FOUR-MILE RUN COMMUNITY PARTNER WORKSHOP ACTION STRATEGY

FOUR-MILE RUN

COMMUNITY PARTNER WORKSHOP ACTION STRATEGY

DRAFT #1

Prepared by Glenn Eugster, NPS-National Capital Region

Partnerships Program (202)619-7492.

August 22, 2000

Participants at the August 9, 2000 Meeting

• Mari Lou Livingood, Alexandria Seaport Foundation
• Allen Scully, Alexandria Seaport Foundation
• Don Waye, Friends of Four-Mile Run
• Dave Eckert, citizen of Falls Church
• Leigh Dunkelberger, Friends of the Potomac
• Bill Skrabak, City of Alexandria, Office of Environmental Service
• Jason Papacosma, Arlington County, Department of Environmental Planning
  Aileen Winquist, Arlington County, Department of Environmental Planning
• Tod Dabolt, Environmental Protection Agency
• Glenn Eugster, National Park Service, National Capital Region

What do you value about Four-Mile Run?

• A group coming together, reaching consensus and benefiting the community and it's quality of life
• I once lived there
• The wetlands part
• People with passion--energy and synergy
• Network of parks, a natural corridor intact
• I want to walk along the Run and enjoy the area. It's a good time to take advantage of the focus on Four-Mile Run
• We need to deal with the implications of how we live
• We need to protect and restore it to its former self
• Four-Mile Run is under-utilized and under appreciated
• Education!
• Access!
• It surprises you! It's a respite from the "slings and arrows" of urban life
• A backyard stream for 170,000 people
• It's an opportunity!
• Occassional wildness--a connection to wildness

What do you want to see happen to Four-Mile Run in the future?

 Remove concrete

 Replace wetlands

 $500,000 appropriation goes through

• Take a whole tour to see diversity and issues--get a better feeling of the potentials
• Frame the problems as people see them
• Get stakeholders to identify end-points/ results
• Better personal access and focus on a "backyard" river
• More recreation, fishing bicycling, birding, running, resource for conservation, horticulture, etc.
• Think about Spanish people
• Use the stream and the watershed as an outdoor classroom
• Don't duck the bacteria issue
• Show the connection between how we live and where we live
• Tie into the Interpretive Park at Columbia Pike
• Restore natural diversity and flow regimes

What is the primary objective of the workshop?

• Outline issues, goals and initial tasks
• Get communities public input
• Present urbanization and its effects; what do the watershed managers have to do? Outline what the mandates are--give regulatory education and then let the people dream and scheme dreams
• Identify priorities within people's ideas. Split up by theme or topic
• Expand groups and interests involved. Make the program culturally sensitive
• Get non-traditional participants involved and engaged in the Four-Mile Run effort

What does post-workshop success look like?

• Get people interested and engaged
• Decent turnout
• Validate community issues
• Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church elected officials are more engaged
• Follow-up commitment, roles and responsibilities, clarify roles--be more efficient
• Spin-off group--watershed group encompassing all of the jurisdictions to ensure action and implementation
• Energize a segment of the public--kick-start!

What area will the workshop focus on?

• The entire watershed (20 square miles)
• Focus on portions of the watershed during breakouts.

Who should be involved in planning and holding the workshop?

1. Figureheads/ Influential People (Big names (i.e. snake wrestler). A few words at the beginning of the workshop; a commitment of resources and their own people to help; public statements and actions to indicate that "we are going to do this"; leaders to inspire and draw people to the event)

2. Grunts/ Steering Committee/ Enlisted People (Those who make it happen, cradle to grave; sell it to other groups and governments; front-line planners and doers)

3. Regulators & Government/ Resources and Obstacles (Invited groups; asked for advise every step of the way; network; may offer resources for the event (i.e. press)

4. Audience/ Volunteers (Get charged up; network; hang flyers; sign-ups to engage the volunteers; help at the workshop)

Who are some of the key individuals, groups, governments, and leaders that we need to get involved?

• Jim Fowler--The Snake Wrestler
• State Senator Whipple
• Bob Wayland, EPA
• Dave Davis, EPA
• Peg Nelson, League of Women Voters, Alexandria
• Paul Ferguson, Arlington Co.
• Tom Schuler, The Center for Watershed Protection
• Crowder, VA DEQ
• David Brickley, VA DCR
• Corps of Engineers
• Hodges, ACE
• Chair of Arlington County
• Mayor of Falls Church
• Congressman Moran
• Mayor Donley, Alexandria
• Penny Gross, Fairfax County Supervisor
• Don Beyer--History of Stream
• Jack Taylor, Toyota
• Peg Knight, EASI
• Leaders from the Hispanic Community
• Northern VA Park Authority
• Culmore Community
• Airport Authority
• Washington Area Transportation Authority
• US Airways
• Arlington Sewer Authority
• American Forest Association
• Arlington Sustainability Growth group

What does the workshop look like?

• One evening and one day or two days
• Held at a public facility designed for meetings
• Includes food to get people to attend

Example A:

Start out in a big room;

Move to break out sessions;

Have outside sessions for hands-on--virtual to discussions

Example B:

Include a bike tour--complete accessibility;

Opportunities for fishing;

Opportunities for plantings;

Opportunities for a clean-up

Example C:

 Include a social event;

 Have a real event;

 Have an activity day following the workshop

Example D:

Have tables for people to sign-up for other activities

When will the workshop be held?

Spring 2001

What are the major tasks to move ahead?

1. Recruit Grunts (Don, Todd, All)

1. Contact local representatives (By jurisdiction, Dave, Mari Lou)

1. Contact Non-profits (Mari Lou)

1. Type-up August 9, 2000 meeting notes (Glenn)

1. Start to secure Figureheads (Dave, Mari Lou, Todd)

1. Prepare a funding strategy--do more vs. cheap (Friends of the Potomac, ASF, Bill)

1. Get better definition and intent (Jason and Don)

1. Coordination of activities (Leigh)

What do you think?

Please provide any additional thoughts you have.