City Seeks Feedback on Renaming Park After Late 'First Lady of Del Ray'

Del Ray residents have until July 25 to let the city know what they think about the renaming of a Del Ray park.

The City of Alexandria is seeking public comment on a proposal to rename 1 & 7 East Del Ray Avenue Pocket Park, located at the intersection of E. Del Ray and Commonwealth Avenues, the Judy Lowe Pocket Park. The Del Ray Citizens Association forwarded the proposal, according to a news release from the city.

Judith “Judy” Utterback Lowe loved Alexandria and the Del Ray neighborhood. She believed intensely in preserving and enhancing a sense of community. Judy was well known as the "First Lady of Del Ray," because of her involvement in many civic activities.

While alive, Judy appreciated the fact that it was a grassroots effort of neighborhood activists who convinced the City to buy the land at 1 & 7 E. Del Ray Ave. for the creation of a neighborhood pocket park.

After her death, the Del Ray Citizens Association collected $7,500 for a memorial to Judy, and Del Ray Citizens Association members agreed that investing the money in the pocket park would be the kind of neighborhood-oriented decision Judy would have championed. 

In 2013, the Del Ray Citizens Association and the City agreed to a public-private partnership to pay for further construction of the community-supported park design.

The public is invited to provide comment on the proposal to rename the park the "Judy Lowe Pocket Park" through Friday, July 25. Those interested in providing comments will be able to record their comments by email to jack.browand@alexandriava.gov, subject line: Judy Lowe Pocket Park, or may be mailed to RPCA, Attn: Jack Browand, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria VA 22314. All comments received or postmarked by Friday, July 25 will be reviewed by the City Council Naming Committee.