About
The Ewald Parkour Park project is a plan to create an outdoor fitness space for all Alexandrians. Parkour is a rapidly growing physical and mental discipline that's focused around the practitioner using their body to overcome obstacles in their path and express their individuality through movement. This can range all the way from rolling on the ground to running on rails. The park's design enables athletes of all ages and skill levels to participate safely and effectively. When the park is completed, Alexandrians will have a new, fun option to change up their workout routine and a thrilling outlet for activity and community building. The project is also focused on resolving the issue of few alternative activity options for teens in the city and engaging those individuals who don't routinely exercise with something exciting and different.
The Ewald Parkour Park project was started back in 2017 by TC Williams High School Senior Jonas Neihardt. Being an avid Parkour athlete himself, Jonas wanted to bring the opportunity to exercise in a new and exciting way to all Alexandrians. The site proposed for the park is John Ewald Park which sits on the corner of S. Jordan Street and Duke Street. The park's basketball court and soccer field find plenty of use by Alexandrians, but the 11,000 square foot lot that once held dual tennis courts has been empty and unused since the early 2000s. Additionally, an old, derelict pool house and pool that closed down in 2011 sits in front of a playground situated in the back of the park, blocking visibility and making park-goers feel unsafe.
Jonas hopes that with the construction of the Parkour Park some of the unoccupied former tennis court space will be activated and that the project will serve as a catalyst of change and development for Ewald's full restoration (proposed site improvements pictured below). The Ewald Parkour Park plan was approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission in November of 2018. The most recent cost estimate quoted by contractors Jonas has worked with is around $80,000. However, with a recent design overhaul, Jonas aims to decrease that figure.
As of June 2019, the City of Alexandria Parks and Recreation Commission approved a $25,000 matching grant for the park which originally held a 2020 deadline. However, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, an extension was granted until June 21, 2021. Additionally, the City of Alexandria removed the derelict pool and pool house at Ewald Park which is an essential step towards the construction of the park once the necessary funds have been met.
