Trees Being Cut Down at Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park

“Dear PoP,

About 8-10 of the trees in that great little grove/canopy as you come up the steps from 16th street on the upper half of the park are gone. I know they’re doing work on the retaining wall on 16th street, but sheesh. I’m totally bummed.”

But at least some good news is that the same reader says the new public restrooms are now open.

ANC rep Brianne K Nadeau sent word last week:

Another part of the restoration of Meridian Hill Park includes the reinforcement of the west wall of the upper level. This is a project funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. While the National Park Service originally thought the disruption would be minimal, upon further inspection, they are really going to need to get in there and tear some stuff apart to get the job done and keep the wall safe.

As a result of the work being done to make the wall structurally sound they are going to have to tear out some of the existing trees. They will of course replace them as soon as possible. The trees will be taken out Monday, and that part of the park will look pretty bare for a while until the work is done.