsuitable.
We understand that this problem is a major concern of park users and fixing this problem is PACK's top priority. We appreciate your patience.
Please check back here for updates as they are available. If you would like to be part of our drainage working group, please contact westgrovepack@gmail.com.