City‑Funded Community‑Driven Renovation Advances at Eugene Simpson Dog Park

A City of Alexandria project update posted Feb 21, 2026 confirms progress on the renovation of the Eugene Simpson Stadium Park dog park at 426 East Monroe Avenue. The City of Alexandria Departments of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities, and Project Implementation are renovating the existing Eugene Simpson Stadium Park Dog Park. The final design was completed in 2021 with considerable community input.

Alexandria’s project pages and neighborhood notices show the renovation is city led and community shaped. The city invited neighbors to a pre‑construction information session scheduled for Wednesday, October 19 at 6:30 p.m. at 426 East Monroe Ave. near the dog park entrance, with the City and construction contractor Francis Lee Contracting, LLC set to present the renovation plan and what to expect during construction. For questions the project lists Murphy Ng, Project Manager, reachable by phone at 703.746.4699.

Funding for the work comes from the City of Alexandria’s Capital Improvement Program, and the current scope extends beyond the dog park to parkwide upgrades slated for 2026. Hashim T. Taylor, director of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities, said, “As we reminisce on the past and look to the future, I am excited for all the great enhancements to come in 2026.” Planned items described by the city include planting a native tree buffer along E. Duncan Alleyway, extending hardscape trails to the park’s northeast section, adding ADA‑compliant access from E. Monroe to the dog park and rectangular fields, installing new bleachers and upgraded dugouts at Big and Little Simpson, adding storage and a dedicated concession at Big Simpson, creating a passive picnic area, improving traffic flow and expanding the parking lot, installing synthetic turf at Big Simpson, and regrading Little Simpson to resolve drainage issues.

Site conditions show phased completion. The city update states, “Completion Status: Landscape continues to be established. Full power to the lights restored September 5. Due to needed electrical work to complete restoration, the manual lighting system will be installed within the next two weeks. Until final controls are installed, the park lighting is programmed to power on at sunset and power off at 9:30 pm.” That language appears alongside a separate project status label reading “Status: Completed,” indicating some elements remain in establishment or final control phases.

Community outreach has included ceremonial and promotional events tied to the project timeline. Organizers invited the public to “Join organizers on Saturday, June 21 at 10 a.m. for a special groundbreaking ceremony,” and noted, “As a token of appreciation, the first 120 community members in attendance will receive a small jar of ‘Simpson’, a keepsake to honor the memories and moments made at this beloved park.” The park’s two ballfields, Big Simpson and Little Simpson, date to 1953 from a contribution by Eugene Simpson and remain central to the renovation narrative.

Neighbors have raised footprint concerns on social media; one Facebook post fragment reads, “The new city proposal to increase parking for the greater Simpson Park Renovation Project will shrink the size of the Dog Park because the basketball court will” and stops mid‑sentence. City contact for project events and questions also includes Jack Browand at 703.746.5504 or jack.browand@alexandriava.gov. The project continues to proceed under the City’s CIP with community meetings, phased site work, and final lighting and landscape establishment remaining among the immediate tasks.