Improvements Coming to Chinquapin Park

Improvements could be coming to Chinquapin Park as part of a citywide effort to improve six large parks in Alexandria.

Improvement plans are not yet firm but could involve upgrading the playground, developing a parking management strategy and improving the community gardens, three needs identified in a recent survey, said Dana Wedeles, urban planner with the Alexandria Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Activities.

Wedeles told the Seminary Hill Association on Thursday that according to a city park survey of 99 people, the top uses of the park were walking, using the nature trail, using the community gardens and using the recreation center.

“People had very positive things to say, that it’s part of the community and that they go there to seek openness in the city,” Wedeles said.

The park is located at 3210 King St., next to T.C. Williams High School.

The survey found that park users most liked Chinquapin Park’s setting and open space, followed by gardens, location, multi-use purpose, the trail and nature. Park users said the playground, parking, community garden, trail loop and park furniture were most in need of repair.

Overall, feedback from surveys and community groups identified the need to improve mobility for pedestrians and vehicles, preserve green space while accommodating multi-use sports, expand or improve the community gardens, improve the playground and improve general maintenance.

Forty-seven percent of survey participants visited the park weekly; 22 percent visited monthly. Eighty percent of respondents drove to the park—mostly to walk.

Park planning staff are currently developing a draft park improvement plan, and a workshop on the park's future will be held June 5 at a time location still to be determined. The city does not yet have funding to improve the parks. Wedeles said the plans will be presented first to Alexandria City Council.