Town Crier Articles

 

One need look no further than the vivid red and pink vincas intermingled with sweet potato vines as their brilliantly veined leaves cascade from the retaining wall along Foundation Street, or the sea of buttery yellow daffodils blanketing the eastern parking area in the spring, or the meticulously labeled vegetables and herbs awaiting harvest by an unknown visitor in the  garden at the north end of Foundation Square to recognize that nature has had some help in creating such stunning sights, and that help is the Foundation Square Landscape Committee.  

 

This committee was established about 6 years ago and is made up of residents of Foundation Square who volunteer their time, and sometimes their money, to enhance the landscaping provided by the developer.  Foundation Square is a multi-use building in New Town with commercial businesses on the first floor, residential condos on the top three floors, and a clock tower that overlooks Legacy Hall.  The committee started with just a few residents getting together: those who have downsized and missed having a yard or garden, or those who just wanted to get their hands dirty while improving our landscape.  Over the years the committee has grown from that small handful to over ten regularly participating members today. They all love nature and the beauty of the gardens that they have established and continue to care for, and they love that the community can enjoy the fruits of their labors as well.

 

The committee members meet periodically to plan the spring and fall plantings, incorporating plants that have been donated for their use.  For example, there are currently over 2,000 daffodils planted around the building that were donated by residents and planted by the committee.  A daffodil festival is held each April.  The group has also addressed overlooked places by enhancing the ‘woodsy’-ness of the earthen strip in the parking lot between the building and adjacent Iron-Bound Gym and by masking the building’s vital outdoor infrastructure elements with trellises of flowering vines. Members also get together in work crews as necessary to plant, prune, and weed, and they take turns, even in the brutal heat of summer, to water the plants when rain hasn’t providing enough moisture. The members know full well that a garden’s work is never done, but they wouldn’t have it any other way. 

 

One of the highlights of their work is the Children’s Garden which is open to any and all children (under the supervision of an adult) in the area, not just those in Foundation Square.  In this garden, the committee members plant a variety of vegetables including carrots, peas, tomatoes, eggplants, and cucumbers to be enjoyed by the children and whoever else happens by and enjoys fresh produce.  The plantings vary and are often changed to give the children a wider exposure to what nature has to offer.  In the past, sweet corn, sunflowers, okra, and even an artichoke have been planted.  It turns out, not only have some of the children never seen some of these plants grow, but a lot of the adults have not seen how these plants grow either.  It gives committee members great joy to see a three year old open up a pea pod and eat the contents, often for the first time. 

 

The committee also plants a fall garden, sometimes with cauliflower, broccoli, kohlrabi, cabbage, garlic and collards.  Several years ago they planted ten donated fig trees, which are still going strong with their tasty bounty, and the lesser known Paw Paw, which, interestingly, was one of George Washington’s favorites has a home here as well.   The committee members enjoy sharing this bit of history with the garden’s guests.  Some of the older residents also remember a song that goes something like “Picking up Paw Paws and putting them into a basket . . .”  Additionally, near the Children’s Garden is an herb garden, which provides a wide variety of fresh herbs for everyone in the area who wants to partake of them, perhaps for enhancing a favorite savory dish.  The members, who have selected, planted, and maintained the herbs, love to share.  The herb garden with its rock pathways, reminiscent of the one by the Bruton Parish Hall, is a hit with the small children who love to help “relocate” the rocks on occasion.  Actually, the most popular feature of the “Children’s Garden” is the rocks, and young children are often seen playing there.  Benches are provided near the garden, and parents and their little ones often rest and even have a picnic there.  One of our frequent young visitors picks mint, which his mother uses to make “mint water” for him.  Another of the young visitors, about 2 or 2 ½ years old, knows the name of every herb and can identify them easily by himself.

 

Some who enjoy the surroundings are those who sit and stay a spell by the vegetable garden, as well as those who arrive a bit early for an appointment at one of the ground floor businesses to take in the pageant of colors and the entrancing fragrance, or those who, while out for an evening constitutional or a walk with the dog, pause in Sullivan Square Park to admire the splendor of the Foundation Square gardens. The grounds of Foundation Square are open to the public, and all are welcome to drop by and enjoy the flowers and the foliage. 

