Installation of Flexi-Pave at Historic Fort Ward Park in the City of Alexandria is now complete. Part of the renovation was to achieve ADA compatibility which allowed more visitors to access the historic fort. Previously the path from the information center to the fort was uneven terrain and the fort flooring was pea gravel which was inherently unstable to walk on and impossible for wheelchairs to access. On October 24, 2014 original proposal was revised to include: Installation of additional Flexi-Pave for the two longest bastions; installation of a new staircase; demolition of old steel edging and installation of new edging along all bastions; and digging and backfilling archeological excavation of a historic well. The renovations were completed by late November 2014, and the site is expected to receive a significant increase in annual visitors.
Fort Ward Park’s website states, “We are making history more accessible! A public walkway which meets the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act is being constructed through part of the historic fort in an effort to make the site more accessible to a variety of audiences. The project is being funded by a Save America’s Treasures grant and the City of Alexandria. In preparation for the project, preliminary investigation was conducted by Alexandria Archaeology to determine that there would be no adverse impact to the historic site, and the project was approved by Federal and State historic preservation reviewers. The material selected, Flexi-Pave, has a recycled rubber matrix that is eco-friendly and meets ADA standards. The color and texture of the path will suggest compacted gravel walkways that were constructed in some forts in the Civil War Defenses of Washington.” Learn more here.
To view the plans for this project click on the following: Fort Ward Park-Bastion Walkway Plans
