Dear PoPville

“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. (more…)