CHCA General Meeting Agenda – Zoom 4/22/2025 7:00pm

1. Welcome and Introductions

– Facilitator: Ron Haddox and Sarah McKinley
– Overview of agenda and meeting purpose

2. Updates on Personal Matters

– Announcement of Sarah McKinley’s upcoming retirement

– Brief discussion on the transition from NCAC to Arlington Neighborhood Advisory Committee (ArNAC)

3. Equity Funding and Community Project Opportunities

– Presentation by Sarah McKinley on a study identifying 27 neighborhoods eligible for equity funding based on income and racial demographics

– Brainstorming on potential community projects:
– Playground improvements at Walter Reed Park and Cleveland Park pocket park
– Acknowledgement of limited funding ($1 million total) and competitive environment

4. Project Proposals and Funding Considerations

– Review of existing streetlight improvement project
– Exploration of acquiring free trees for the neighborhood
– Discussion on children’s playground equipment as a manageable and impactful proposal
– Emphasis on realistic, well-scoped projects to increase chances of funding success
– Consideration of:
– Competing proposals from other neighborhoods
– Prioritizing local infrastructure and community needs
– Aligning projects with available funding opportunities

5. Pickleball – Next Steps and Action Items

In Arlington County, pickleball’s rapid growth has led to noise complaints and concerns about court access, prompting the county to address these issues through projects like the Walter Reed Outdoor Pickleball Court Project and exploring solutions like sound reduction measures and dedicated pickleball courts.

Here’s a more detailed look at the pickleball issues in Arlington County:

1. Noise Concerns:

Growing Popularity:

Pickleball’s popularity has surged, leading to increased use of parks and community center courts, particularly at Walter Reed Community Center.

Neighborly Discomfort:

Residents near these courts have voiced concerns about the noise generated by pickleball games, especially during early mornings and late evenings.

Examples of Noise Complaints:

Some residents have described the noise as “excessive” and “borderline torture,” leading to calls for solutions and even threats of legal action.

Arlington County’s Response:

Arlington County officials are working to find a middle ground, addressing concerns and exploring solutions to mitigate noise.

Sound Reduction Measures:

The county is committed to incorporating sound reduction measures as part of the Walter Reed Outdoor Pickleball Court Project.

Acoustic Fencing:

Arlington County has spent over $150,000 on acoustic fencing at local parks, including at Marcey Road Park, to help manage pickleball noise.

2. Court Access and Usage:

Multi-Use Courts:

Some courts are used for both pickleball and tennis, leading to potential conflicts and concerns about access.

Dedicated Pickleball Courts:

The county is planning to create dedicated pickleball courts at the Walter Reed Community Center, aiming to address the issue of multi-use courts.

Online Reservation Systems:

Some residents have suggested an online reservation system to manage court access and reduce arguments over who gets to use the space.

Walter Reed Outdoor Pickleball Court Project:

This project at Walter Reed Community Center and Park will address the multi-use tennis and pickleball courts, with construction anticipated to start in early 2025 and be completed in late 2025 or early 2026.

Project Goals:

The project aims to create 6 dedicated pickleball courts, incorporate sound reduction measures, provide seating and shade, improve pathways with ADA access, manage stormwater, and implement signage and landscaping.

3. Other Issues:

Bullying and After-Hours Urination:

Some residents have also raised concerns about pickleball players allegedly bullying children and engaging in after-hours public urination on playgrounds.

Parking Lot Issues:

The popularity of pickleball has also led to parking lot congestion at popular locations.

Arlington County’s Approach:

Arlington County is taking a measured approach to addressing pickleball, providing play opportunities while diversifying the impact of the sport.

Adding Multi-Use Courts:

Arlington County is adding multi-use courts to the inventory.

Undertaking a Process to Create Courts Dedicated for Pickleball Play:

The county is undertaking a process to create courts dedicated for pickleball play only at the Walter Reed Community Center.

– Identify key stakeholders and volunteers to address our concerns
– Determine timeline for submitting our concerns and issues
– Plan for follow-up discussions and updates

Ron Haddox is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: CHCA General Meeting Agenda – Zoom 4/22/2025 7:00pm
Time: Apr 22, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 873 2979 9736
Passcode: 206379

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Topics:

Updates on Personal Matters
Ron Haddox initiated the meeting, welcoming Edward Miltenberger and discussing the agenda. Sarah McKinley provided an update on her health situation following a cat bite and mentioned her upcoming retirement. The conversation also touched on the funding changes related to the organization formerly known as NCAC, now the Arlington Neighborhood Advisory Committee (ArNAC).

Discussion on Equity Funding and Community Projects
Sarah McKinley presented findings from a study that identified 27 neighborhoods eligible for equity funding based on income and racial demographics. The group is considering projects to enhance playground facilities, with suggestions including improvements at Walter Reed and the Cleveland Park pocket park. They acknowledged the challenges of competing for a limited $1 million funding package and discussed the need for practical project proposals.
* Consideration of playground equipment improvements in local parks.

Project Proposals and Funding Considerations
Sarah McKinley outlined the existing streetlight project and the possibility of acquiring free trees for the neighborhood. Edward Miltenberger proposed considering children’s playground equipment as a project, while McKinley emphasized the need for realistic proposals given the competition for funding. Ron Haddox supported the idea of focusing on manageable projects.
* Evaluation of competing proposals from other neighborhoods for funding.
* Exploration of community needs and potential projects to enhance local infrastructure.
* Discussion of funding opportunities for neighborhood projects.

