Simpson Stadium Dog Park Group

07/25/2024

Seems like more doggoes and ppl enjoying the renovated DP. Nice they saved the big shade tree in the corner so you can chill in the shade🐶🐕🐕‍🦺🐾🌳

Welcome your comments and feedback

07/12/2024

Lots to discuss here but it’s finally opening and City had to take over from contractor to get the job done.

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The Eugene Simpson Stadium Dog Park will reopen to the community on Monday, July 15 at noon. The Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities, and Project Implementation have completed major outstanding items following the termination of the construction contractor.
The park is now safe and ready for community use. Park users will notice a few unfinished items to be completed such as a new message board, replacement plantings, and reconnecting the lights that do not require the dog park to remain closed for intended use.

New trees and small sections of turf will remain fenced off to allow for establishment through the fall. In early August, the park will be closed for 2-3 days to facilitate the reconnection of the lights. The community will be notified in advance of any dog park closures to carry out the outstanding work.

The City dog park across the street at 521 East Monroe Avenue is open and available to all members of the community during and after renovations are completed. For additional information about the City’s dog parks, visit alexandriava.gov/Dogs.

For future updates on the Simpson Stadium Dog Park project, visit the project webpage.

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact [email protected] or 703.746.5490, Virginia Relay 711.

If you prefer communication in another language, free interpretation and translation services are available to you, please email [email protected] or call 703.746.3960.

The Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities provides Dog Exercise Areas and Fenced Dog Parks for the convenience and enjoyment of City residents.

05/25/2023

City proposal on Simpson Park that would decrease the Dog park..attn: Simpson Stadium Dog Park Group..GET INVOLVED. Summary. The new city proposal to increase parking for the greater Simpson Park Renovation Project will shrink the size of the Dog Park because the basketball court will encroach upon the Dog Park.
Background. Our Simpson Park Dog Owners Group (SPDOG) received the final Dog Park (DP) Renovation design proposal in 2019.
• However, in March 2023, the city (Recreation Parks and Cultural Activities) posted an unknown to us new amended design that showed an expanded parking lot (+16 additional parking spots) that pushed the basketball court into the DP.
• The DP is the only section of Simpson Park targeted to shrink. To accommodate the expanded parking lot, the basketball court shifts and encroaches into the DP.
o Even if the city installs netting and plants evergreen hedges (more loss of DP space) (city informed the DP would lose 2% of its space as opposed to the original 6% - there was no DP CAD drawing to ascertain tangibly what this means).
• Intensified use of Simpson Park, mostly from soccer, is pushing the city in response to crowding, safety, traffic, and parking concerns.
Parking is the Issue. The city presented the modified design in a Zoom meeting on May 18, 2023, but discussion and presentation slides omitted any reference or discussion to the soccer fields. What is evident, and should be included, is discussion that soccer events generate most of the crowding, traffic, parking, access, and safety issues.
• This problem will not be solved by increasing parking, and it is ironic that the increased parking and this project will further decrease scarce green and open space.
• Every new city commercial and residential project, construction, and renovation proposal requests a parking reduction. Even the new Potomac Yard Metro Station has no available parking. Yet for this park renovation proposal, the city itself is requesting a reduction of greenspace to accommodate a parking increase.
• City policy prioritizes alternative transportation that promotes pro-environmental, health, and quality of life initiatives, yet this proposal does not.
• This proposal encourages more automotive uses, increases traffic, and does not comport with the city’s transportation, environmental, and health policies.
Explore Options. There are many alternatives to consider such as using adjacent unused or underused parking lots on weekends. Coordinate with the YMCA on an enter\exit configuration of the parking lot. Solicit Alexandria Soccer Association to raise matching funds like the city did with our group in the PARKnership program for DP improvements. Kelly Cares Field at the Lee Center did this as well.
• Reconfigure the current parking lot for drop off/pick up only.
• Most other local and regional athletic events\venues, employ drop off only and satellite parking. Event attendees could park at GW Middle School and walk or take a shuttle bus loop between Simpson and GWMS.
• Allow weekend parking along the SE corner of the soccer field where the wide merge area is where Monroe\Route One slip lane across from the large apartment – The Porter Del Ray.
• Coordinate with two dog businesses (Barkhaus & Your Dog’s Best Friend) or other nearby buildings (e.g., Reingold - across from the park with 22 spots available on weekends), Discovery Day Care, Commonwealth Academy) for solutions and alternatives for dog park users.
The city should defer a final decision until stakeholders can explore these options, but as the proposal stands it is scheduled to go before the Planning Commission and City Council in early June. GET INVOLVED

04/10/2023

GET INVOLVED FOLKS!!

Join the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities and the Department of Project Implementation at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park (426 East Monroe Ave) on Wednesday, April 26th at 7 p.m. for a community meeting and open house.

The project team will present the proposed renovation plans for Eugene Simpson Stadium Park and will be on hand to take questions from attendees. In case of inclement weather, the meeting will be held at YMCA Alexandria at 420 East Monroe Avenue.

