“Community Rupture in Crestwood”

“Triangle Park, located at 18th and Argyle, in Crestwood has long served as a multi-use gathering space for residents of all ages. DC government has allocated $250,000 to convert the park to a ‘nature themed playground for toddlers aged 1-6′”

“Dear PoPville,

How would you spend $250,000 of taxpayer money to best serve DC residents?

In a city where every penny counts, I bet you wouldn’t spend a quarter million dollars of public money on privileging the privileged by building a park on top of a park for the convenience of nanny meet-ups and toddler playdates – would you?

This very thing is happening in Crestwood and most residents don’t want it. The government administered a survey and sponsored two neighborhood meetings. They all resulted in overwhelming opposition to building a toddler playground on the neighborhood’s only open green space.

Located at the corner of 18th and Argyle Streets, the green space is the kind of park that most neighborhoods envy. It features large, two-hundred-year-old heritage trees, oaks, and magnolias that attract owl, fox, deer, squirrels, hawks, snakes, frogs, and even an occasional eagle. The open area is a gathering space for the neighborhood’s annual picnic, annual Turkey Trot, jazz festivals, food truck night, and yoga lessons. Families host birthday parties in the park, couples picnic, kids and parents play ball, dogs romp and fetch… On snow days, kids of all ages sleigh, have snowball fights, and build snowmen. During the pandemic, when city playgrounds were under lock and key, Crestwood residents were able to organize pod meet-ups. In 2020, the neighborhood used the area to host a moving vigil for George Floyd.

Residents wish to preserve city dollars and ensure equitable use of the space by keeping it as-is – a gathering place for neighbors of all ages. The community envisions a farmer’s market, more seasonal events, movies-in-the park, and camp outs -not a sprawling play structure that crowds out these possibilities for the benefit of a select few.

Crestwood is one of the city’s most affluent neighborhoods – where recent sales range between $1.5 and 2.5 million for large single-family homes with sprawling backyards. The neighborhood is framed by four parks within a short walking distance. To the North is Carter Barron, which features a children’s playground and larger sports complex. Upshur Park is just a few blocks to the East with its own children’s playground and public pool. The other sides of the neighborhood border Rock Creek Park – what is arguably the city’s greatest natural playground. It is difficult to understand why the government insists upon wasting public funds on developing a ‘nature inspired’ playground in a neighborhood that already has so many.

The DC government says that the playground must be built because funds were allocated for it.

Current Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese George met with the community two week ago. She committed to working with DPR to ensure greater communication and transparency. However, she conceded that the playground will have to happen.

The government considers the issue a done deal. It is moving full speed ahead with the building process. To date, the city has spent approximately $50,000.00 on the project. The remaining $200,000 will be spent in the next three months, during which the city will break ground and complete the building process.

Again, I ask:

Why should one of the best resourced neighborhoods in the city, that is literally nested in a national park and situated nicely between 3 existing parks be forced to receive 250,000 of tax payer dollars when they do not need or want it?”