parks

New Marvin Gaye Recreation Center Opens with Festival this Saturday

By Prince Of Petworth


via DPR

From DPR:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser, DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and DC Department of General Services (DGS) announced on Marvin Gaye’s birthday that a brand new multi-million dollar facility in his honor will open with a block party style festival with members of Gaye’s family, live music, food trucks, giveaways and more for DPR’s first Marvin Gaye Day on Saturday, April 7, 2018, 2 p.m. at Marvin Gaye Recreation Center.

Highlights of the event include the ribbon cutting of the new center by Mayor Bowser and Marvin Gaye’s daughter, Nona Gaye and ex-wife Janis Hunter. Author, Georgetown professor and music historian Michael Eric Dyson will speak to the crowd before Marvin’s former band/group, The Marquees, perform a tribute set. Closing out the event will be a more current Marvin-inspired performance by Black Alley. (more…)

To Learn More About Jeanne D’Arc and Her Sword – Head to Meridian Hill Park Monday at 4pm and/or Watch History Herstory

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to Judy for sending more info about Jeanne D’Arc’s sword restoration.

“A+E was filming. NPS reps said History Channel funded the restoration as part of the filming of a program for Women’s History Month. The plan is to air it before the end of March. History Channel has also funded a guard for the weekend to make sure she is protected for some kind of program scheduled in the park, at the statue, for Monday at 4.

Here’s the link where the program should appear if you don’t catch the initial broadcast.”

I took some more photos on Saturday:

Check out a video of the dedication with President Harding in 1922 here.

More photos after the jump. (more…)

Mark It – The Anacostia River Festival is Sunday, April 15th!

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by The Anacostia Watershed Society courtesy of 11th Street Bridge Park

From a press release:

“The 11th Street Bridge Park and the National Park Service present the fourth annual Anacostia River Festival, a premier event of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. This year we are throwing a birthday bash for the 100th Anniversary of Anacostia Park by celebrating the “Year of the Anacostia!” Held in Anacostia Park, this FREE event will encourage District residents and visitors from across the region to explore communities and parks east of the river. In 2017, the Anacostia River Festival attracted nearly 10,000 participants.

Anacostia River Festival

When: Sunday, April 15, 2018; 1 pm – 5 pm

Where: National Park Service’s Anacostia Park. Good Hope Road & Anacostia Drive SE

Who: FREE and open to the public.
For more information:bridgepark.org/ARF

“In 2018, the stars have aligned to mark the ‘Year of the Anacostia’ – celebrating the river as a stunning ecological and cultural resource for the entire city. Residents from across the DC region can discover this incredible natural resource at our fourth annual Anacostia River Festival.” said Scott Kratz, 11th Street Bridge Park Director.

The festival will feature art exhibitions, live music performances, hands-on activities and special biking activities. Visitors can participate in recycled art projects, fishing workshops, the annual bicycle parade, trail rides, bike tune-up stations, safety stations, lawn games, boating and other family-friendly activities re-engaging residents and visitors alike with the Anacostia River and historic Anacostia neighborhood. (more…)

“BELL Architects has been selected to lead the design of the acre park that will front Georgia Avenue and Columbia Road NW.”

By Prince Of Petworth


3000 Georgia Ave, NW

Thanks to Cait for passing on from the New Communities Initiative:

“BELL Architects has been selected to lead the design of the acre park that will front Georgia Avenue and Columbia Road NW. The chosen team also includes the Landscape Architecture Bureau and Wiles Mensch Corporation. A key factor in BELL’s selection was their experience and qualifications leading comprehensive community design. Accordingly, BELL believes that community engagement is the key to a successful project and community satisfaction. Their project team has experience leading interactive community meetings to gain feedback to incorporate into the design. The first community-wide meeting is being planned for March 2018 and will be announced broadly.”

You can read more about the greater plans here.

Car in Rock Creek at P Street, DCFD “safely removed 1 adult male”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Dustin

Dustin notes: “If you look closely you’ll see they took out a street light on their way down.”

D.C. Fire and EMS reported:

“#DCsBravest have safely removed 1 adult male from vehicle into Creek at P St. Victim will be transported with non life threatening injuries. That was the only occupant.”

Procrastinating Getting a Card? Get printable Rock Creek Park Valentine’s Day cards courtesy Rock Creek Conservancy

By Prince Of Petworth

From Rock Creek Conservancy:

“Here at Rock Creek Conservancy, we’ve got a major crush on you. We love you for loving Rock Creek (we just can’t help it!) So, we put together a little something we thought you might like.