The project team is seeking public comment on the proposed construction plans, which will implement the community recommendations from the 2014 Citywide Parks Improvement Plan.

This plan includes 18 community recommendations for Eugene Simpson Stadium Park, and one amendment in 2021.

Several of the plan recommendations have been completed or are currently in implementation. The proposed design seeks to implement outstanding recommendations and balance various community recreation needs.

The initiative will support the 2022 City Council Community Priority to Support Youth and Families by implementing the community-based plan recommendations and the City’s goal of providing safe and equitable access to facilities and services.
More information about the project and timelines can be seen at alexandriava.gov/parks/project/eugene-simpson-athletic-diamond-fields-renovation-plan

Individuals unable to attend the meeting may submit their comments through our online survey at survey.alexandriava.gov/s3/Eugene-Simpson-Stadium-Park or by email to [email protected] through May 5, 2023.

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact [email protected] or Virginia Relay 711.

Eugene Simpson Stadium Park.

03/31/2023

If you use the Simpson Dog Park, WE NEED YOUR HELP. Changes that Affect the Park.

I was on the City website for Simpson Field and discovered a plan for the entire park. It appears that there is a change in place that will greatly affect the Simpson Field Dog Park, and our Dog Park group was not consulted:

-add parking spaces to the little lot
-add an additional driveway/curb cut on Monroe so traffic flows thru the little lot.
-move the walkway/steps currently adjacent to the Dog Park adjacent to the parking lot and new driveway.

To do this, involves shifting the basketball court 12' INTO THE DOG PARK, so the DOG PARK is being REDUCED in size and the basketball court will abut the Dog Park!!!

In addition, stray basketballs and retrieving ball players jumping the fence to wrestle their ball from thrilled dogs will increase since the court will essentially be on the Dog Park fence line. Humans, immediately adjacent to the park, who are enthusiastically running, bouncing and throwing balls is not a good combination. The dogs need the buffer that is currently in place.

The City should take this opportunity to correct the orientation of the basketball court to north-south. As it is planned it will continue to force players to look into the sun when shooting hoops on the east and west sides of the courts. Landscape standards recommend a north-south orientation, adjusted slightly for latitude.

With this new configuration of the basketball court, the large shady honey locust tree that we all sit under may be lost but the root structure and thus its lifespan will definitely be impacted by the court installation - we cannot tell from this new Simpson plan but were told the tree would remain for the Dog Park renovation.

There is also some fence modification occurring on the east side so that a walk can be established on the side by the soccer field but I am unable to determine if they are moving the fence into the park or just modifying the corner at Monroe Ave for the new sidewalk connection (yes - a sidewalk is going in over there as well!).

This Dog Park size reduction is a surprise to those of us who have worked long years with the City to get the Dog Park improved. We are disheartened to be blindsided by this development. Many of us who have long advocated for this park have lost our dogs, have elderly dogs or have reduced our use of the park over recent years. The Dog Park needs people to spearhead the effort to protect its interests. We ask that everyone contact your elected officials and City Leaders and express your concerns.

For a clearer photo, click on website, click on 'Athletic Fields Renovation Plan', scroll down to Diagrams and select English or Spanish. Note, on the main Simpson website page, you can see the 'Dog Park Renovation Project' which does not incorporate this reduction. https://www.alexandriava.gov/parks/location/eugene-simpson-stadium-park

02/14/2023

Dear Simpson Stadium Dog Park Group Friends: You may have noticed a bit of a stand-still with the DP renovation project. The City informs that:
"The contractor for the Simpson Dog Park renovation is currently working on the major earthwork and rough grading for the site. Site concrete work has started and will continue with additional grading work in February.
Substantial completion is anticipated in the fall and the site will reopen to the community closer to the end of the year. We will continue to work with the contractor on schedule refinements and identify any opportunities to shorten the dog park closure. The schedule is conservative based on our experience with other recent construction projects in Alexandria and current market impacts." If you have any questions, concerns, want an update: Contact: Murphy Ng, Project Implementation @ 703 746 4699. https://alexandrialivingmagazine.com/pets/eugene-simpson-park-dog-park-renovation-to-begin-in-november/

12/29/2022

Progress….Happy Holidays!

12/07/2022

11/07/2022

Folks, this just went up…(Thx Cynthia and Kaylee Wanschura)
Let’s keep our paws crossed they don’t take more than the year they promised

See you at the DP across Monroe

10/17/2022

City of Alexandria Invites the Community to the Eugene Simpson Park Dog Park Pre-Construction Information Session

For Immediate Release: October 17, 2022

The City of Alexandria Departments of Project Implementation and Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities are currently renovating the existing Eugene Simpson Stadium Park dog park.

The City invites the community to participate in a pre-construction information session with the City and construction contractor, Francis Lee Contracting, LLC on Wednesday, October 19 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will take place at 426 East Monroe Ave. near the dog park entrance. The City will present the renovation plan and what to expect during construction.

