President's Message

One of the primary jobs of a civic association is to communicate to its members what is going on in the neighborhood that folks have no other way of knowing because they are not significant enough to be covered by the local press.  So what is going on in Donaldson Run right now?

Well, it is really kind of a quiet time.  Unlike some other growing areas in the county, currently there are no active development issues-at least that I am aware of.  Of course, that could change at any time.  Donaldson Run does have 2 neighborhood conservation projects pending.  One is the restoration of Tributary B of the Donaldson Run stream which has been approved and is funded. Work on the project should start in 2012.  Another proposal that is in line for county review and possible funding is for pedestrian improvements at the intersection of Vacation Lane and Utah Street.  It will likely take years, how many I am not sure, for that project to garner enough points to elevate it to actual planning and construction.  But I have learned that with a lot of patience, and a long term perspective, significant improvements, such as the traffic light at Old Dominion and 26^th St, are possible.  So if there is a project that you and your neighbors think would enhance your area of the neighborhood, let us know.  If there is sufficient community support we will work with you to see what can be done.  I want to caution, however, that DRCA is run by a handful of volunteers whose ranks are thinning.  Without new folks joining our leadership team, our ability to respond in a timely way, is diminished.  So once again, if you have a bit of time (I know that is the biggest challenge) and the interest, I’d love to talk with you about a future in DRCA. 

By the way, we had a great turnout for our September meeting. We saw lots of historic photos of Arlington.  Who knew that each link of the original Chain Bridge was 4’ long?  Our next meeting promises to be as interesting in a different way.   Ms. Barbara Donnellan, Arlington’s County Manager, has agreed to be the speaker at our meeting on November 9.  So bring your questions, concerns, and ideas with you to our next meeting.  After that civic association meeting, we will likely take a break for the holidays and snow season.  During our break, to get the latest news about what is going on, be sure to get on the DRCA email list by sending an email to me ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Anne Wilson, October 22, 2011