We couldn’t do the work we do without you. To thank you, we created these printable Rock Creek Valentine’s Day cards. They feature animals that live in Rock Creek and some pretty good animal puns! Print and share them with the people in your life who love Rock Creek as much as you do!”

“We’re going to be collecting trash, removing invasive species, and celebrating the legacy of Dr. King”

By Prince Of Petworth

In addition to the Rock Creek cleanup event.

From Washington Parks & People:

“We’re having two Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service Park Revitalization events that are free and open to the public at both Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park and Marvin Gaye Park. We’re going to be collecting trash, removing invasive species, and celebrating the legacy of Dr. King. All ages are welcome to come out!

Interested in volunteering with Washington Parks & People? Contact [email protected] with your information today!”

“Mayor Bowser Announces $4.7 Million Investment in Kingman and Heritage Islands; Southern Portion of Kingman Island to be Designated Critical Wildlife Area for Habitat Conservation”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Jim Havard

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, in honor of the Year of the Anacostia, Mayor Bowser announced significant conservation and investment commitments for Kingman and Heritage Islands. The Mayor directed the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) to designate portions of both islands as a State Conservation Area and the southern area of Kingman Island as a Critical Wildlife Area. The State Conservation Area designation mimics the federal covenant for the islands, restricting their use to environmental, educational, and recreational purposes. In addition, the Mayor also announced a new $4.7 million investment for educational and recreational improvements on the islands.

“Our goal is a fishable, swimmable Anacostia River, and over the past few years, we have made tremendous progress toward that goal. However, there is more to do, and these conservation designations and this new funding will help us get that work done,” said Mayor Bowser. “Efforts and investments like these are how we will become the healthiest, greenest, and most sustainable city in the world.”

Consistent with the Kingman Island & Heritage Island Planning and Feasibility Study, the new investment will support outdoor classrooms, bathrooms, and accessible routes and pathways for visitors to the islands. (more…)

“Volunteers will participate in a variety of events designed to bring together local communities to protect and enhance the public lands that surround Rock Creek.”

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

“Rock Creek Conservancy, in partnership with the National Park Service, and Montgomery County Parks, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), is celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with their annual MLK Weekend of Service, a weekend full of events at 12 sites throughout the Rock Creek watershed. This multi-day volunteer event will address local environmental problems related to litter and invasive plant species while supporting a nationwide effort to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, and move us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community.”

Volunteers will participate in a variety of events designed to bring together local communities to protect and enhance the public lands that surround Rock Creek. Last year, the event mobilized 722 people who removed English ivy from 450 trees to protect Rock Creek’s tree canopy; removed invasive plants such as porcelainberry and wisteria to help native plants thrive; and cleaned up 390 bags of litter that had accumulated in and around Rock Creek and its tributaries.

This will be the fifth year that the Conservancy will host the weekend of service, which leverages the strength of local citizens to help tackle local problems and advance Dr. King’s dream of opportunity for all. (more…)

“Installation work on the L & M Street, NE underpass art parks starts Thursday”

By Prince Of Petworth

Awesome news from the NoMa Parks Foundation:

“In 2012, the NoMa Public Realm Design Plan envisioned “art parks” at the four points in the neighborhood where roads pass beneath railroad tracks. In 2014, an international design competition for the L and M street NE underpasses resulted in 248 design entries from teams in 14 different countries. The 10 finalist entries were presented to the NoMa community for input on aesthetic concepts and functionality, resulting in more than 370 public comments on the designs. In 2015, the NoMa Parks Foundation named Thurlow Small Architecture + NIO architecten’s installation Rain as the winning design for M Street, and Future Cities Lab’s installation Lightweave as the winning design for L Street.

Now, after years of planning, fabrication, and hard work, the NPF and the NoMa BID are pleased to announce that all is set to begin the installation of the L and M street NE underpass art parks. Below are some important details about construction work and disruptions to pedestrian and cyclist movement along these spaces over the next couple of months.

M STREET UNDERPASS — RAIN
Thursday, January 11

  • The sidewalk on the south side of M Street will be completely blocked off with fencing. The fence will not prohibit access to the bike-repair station next to the Metropolitan Branch Trail ramp.

    • (more…)

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