Pocket Park Meeting Scheduled for Monday

After several years of discussion and planning, Del Ray is getting a new pocket park on the corner of E. Del Ray and Commonwealth Avenues.

The City of Alexandria will be holding a community meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at the park site to discuss construction.

“It’s just basically a notification meeting and a question and answer session,” said Kurt Lorenz, the project manager with contractor Avon Corporation. “It’s really a public awareness scenario.”

Lorenz will be on hand at the meeting along with members of Alexandria’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Construction is being financed by the city’s Open Space Fund. Preliminary park amenities will include a small play area, rain garden, water meter and planting, with construction scheduled for completion in July.

The park will be closed during construction and much of the current site will be cleared.

Construction will occur during mandated hours—between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays.

“At the meeting, we’ll discuss what equipment we will use and other things,” Lorenz said.

Currently only Phase 1 construction of the park is funded. Phase 2 includes a plaza, pathway extension, drinking fountain, benches, tables and additional landscaping.

The site was acquired by the city in 2008 and a plan was adopted in 2009 with the help of extensive public input.

In case of rain, Monday’s meeting will be held at .