1. Share Your Thoughts on the Design for Met Park:What do you want Met Park to look like? Check out the two new draft design concepts for the Metropolitan Park Public Space! Watch a video presentation on what we learned from the first engagement opportunity earlier this year and take a look at the two draft design concepts your comments helped inform: The Social Gardens and The Forest Walk. After you’re done, share your thoughts on features, park themes, recreational uses and more! Your feedback helps in the development of the Park Master Plan and design guidelines for this wonderful new community space.
GET STARTED NOW! (Engagement open now through May 14)
2. Share Your Thoughts on Crystal City Parks: Do you care what they will look like? JBG Smith is beginning a virtual community engagement process for our Parks and Open Space redevelopment work in Crystal City. The Open Space plan includes the redevelopment of 5 parks in Crystal City, which aim to bolster the vibrancy and livability of the community, as envisioned in the Sector Plan. We look forward to continuing the momentum generated by the community dialogue at the 3 civic associations’ Open Space charette earlier this year. As a part of this virtual process, they have created an online platform, CoUrbanize, to create a new community engagement experience by allowing everyone to directly comment and follow the conversation.
Get involved. Respond to the CoUrbanize surveyand make known what you want our parks to be.
3. Elections: The June 9 Primary has been moved to June 23 by order of Governor Northam. Arlington County is encouraging absentee voting to prevent exposure to COVID-19. At this point, polling stations will be open, but the County is working on many preventative measures to protect both poll workers (of whom your President is one) and voters. The Virginia Supreme Court established July 7 as the date for the Special Election to the seat vacated by the April 16, 2020 death of Vice-Chair Erik Gutshall. On April 30, the County petitioned the Court to allow an extension of the July 7, 2020 special election to August 4 or later. We should know more by the time our June Newsletter goes out.
4. Census 2020: Don’t Forget to Respond: 2020 Census Reminder Postcards Arriving starting April 27.
The U.S. Census Bureau is beginning to send reminder notice postcards to an estimated 69 million households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census. Arlington County’s response rate as of April 30 was 63.5%, but Crystal City was only 54.3%. Our area is one of the harder to count areas in Arlington because of the nature of the multifamily buildings. Those households that have not yet responded to the census will receive an in person visit by a census taker to collect their information later this summer. It’s easy: Click the link below to respond. It includes information on “How the Census Bureau Protects Your Data,” and provides extensive guidance on “Who To Count” (such as foreign citizens, college students, the military, people who live or stay in more than one place, etc.). https://2020census.gov/en.html
5. AFAC Food Drive: Our food drive co-sponsored with the National Landing BID and supported by Flare Rides continues every Wednesday. Since February, the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) has seen the number of active referrals to AFAC increase by 30%. The BID is offering a pizza party to the multifamily building providing the most food during the campaign. Crystal Park (1805 Crystal Drive) is beating everyone hands down so far with a full box every week.
Your President,
Carol Fuller