Park Lovers Hope School Board Will Reconsider Plans

The Arlington School Board will be voting Monday night on a capital improvement plan which calls for a new elementary school at Thomas Jefferson Park as the “preferred” option.  

Four designs unveiled last week, according to Friends of Thomas Jefferson Park, show a "significant impact" on park land. None protects the whole park, the group says.

The Friends of Thomas Jefferson Park said in a news release they will be out "in full force" Monday night to urge the School Board to remove Thomas Jefferson Park as the preferred option and begin a more thoughtful process to new school siting that saves our park and considers carefully the impact on parking, traffic and multi-use activities, including the annual Arlington County Fair.

The Board meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at 1426 N. Quincy Street, Board Room. 

Here's more background, courtesy of Friends of Thomas Jefferson Park: 

On May 13, Arlington Public Schools proposed building a new elementary school at a yet-to-be-determined location adjacent to the Thomas Jefferson Middle School/Community Center, including the park.  

"This action could pave over green space at Thomas Jefferson Park (TJ Park) and cause other harmful impacts," the group says.  

"Yes, we need new schools, but we shouldn’t sacrifice our parks to do so. Our newly formed citizen’s group, Friends of Thomas Jefferson Park, is mobilizing an effort to save the park!"

For more information, visit www.savetjpark.org. Follow the group on Twitter @savetjpark and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SaveTJPark .