For questions, visit the project web page or contact Murphy Ng, Project Manager, at [email protected] or call 703.746.4699.

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact [email protected], Virginia Relay 711.

Project Web Page:

https://www.alexandriava.gov/parks/project/eugene-simpson-park-renovation-projects

In 2014, the City completed a Citywide Parks Improvement Plan for six parks, including a plan for Simpson Park. Several plan recommendations have been implemented since 2014 and this project will address the remaining outstanding recommendations. Improvements will also address drainage and surface i...

09/14/2022

Barks, Bites and Brews Event this Weekend at the Canal Center Plaza

Bring your best friend and join others this Sunday, September 18 from 4 to 8 PM at Canal Center in Old Town North.

Promises to be a great time for you and your best friend!!

09/05/2022

For our longtime Simpson Dog Park Friends, we’d like to acknowledge some of our favorite dogs who have sadly left us recently and crossed over the Rainbow Bridge...if there are others we missed...please post.

Welcome photos of these awesome and loyal Best Friends of Man, please share here with a message:

- Mitch
- Mack
- Bandit
- Jack
- Charlie
😢🐕🐾🌈

08/12/2022

Remember to pick up after your pups or.....

Your @$$ is grass

07/11/2022

Cooler Sunday weather = dog run n fun…thanx watchful dog parents for keeping it playful

06/05/2022

Missing Chuck It Sticks...DP Friends...several generous DP users donated 6 of these Chuck Its for DP use...unfortunately, all 6 (small and large sized sticks) are GONE! No DP user would be that low to take it on purpose, so if you accidentally walked off with them, please be kind and return for EveryDogs's use and enjoyment. Remember, it's for the pooches people! 😳😕🐶🐕🐩🐕‍🦺🐾

05/28/2022

Lots of Dogs enjoying the nice weather...city to spread new gravel in a week or so...would be nice to organize a Spring cleanup...Could someone take the lead?

03/29/2022

A few asked about the status of the planned (almost 10 years) renovation of the Simpson Dog Park. Here is the latest: Department of Project Implementation staff today to get an update on the project....these ole boys pictured here were pups when we began this process....

"The dog park construction Invitation To Bid (ITB) opening was held on Monday, March 14. The City received several bids and is currently performing due diligence reviews to ensure the bids are responsive and responsible. After all checks are complete, the project is anticipated to be awarded in April and a construction schedule will be finalized with the selected contractor."

03/22/2022

Some asked about DP water...our FB group doesn't control any of that. Thank you in advance for calling or emailing City 311 for all Dog Park Service\Needs\Requests

03/08/2022

everyone rushed in to enjoy the nice weather this weekend

03/08/2022

03/08/2022

Everyone rushed in bc of the nice weather this past weekend...

02/04/2022

For those tracking, the City informed us: "Simpson Park Dog Park Renovation project is out for bid! The project is moving through the public procurement process, and we will host pre-bid meetings next week. Additional information on the construction Invitation To Bid can be found on the City’s website."
https://www.alexandriava.gov/recreation/info/default.aspx?id=91885
"We anticipate awarding the project this spring and starting construction in May or early June, if all goes well with the solicitation process."
..keep your fingers crossed....

Simpson Park Playground and Passive Lawn RenovationLocation 421 Monroe Avenue Project Playground renovation and improvements to the adjacent passive lawn Funding Capital Improvement Program, Playground Renovation Program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund Status Design

01/11/2022

broken gate latch...requested repair....maybe get a professional fence company to do the job🙄...like the 6th time already.

12/22/2021

A big Bark Out to all who helped with the recent Dog Park clean up! The DP is a great place for our Pups only if you get involved! Many thanks to everyone and remember to always keep an eye on your dog(s)🐾🐕🐶🧐🐾💩🧹! 🐕🐩🐕‍🦺

12/05/2021

Hey dog park people! We will be doing a cleanup this Saturday, Dec 11th from 8am-10am. We'd love some more pairs of hands (or paws) to join us in the cleanup. The park will still be open to dogs so feel free to bring yours. Free coffee will be provided. Cheers!

11/24/2021

Cold Crisp Day for DP Run!

11/13/2021

Another beautiful fall day @ the DP!

11/09/2021

Hello Simpson Dog Park Fans! The Alexandria City Department of Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Activities provided the latest update on the DP Renovation:

"November 2021: The construction Invitation To Bid (ITB) solicitation is under final review by the City’s Purchasing Division. The ITB is anticipated to be posted in late fall and awarded in the winter. Construction is anticipated to begin in early spring of 2022 and final completion in spring of 2023." https://www.alexandriava.gov/recreation/info/default.aspx?id=91885

🐕Let's Git 'Er Done!!!
🐩🦮🐕‍🦺🐕🐾

Simpson Park Playground and Passive Lawn RenovationLocation 421 Monroe Avenue Project Playground renovation and improvements to the adjacent passive lawn Funding Capital Improvement Program, Playground Renovation Program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund Status Design