Discussion on Reggie’s Estate and Proposal Updates
Ron Haddox asked about the celebration of life arrangements for Reggie. No update as of yet.

Community Engagement and Current Issues
Ron Haddox and Edward Miltenberger reviewed their participation in recent community meetings, emphasizing the need to focus on budget issues. They mentioned a session led by Takis that featured local business leaders, including Sandra, the owner of Abi Azteca Grill & Bar. The discussion also touched on the fears within immigrant communities regarding deportation and the impact on local businesses.

🎅🚒 Exciting News for Columbia Heights! 🚒🎅

The holiday season just got brighter! Santa Claus is coming to town—and he’s riding a firetruck! 🎄✨

📅 When: New Date December 21st – The is out word from Santa.
📍 Where: The streets of Columbia Heights, Douglas Park, and Green Valley

Bring your family, friends, and holiday spirit as Santa and our local heroes spread cheer through the neighborhood. Wave to Santa, enjoy the festive lights, and listen for the jingle of holiday tunes!

Don’t forget to bundle up and step outside to catch the magic as it rolls by. Let’s make this a holiday to remember! 🎁🎅

Hello Mr. Haddox & CHCA Board Members,

My name is Ron Lithgow and the County has asked me to reach out to you to introduce myself and Rainbow Road Preschool.

Rainbow Road has recently moved into the Trinity Church building. Previously we operated in the Methodist Church building on Glebe Road which has now been purchased by Sunrise Living.

Rainbow Road has served the Arlington community since 1997.  (Our website is www.rainbowroadpreschool.com)   My wife Linda is the director of the school.

We want to be good neighbors in the Columbia Heights community – I know we have students from the community and we want to serve others well!!

We are happy to answer questions and please feel free to contact us for any reason.

Ron Lithgow    ron@lithgowlink.com    703 869 0434
Linda Lithgow   info@rainbowroadpreschool.com   571 225 9189

Thank you.

Respectfully,
Ron Lithgow

Rainbow Road Brochure

It is with great sadness that I write this. Reggie passed away quietly on the morning of August 28, 2024. He and I had discussed in some detail how to keep him alive until we could find alternative treatments that would enable him to manage his cancer. We were in the process of making plans, and we held out hope that there was sufficient time to execute those plans.

At about 1:30 am, however, Reggie’s blood count dropped to a dangerously low level and he began to experience great pain. He was offered morphine, and in true Reggie fashion, he refused it, opting to die naturally.

I know that you share my grief. It sounds odd for me to say it about my only sibling, but Reggie was among the most unique people I ever met. He faced cancer with extraordinary courage, and at no point did he ever complain or express fear about moving onto the next life.

Reggie died without life insurance or burial insurance, and so I ask you, his friends and family, for small contributions that will enable us to honor his wishes for his cremation and a fitting memorial. Some of you have already been extraordinarily generous, but we need additional funds to create an appropriate send-off.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-give-reggie-a-fitting-memorial

“We have an approved MOT that we are in the process of implementing.  Unfortunately, it was approved just before school opened and we could not have everything in place as we would have liked.  We are working with the contractor to expedite the implementation.

 The plan includes:

• Keeping the crosswalks open at 7^th Street.

• • The south cross walk will be closed during utility work on 7^th Street

• 8^th Street crosswalk is closed as noted.
• A temporary crosswalk between the closed 8^th Street crosswalk and 9^th Street crosswalk will be constructed with curb ramps, bump outs and rapid flash beacons.
• 9^th Street crosswalk will have a ramp added to the west side of the crosswalk.

• • We have touched base with the County who is looking at scheduling the repainting of the crosswalk as soon as it can be scheduled.

 We are working as quickly as possible on getting these improvements in place.  Information on the sidewalk closings were communicated when we anticipated a June start with the community and the schools.  With the delay we should have communicated once MOT details were finalized the week before school opened.  We will work on improving communication as we move forward.

The County is taking the following action:

• 9/5/24 – County TE&O staff will be marking the 9^th Street crossing from curb to curb to delineate the walk path.
• No later than next Monday, 9/9/24 – DES WSS staff will be installing a curb ramp as on the approved school MOT plans at 9^th Street on the west side of S Walter Reed to provide a means of safely traversing this crossing for pedestrians and bikes.

In the meeting with the contractor yesterday, they are working with subcontractors to schedule the installation of the temporary crosswalk with curb ramps between 8^th and 9^th Street.  They anticipate the work to be complete in about two weeks.  The only exception may be the rapid flashing beacons which are a long lead item, however we are working on an option to secure a set of these that are currently being used in a temporary use but will shortly be removed from their existing location.

I assure you we are working as quickly as possible to implement all the features of the MOT plan approved at the end of August.”

– Jeffrey Chambers & Mike Moon

Dear Columbia Heights Civic Association Members,

It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the passing of Reggie Nixon early Sunday morning. Reggie was a beloved member of our community, and all who knew him will deeply feel his loss.

Reggie’s brother, Randall, shared that they had been working together in hopes of finding treatments to manage his cancer. Sadly, Reggie’s condition took a turn for the worse in the early morning hours. True to his nature, Reggie chose to pass peacefully and naturally, declining pain relief in his final moments.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Reggie’s family as they begin to process this immense loss. Randall has assured us that he will keep everyone informed about the details of a memorial service to celebrate Reggie’s remarkable life. In the meantime, we ask for your continued support and compassion for the Nixon family.

With deepest sympathy,

Ron Haddox, President
Columbia Heights Civic Association