Tuesday, November 13, 2012

fossil dig coming to Ft. Myer Heights Park

At tonight's Radnor/Ft. Myer Heights (RAFOM) Civic Association meeting, Arlington County landscape architect Aaron Wohler described the play equipment to be installed in the forthcoming Ft. Myer Heights Park playground. The total budget for the project is $559,000.  That's sufficient for a fun playground.  The playground will include a sand pit with a water pump and simulated fossils buried in the sand.  Play equipment will be forest-themed, with slides and climbs built around simulated tree trunks.  In addition, five to six new, real trees will be planted in the park.

County Board approval for the playground project is expected in December.  Construction should commence in January or February. The contract will require completion in 150 days.  Drawing on the experience with the Hillside Park renovation, a knowledgeable resident suggested including within the construction contract steep penalties for delays and requiring maintenance of new trees for a year after planting.

The RAFOM meeting also included presentations on services for the aging.  Peter Olivere spoke about an aging-in-place organization called "villages".  According the Arlington Villages Project, a village is:
A group of people who want to continue living in their own homes as they get older with all the resources, friends and multigenerational community connections to enable them to enjoy active, healthy and safe lives.
The video below describes a pioneering village established in Beacon Hill in Boston.  For residents living in condos, a small step in this general direction might be to show up for your condo board meetings.


Maimoona Bah-Duckenfield of Arlington County's Office on Aging & Disability discussed Arlington County services supporting independent living for the aging.  Arlington County's many services for the aging include Arlington Libraries' Homebound Service that mails books to person unable to visit the library (call 703 228-5960 to find out more) and a daily phone check-in service (Safety for Our Seniors; call 703 228-4460 for details).

Other items from the RAFOM meeting:
  • Arlington County is soliciting resident input for updating its noise control ordinance.  Make your voice heard, at a civilized decibel level.
  • A public meeting on the Rosslyn Sector Plan will take place on Dec. 3 at 7pm at Artisphere.
  • The RAFOM holiday party for low-income residents will take place on Dec. 7, 7-9pm at Wilson School.  Contract RAFOM to volunteer to help with this enjoyable and worthy event.
  • Site plan review is under way for a new building to be constructed between Pierce and Queen St., behind the Inn of Rosslyn.  More details here.
The next RAFOM meeting will be in Februrary, 2013.

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