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 have developed 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. FCPA has since replaced the gravel walkway with asphalt to bring this area into ADA compliance. The original work was entirely funded by Westgrove PACK using funds donated by our Caretakers. This part of the plan dealt 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 deals with major accumulations of storm water, particularly during the winter months. It involves building a swale to collect storm water and direct it outside the dog area according to storm water management best practices. This phase is being funded primarily by FCPA. This work began in October. Because soil can only be moved when the park is dry, this will advance in stages. They make adjustments and then evaluate those changes during the next rainy period and make additional changes if necessary during the next dry period. Since this work is highly weather-dependent, the exact completion date is uncertain, but it should result in major improvements during the winter months.
Until the problems in the north (small) end are improved, we plan to maximize the time that the south (big) end of the park is open. Based on our experience over the last five years of actively managing the turf in the park, we believe that any damage that is done by having that area open during the winter will be fully repaired by our turf renewal operations in the spring.
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 have developed 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. FCPA has since replaced the gravel walkway with asphalt to bring this area into ADA compliance. The original work was entirely funded by Westgrove PACK using funds donated by our Caretakers. This part of the plan dealt 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 deals with major accumulations of storm water, particularly during the winter months. It involves building a swale to collect storm water and direct it outside the dog area according to storm water management best practices. This phase is being funded primarily by FCPA. This work began in October. Because soil can only be moved when the park is dry, this will advance in stages. They make adjustments and then evaluate those changes during the next rainy period and make additional changes if necessary during the next dry period. Since this work is highly weather-dependent, the exact completion date is uncertain, but it should result in major improvements during the winter months.
Until the problems in the north (small) end are improved, we plan to maximize the time that the south (big) end of the park is open. Based on our experience over the last five years of actively managing the turf in the park, we believe that any damage that is done by having that area open during the winter will be fully repaired by our turf renewal operations in the spring.
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.