 

The tireless effort and consummate dedication of the Foundation Square Landscape Committee is evident; the photos provided speak for themselves. Because of all that they have accomplished and all that I know they will continue to do to enhance our community through nature’s beauty, I am pleased and excited to nominate the Foundation Square Landscape Committee for the Arbor Day 2020 Award of Excellence.

 

 

With warmer weather and the opportunity for outdoor activities, families want to know – what’s happening at the New Town community pool playground? You may have noticed that for the past year or so the playground becomes a soggy bog after heavy rain periods. This condition is affecting its use.

 

The NTRA also received $20,000 in funds from New Town Associates in 2017 for additional equipment at the playground. However, no money has yet been spent and there is no timeframe for when all the playground issues will be resolved.

 

To recap how we got here: In 2016 residents successfully reversed a proposal from the developers to eliminate any further playgrounds in New Town. James City County Supervisors agreed in July 2016 to abide by the decision of the New Town Design Review Board and RAB as to whether an additional playground would be built in the Chelsea Green neighborhood as originally designed in the New Town Master Plan.

 

A workgroup of residents met throughout late 2016 to review whether another playground should be built and if not, consider upgrades that might be possible to the main playground near the pool.  This committee consulted with residents of Chelsea Green, the playground equipment company, and James City County. In March 2017 the RAB approved their recommendations not to build a playground in Chelsea Green and to add umbrellas and an additional structure to the pool playground. In particular, the playground group felt that the use of some type of shading device would protect users from the seasonal heat and rain, thus enhancing the area’s use.

 

In April 2017, the RAB Chairman met with the developer who agreed to fund a new slide, a handicapped swing, additional tables, benches, and umbrellas.  In August 2017, the RAB accepted $20,000 payment from New Town Associates for such equipment and in fulfillment of the James City County proffers regarding playgrounds.

 

Cost then became a factor, since estimates for the recommended additional equipment exceeded the funds provided by the developer. The RAB initially proposed to cover an additional $15,000 expense through a combination of the NTRA budget and a fundraising effort. In November 2017 the RAB also asked that the playground group provide a revised list of equipment to match the $20,000 funding. However, in February 2018 the playground group deferred and asked the RAB to make the final decision considering their prior recommendation for a slide and shade equipment. They further encouraged the association to take advantage of promotional sales.

 

In June 2019 the RAB asked Town Management to research the cost of a slide, handicapped swing and at least two umbrellas for the pool playground. They also recognized that the drainage at the playground had become a problem.

 

In July 2019 New Town’s landscape contractor met with Town Management concerning the drainage problem. The location of the playground is poor with no drainage system provided for runoff from the hard surface of the pool area as well as the interior sidewalk from Roper Park. Their initial estimate of the cost to correct the issues was $18-$20,000. In October 2019, the RAB asked Town Management to obtain at least two additional cost estimates and to consult with a professional and recommend an appropriate solution to fixing the drainage problem. In December 2019, the engineering consultant, AES, had not yet completed its analysis and the RAB asked Town Management to expedite the report.  The RAB further confirmed that funds for this repair should be considered maintenance and taken from the NTRA Reserve Account and that any new playground equipment be purchased using the $20,000 from New Town Associates. AES subsequently provided its engineering analysis and Town Management is in the process of obtaining additional bids.

 

According to Tim Grueter, Senior Community Manager at Town Management, “there are few companies who do this kind of work.” Only one additional bid is available. The second construction company proposes a multi pipe drainage system to correct runoff in multiple locations, similar to a fix provided for a James City County park with a similar problem. Complicating any cost estimate is the fact that the current playground equipment is cemented in place, requiring a contractor to manually dig around the structures to install drainage pipes.

 

Until the drainage problem is resolved, the RAB is reluctant to install any new equipment, according to RAB Chair, Chuck Stetler.

The bottom line - should your family expect a mud-free and shaded summer at the playground this year? Probably not.