Back in 2015 courtesy of Casey Trees

From DDOT:

“The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will celebrate the District’s eighth annual Park(ing) Day on September 18, 2020. The annual event highlights the District’s Sustainable DC goals and kicks off World Car Free Day activities in the region.

“Park(ing) Day 2020 builds on Mayor Bowser’s efforts to reimagine public space, especially during the pandemic,” said DDOT Director Jeff Marootian. “This year’s event is an opportunity for Washingtonians to practice safe social distancing and use our collective imagination for creative ways to occupy the curbside space that don’t involve storing cars.”

Park(ing) Day 2020 will feature pop-up parklets in metered, on-street parking spaces without time-of-day restrictions. This year’s parklets will be installed at the following locations: Read More

Franklin Square is “bounded by K Street NW to the north, 13th Street NW on the east, I Street NW on the south, and 14th Street NW on the west.”

Thanks to Jonathan for sending from the Franklin Square Park development: “I know they warned us so many trees were going to have to go for the renovation, but seeing it in person hurts.”

From July 1st Read More

“Dear PoPville,

Do you know anything about the live opera performance that took place next to the Pierce house in Rock Creek Park Sunday (Aug 30) afternoon? Like who the performers were? They were each spectacular. I randomly stumbled into it on a bike ride. Thank you!”

Notice from 2018

Ed. Note: These operations usually begin in November and go through March.

From the National Park Service:

“Since 2013, when the National Park Service (NPS) began reducing the deer population in Rock Creek Park, the park’s tree seedling density has more than doubled.

The NPS plans to reduce deer populations this fall and winter in Rock Creek Park and, for the first time, will include other areas under Rock Creek Park’s management. These areas could include Melvin Hazen Park, Soapstone Valley Park, Pinehurst Parkway, Glover Archbold Park, Battery Kemble Park and Fort Totten Park, among others. Read More

After tweeting earlier, DC Department of General Services replied “Thanks for the tag, we have forwarded this concern to our Facilities team to address.” to which OP replied:

“We have been told this repeatedly for over 9 months since we first attempted to report the issue. Can we actually get a maintenance ticket number for this? A timeline of when it can be fixed?”

“Dear PoPville,

I realize there are actually serious life and death issues happening these days. But, for the last nine months, we have been trying to get the city to fix the gates to the Swampoodle Dog Park because they no longer latch and swing open, allowing dogs to escape. Over the last nine months we have sent over 30 emails, Read More

Thanks to Soozles for sending: “I saw this ringneck snake in Rock Creek Park near Military Rd. eating a salamander.”

If you spot a hawk or any interesting wildlife around town, lunching or otherwise, and get a good photo please send in an email where you spotted it to [email protected] and I’ll add it to the queue. Hawks around Town is made possible by a generous grant from the Ben and Sylvia Gardner foundation.

Thanks to Shane for sending: “News Release from last week that I just came across on the NPS website. Looks like an old WWI-era ordinance was discovered in Fort Totten Park and a section is now closed as they figure out what to do with it.”

Full release: Read More

“Dear PoPville,

My husband and I went to the Aquatic Gardens today [Sunday] around 3:10pm and upon entering, we saw a park staff member or officer in uniform running to the info booth with a flotation device under her arm in a panic. We stopped in our tracks and she said “Did he go to get the gator?” “Where is it?” The person manning the booth said yes and pointed her to the left around the body of water. She ran in that direction and yelled “Tell him I’m over here, okay?” I’m from Florida and we don’t play with that so obviously we left but an alligator?! In DC?! Hoping your readers can shed some light on this.”

Ed. Note: On July 27th 2018 “an illegal 5-foot caiman” was removed from a home in SE. The National Zoo says: “The American alligator is found in the United States from North Carolina to the Rio Grande in Texas.”

Photo by C JRCook

“Dear PoPville,

I’m considering getting a bike for a few reasons (some pandemic related) but am trying to figure out if it’s feasible to ride to work when work resumes–I don’t want to invest in one and then let it sit in storage if things ever get back to normal. One possible route would take me down Rock Creek Park Trail between Porter St. and Georgetown (or between Calvert and Georgetown, depending on what I find out), and from all my research it’s hard to decipher whether or not this part of the trail is a safe, reliable route for someone on a hybrid/commuter bike during weekday commute hours (i.e. when Beach Drive isn’t blocked to cars). Read More

1625 P Street, NW

“Dear PoPville,

Just a heads up to let people know. The man who you posted about a few times (exposing himself in public parks) was seen this AM in Stead Park doing the same thing around 7:30 AM.