Polk Avenue Open Space Offers Serenity

If you’re taking a short walk through the woods, by all means consider Alexandria’s newest acquisition of open space, the yet-unnamed natural park just east of the corner of Polk Avenue and North Pelham Street.

Known as the Polk Avenue Open Space, the city acquired the wooded 2.4-acre lot in December for $1.9 million, including a $1.5 million payment from the Defense Department to atone for open space using during the Mark Center BRAC process. Most residents supported the plan before the City Council and Planning Commission.

The forested, hilly open space at 5325 Polk Ave. was once home to a sawmill and later a house that burned. The spot is certainly a quiet refuge surrounded by dense housing developments, a playground for birds and squirrels. But now that the land is in city hands, what’s to be done?

[Photo Gallery: Polk Avenue's Open Space Park]

The site is full of vegetation, including much underbrush and downed trees. A partially paved path, an old driveway, that turns into pebbles leads to where the house once stood. Even the foundation is gone, leaving an empty space in the middle of the property, littered with bricks and various building materials.

The property is home to some plants not found in many other areas of the city, and a number of bird species, foxes, deer, rabbits and other forest animals have been seen on the site, according to the office of Rod Simmons, the city’s natural resources manager.

The site is steeply sloped, and the current trail is eroded with ruts and far from being accessible to wheelchairs. The property entrance to the trail is marked by a single city of Alexandria property sign and a white post.

City staff discussed the park’s future with local residents in a meeting in February. Laura Durham, the city’s open space coordinator, told Patch the city continues to review those comments. In February, Durham said city officials plan to leave most of the park as is.

“This site is something we’re not going to be messing with a whole lot,” she told residents.

The city plans to keep it as a passive natural area with minimal improvements and public amenities. The trail will not be paved. Staff are considering placing a trash can at the park’s entrance, a bench at the entrance and additional benches in the clearing where the house once stood, Durman said,

At first, the trail will stay as is to avoid disturbing the natural area. There’s a future option, pending funding, to provide a small connector that would loop back from where the house stood and reconnect to the existing path, Durham said. Due to the steep grade throughout the property, full access for residents with disabilities may not be feasible, she said.

Staff plan to bring a plan for the park’s future in June or July before the Park and Recreation Commission. Once the commission approves the plan, then staff can request funding for implementation of improvements in fiscal year 2015.