parks

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…)

Swampoodle Park It Is!!

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by NoMa Parks Foundation‏

The people of both Alabama and NoMa got it right yesterday.

The park will be located at 3rd and L Street, NE. And once again – if you will it, it is no dream. The park should be open to the public in “early 2018” according to the NoMa Parks Foundation.

Proposed Names for NoMa’s First Park are: Swampoodle Park, Old City Corner, and 3rd and L Park – Vote for you Favorite

By Prince Of Petworth


rendering via NoMa Parks

From NoMa Parks:

“NoMa’s first park is under construction at 3rd and L streets NE, and 123 submissions from hundreds of community members have been narrowed to three final names. Please vote! The proposed names are: Swampoodle Park, Old City Corner, and 3rd and L Park. The first two were popular in the community submission process this summer; the latter has been the working name throughout the park’s development and was also suggested in the community submission process. Please view signage mock-ups with each name and take the survey here. The final contender will be recommended to the DC Council and the Mayor, who will make the ultimate decision.

The park at 3rd and L is an 8,000-square-foot space that will include plantings and gathering spaces; a vertical play structure designed for children ages 5 and up; and a space for dogs to run and play, complete with a dog agility ramp. It is built on the first parcel purchased by the NoMa Parks Foundation, which held multiple community meetings and received input from the public for two years to design the space to meet the neighborhood’s needs. (more…)

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