We will be discussing potential Neighborhood Conservation (NC) projects to enhance our neighborhood at the BMCA’s Fall General Meeting on Monday, Oct. 19 at 7:00 pm in the membership hall of the Church of the Brethren at 300 North Montague Street.
We will select two or three projects to improve our neighborhood and submit them for potential funding under the Neighborhood Conservation Plan (NCP) program in November. These can be easily changed later, if circumstances warrant. Typical NC improvement projects include new sidewalks, street lighting, traffic management, playgrounds, and park renovations. Projects must also be in line with our approved Neighborhood Conservation Plan. All suggested ideas will be discussed at the BMCA meeting and the ideas with the most support will be submitted. Please send ideas to Phil Klingelhofer at president@boulevardmanor.org by October 16 if possible.
Information on this Arlington County program and the list of projects from throughout the county in the can be found on the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee webpage. The County Board-approved Neighborhood Conservation Plan for Boulevard Manor can be found on the BMCA website.
Neighborhood Conservation Program Overview
Since 1964, the Neighborhood Conservation Program has served as a unique grass roots planning effort that relies on neighborhood volunteers to help plan their communities. As part of the program, participating neighborhoods commit to conserving and improving their communities by preparing and updating Neighborhood Conservation Plans. Those plans reflect community needs and serve as a guide for future planning efforts. The program focuses on an intense public outreach process that engages residents on public improvements. Improvements include installation of sidewalks, curbs and gutters, streetlights, park improvements and renovations, neighborhood art, beautification, traffic management and pedestrian safety improvements. The Neighborhood Conservation Program has 50 neighborhoods that participate in implementing county bond funds. Each community in Arlington that participates in the Neighborhood Conservation Program has a Neighborhood Conservation Representative that serves as a liaison to county staff as part of the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee. The Committee meets monthly and nominates plan based improvement projects to the County Board for funding. The program has been a model for other communities around the country and is the type of grass roots engagement that helps makes Arlington a great place to live.
Current NC Project: Restoration of Woodlands in Bluemont Park using Neighborhood Conservation Program Funding.
The Boulevard Manor Civic Association voted to make the Bluemont Park woodlands restoration project our first priority Neighborhood Conservation (NC) project. This NC project would be a multi-year program to restore the natural woodland area in Bluemont Park (in the area west of Four Mile Run between Carlin Springs Road and the playing fields) by working in partnership with park staff, using a contractor for removal of invasive plant species, conducting a comprehensive survey of the flora and fauna, planting native plant species, encouraging and protecting wildlife diversity, and creating a nature trail with plant identification markers. To provide safe pedestrian access to the woodland area and nature trail, a sidewalk shall be built along the entrance roadway for the parking lot at N. Manchester Street and 4th Street N. to connect with the paved park trail. To protect the watershed, a stormwater management project would be developed at Manchester Street at 4th Street and possibly at Manchester Street and 1st Street.
New NC improvement project ideas proposed at the September BMCA general meeting include:
- Provide supplemental funding for restoration of Reeves farmhouse and historic displays throughout the property.
- remove invasive plants and restore woodland in small valley south of 5900 block of First Street N.
- restore woodland and establish nature trail in Powhatan Springs Park.
- traffic management on 4th Street N.
- repair sidewalks damaged by tree roots in various areas of the neighborhood for public safety. (This is likely no longer needed because repair work is underway or completed in target area.)
Please contact Phil Klingelhofer with your ideas and questions.