In the Post's Arlington/Alexandria Extra, they reported on Alexandria's effort to preserve 100 acres of additional parkland.
The creation of pocket parks, which have no minimum size but cannot exceed 20,000 square feet, is just one initiative Alexandria officials are working on as they push to maintain and create additional open space in the city. Their goal: 100 acres in 10 years. It is an aspiration, not a maximum, insist planners. Since beginning the program in 2003, officials said the city already has amassed 64 acres.
I think it's smart for the city to be thinking about land preservation, and now that the housing market is cooling down, they may get enough time to meet their goal. This is good for cyclists as several of the pieces can be used for bike trails or are along side existing trails.
In the past year, planners say they have acquired three key parcels on Alexandria's waterfront, land needed to update the historic seaport, as well as four properties along Four Mile Run, where a long-term redevelopment is in the works to transform the flood-control passage into a natural streambed with trails and parkland.
No linear parks were mentioned specifically, but Alexandria had shown an inclination to these in the past. It may include the W&OD right of way in Del Ray
Mt. Jefferson Park and a bike path now occupy the site. The city's new bike plan calls for extending the path from Raymond Avenue to Route 1, and eventually over a new bridge to the Potomac Yard development.
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