White Horticultural Park Planning Workshop Summary

The Fairfax County Park Authority held a public planning workshop to solicit input on future planned uses at the John C. and Margaret K. White Horticultural Park July 21, 2005. A summary follows, with links to pertinent documents:

White Horticultural Park
Public Workshop Summary
July 21, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.
JEB Stuart High School

1. Welcoming Remarks and Introductions were made by Judy Pedersen, Public Information Officer, FCPA and Frank Vajda, Mason District, Park Authority Board Representative. Introductions included the following FCPA Board members: Harry Glasgow, At Large, Ed Batten, Lee District, Joanne Malone, Providence District, Georgette Kohler, At Large, George Lovelace, At Large and Gil McCutcheon, Mount Vernon District. Lynn Tadlock, Director of Planning and Development and Sandy Stallman, Project Manager, were also introduced.
2. Staff Presentation - Sandy Stallman presented a Power Point presentation (large file: 1.48MB, PDF¹) that included information about the planning process, a site overview, alternative use concepts and access alternatives information.
3. Small Group Workshops - Following the presentations, attendees were assigned to 13 small groups and participated in facilitated group discussions concerning the pros and cons of the alternative use concepts presented and five entrance options. Participants were provided with handouts (PDF¹) with information about the alternative concepts and entrance options.
4. Workshop Reports - A citizen member of each of the 13 small groups recorded the groups input on a summary sheet (PDF¹) and another member of each group reported their groups input.

   In general, most groups supported Concept 1 that proposes minimal change to the site with some elements from Concept 2 such as a perimeter trail and added gardens. Most groups favored having a caretaker on site and some groups favored providing limited public program space and/or meeting space in the residence. There were mixed reports on whether public restrooms should be provided and two groups suggested "green" restrooms. The kiosk in Concept 1 was generally favored over the orientation building in Concept 2 and suggestions were made to review its location as to not interrupt the views. Concept 3 was rejected as too much activity, change and development.

   Other suggestions included: add school/educational programs; restore and publicly use the barn; provide community input for kiosk design; allow dogs/don't allow dogs; get rid of pond, enhance the pond, expand and stock the pond; parking should be central, place multiple smaller parking areas at entrances, pedestrian-only park, gravel parking lots; use a phased use approach; consider park lighting impacts and noise impacts; limit public access hours. Garden suggestions included expand gardens with specialty plants, do organic gardening; provide native tree arboretum in meadow, use woodlands as bird sanctuary, preserve galax, upgrade gardens, gardens can be added or expanded anywhere on the site.

   The groups were asked to discuss the pros and cons of each alternative and choose a first and second preference for the vehicle access location and to identify pedestrian access locations. Some groups reached a consensus, some had tie votes and others could not agree. The top two preferences included Kerns Road and Goldsboro Court with Princess Anne receiving some preference. Most groups agreed that pedestrian access should be provided in at least 3 or 4 locations with some groups favoring pedestrian access at all five locations. Many groups did not have time to place a preferred parking lot location, but those that did placed a small lot cut out on the maps near the preferred vehicle entrance.

5. Wrap -up and Closing Remarks- Judy Pedersen closed the meeting by thanking citizens for attending and actively participating in the process. As the Master Plan is developed over the next few months, the public input received at the meeting will be considered along with site conditions, horticultural, natural and cultural resource impacts, site management, park operation and design issues.
6. Next steps were summarized and include:
   • Completion of the Horticultural Landscape Report by the consultants;
   • Staff will draft and publish the Master Plan;
   • Hold a Public Hearing in the fall followed by a 30-day comment period; and
   • Park Authority Board Approval Consideration.