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TextJuly Park and Environmental Update
Community Continues to Meet on Monticello Park Master Plan
Following the April Public Information meeting to master plan Monticello
Park, representatives from communities near the park were asked to
participate in a working group that would discuss options for the park.
The first meeting was held June 23 at Braddock Hall. Rough draft concepts
with potential uses were developed to be shared with each
representative’s community members and discussed again at the second
meeting on July 6.
At that meeting, FCPA representatives reviewed three conceptual drawings
and attendees provided their input. Attendees discussed development
options ranging from leaving the park undeveloped to planning for off
leash dog areas, a playground/tot-lot, community garden plots,
unsheltered picnic areas, micro-fields, open play areas, a skate spot and
parking area. Discussions also included such issues as storm water
run-off, funding for specific projects, and care and maintenance of the
park.
Some attendees suggested clearing a significant swath of forest across
Guinea Road at Herzell Woods Park to make way for the OLDA and parking
lot area so that Monticello Park could remain undeveloped. One key point
of agreement was to eliminate the U-10 Playing Field thereby reducing the
number of required parking spaces and re-designating the area as an Open
Play Area that is consistent with the current use of the park. A revised
set of drawings will be available soon for public comment via the FCPA
website at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/plandev/monticello.htm. so
that residents can provide their comments on the conceptual drawing(s).
The public input process for the Monticello Park master plan is still
ongoing and your ideas and suggestions are very welcome and another
working group meeting will be scheduled for mid-late August.
The new drawings will be posted When you have had a chance to review
them please forward any comments to Andy Galusha of the FCPA at
Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov. Or, contact your Braddock District
Representative to the FCPA, Anthony Vellucci at
ajvellucci@gmail.com.
This article was provided by Anthony Vellucci, the Braddock District
Representative to the Park Authority.
July Environmental Events
Saturday, July 9 - Build Your Own Composter Workshop
Time: 2pm - 5pm - Location: ReBuild Warehouse, Springfield VA
Are you interested in turning your household kitchen and yard scraps
into...gold? At this workshop you will build your own 55 gallon tumbler
style composter out of recycled lumber and pickle barrels. Take the
composter home, fill it with scraps, and watch as that material turns
into humus, the black gold prized by gardeners, farmers and homeowners
alike! The cost the workshop is $75 and buys all materials to make the
composter. Only a few spots are left! Please RSVP to Dan Schwartz.
Saturday, July 9 - Green Breakfast: Offshore Wind Energy
Time: 8:30am - 10am - Location: Brion’s Grille, Fairfax, VA
Enjoy a hot breakfast buffet and hear Annette Ramos of the Sierra Club
speak about offshore wind energy in the state. As interest in alternative
energy grows, development of wind farms is an increasingly viable option.
The East Coast - particularly Virginia - has excellent conditions for
wind power, perhaps enough to power 700,000 homes. This lecture will
explore the possibilities and barriers to wind power in Virginia. No need
to RSVP, just show up! The cost of the buffet is $10, tax and tip
included. Cash is preferred.
Thursday, July 14 - Monitoring Workshop: Accotink Creek
Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm - Location: Accotink Creek
Come out and help count the critters in this big, beautiful stream as it
winds its way past the popular Cross County Trail. To RSVP, please
contact Dan Schwartz.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - Night Creek Walk
Time: 8pm - Location: Ellanor C Lawrence Park, Chantilly
Explore Big Rocky Run stream at night! When the park shuts down,
nocturnal animals come out. Bring a flashlight and wear good hiking shoes
for this hike to locate and identify nocturnal critters. RSVP online.
The Park Authority’s Summer Workshops
The Park Authority has dozens of nature and history themed workshops
throughout the spring and summer, ranging from bird counts to
hand-cranked ice cream making. To see a list of what’s coming up, check
out the Parktakes catalogue online.
Free Summer Sustainability Workshops from George Mason Univeristy
Energy Efficiency at Home
Learn how to save 20 percent or more on energy bills with a very modest
investment! This workshop will cover topics on how to make cost-effective
energy saving improvements to your home and other small to mid-size
buildings. The class will cover energy audits; plan reviews, and energy
modeling to help homeowners reduce energy use in their homes. The
workshop attendees will leave this course with a list of companies
offering energy-auditing services and an energy reduction resource list
for future reference.
Workshop 1: Wednesday, July 13, 6:00 PM-7:30 PM.
Workshop 2: Saturday, August 6, 10:00 AM-11:30 AM.
Location: Green Acres, 4401 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, VA. Room 113
Find more information: http://msi.gmu.edu/energyefficiencyathome.html
Waste Minimization Workshop
Packaging accounts for 64 million tons by weight, or 33 percent of all
our garbage. Recycling helps, but reducing and reusing is even better! So
come and learn how waste reduction techniques like smart purchasing
decisions, reducing, reusing, and recycling waste can help save natural
resources, energy, disposal space and cost, and minimize pollution
risks.
Workshop: Saturday, July 16, 10:00-11:30 AM.
Location: Green Acres, 4401 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, VA. Room 113
Find more information: http://msi.gmu.edu/wasteminimization.html
Register:http://msi.gmu.edu/registration.html
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