parks

Proposed Park Designs for Franklin Square – Add Your Comment by March 14th

By Prince Of Petworth

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From the National Park Service:

“A range of concept design alternatives have been developed to respond to the project purpose, address the project need and study options that minimize impacts on natural, historic and cultural resources. In addition, the alternatives incorporate desired park uses and programs prioritized both from public comments submitted to NPS and feedback received at the Franklin Park Public Scoping Meeting.

We are interested in hearing your input on restoring and transforming Franklin Park, specifically your comments on the proposed concept designs alternatives.

Comment Period: 02/12/2014 – 03/14/2014

You can see all the proposals below:

Franklin Square Park Proposals (PDF)

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14th and K Street, NW today

Frozen Rock Creek

By Prince Of Petworth

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I was completely mesmerized by this section frozen in Rock Creek. I swear I was completely sober.

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Dear PoPville – What’s Going on at Wangari Gardens?

By Prince Of Petworth

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“Dear PoPville,

Have you heard any word on what is happening on the southwest corner of the lot (the corner of Irving St. and Park Rd.) where Wangari Gardens is (west of the Washington Hospital Center)? We’ve seen a ton of trucks, digging, etc. and curious if it is anything more than just some city workers working on water or sewer pipes or the like.”

The folks from Wangari Gardens share:

“DC Water is building a rain garden at Wangari Gardens and a bunch all around the area to help mitigate stormwater damage. They worked with us and had a community meeting to create a design at Wangari Gardens that wouldn’t go against previously express community interests like preserving the large field for recreation purposes. Once the construction is done in March the rain gardens at wangari gardens will be small and not encroaching into the field. Another reason too things look so crazy is they are storing all the equipment for all the gardens at Wangari Gardens. DC Water will restore everything when they are done.”

[“It is north of Howard University, west of the Washington Hospital Center/Children’s Medical Center, south of the US Soldiers’ Home, and east of the Parkview and Pleasant Plains neighborhoods. The site is in Ward 5, but borders Ward 1.”]

Preservation of Meridian Hill Park-Phase V Meeting Tonight

By Prince Of Petworth

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Thanks to a reader for sending:

“The National Park Service is planning to undertake Phase V of the preservation of Meridian Hill Park. We are proposing to continue repairs to the exposed aggregate concrete throughout the park, stabilize historic features, and install an American Disability Act (ADA) accessible entrance into the lower level of the park.

Please join us at the following Open House:

January 14, 2014 from 6:30-8:00 pm at the Moshe Zusman Photograph Studio
1401 Florida Avenue, N.W. (corner of 14th Street and Florida Avenue, N.W.)”

You can read more about Meridian Hill Park-Phase V here.

Best Playground in the District – New Horseshoe Pits (and lots more) at Renovated Kennedy Rec Center Playground in Shaw

By Prince Of Petworth

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Thanks to a reader for sending word:

“You might want to check out Shaw’s new playground at the Kennedy Rec Center at the corner of P and 7th St NW. Massively improved and pretty impressive!”

Indeed – it is awesome – and I was super psyched to see the beautifully restored horseshoe pits! And in addition to the new and improved playgrounds they also have a spray park, brand new tennis court and basketball courts and exercise stations. The play ground is located at 7th and P St, NW across from the new Shaw Giant.

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Lots more photos after the jump. (more…)

Dear PoPville – What are the Loud Noises in Rock Creek Park?

By Prince Of Petworth

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“Dear PoPville,

For the last few Tuesdays we have been hearing extremely loud noises, sort of like short explosions or shotguns, coming from Rock Creek Park (near Adams Morgan/Kalorama/the horse stables). Any idea what is going on? It is making our dog freak out!”

Maybe it’s related to what a member of the Cleveland Park listserv wrote:

“Once again, those of us who live adjacent to the Zoo were treated to a dawn wake-up call of workers making non-stop noise on the service road. This time, it appears to have been multiple leaf blowers (or something similar with hoses and loud motors switching on/off) going up and down the road, lasting from around 5:15AM until at least 6:50AM. These activities not only broke the law re: permitted start time for non-emergency work, they showed utter disregard for the nearby community.”

Anyone else hearing loud noises from the park?

Dear PoPville – Time Capsule Removed from Sonny Bono Memorial Park?

By Prince Of Petworth

Sonny Bono Park
1330 New Hampshire Ave, NW

“Dear PoPville,

This picture is from Friday. Look closely at the construction worker and you will see them removing items from the ground.

I live at 1330 New Hampshire Ave. NW and have a bird’s eye view of Sonny Bono Park, or what is left of it.

[The park was established in 1998 after Sonny Bono’s death by Bono family friend Geary Simon, a local real estate developer. He approached the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation’s Park Partners program and paid $25,000 of his own money to revitalize an unused 800-square-foot (74 m2) triangle of grass.]

The construction that has been going on for over a year has now on New Hampshire touched down in the park, and on Friday it looks like the construction workers uncovered the time capsule with Sonny’s “official Congressional cufflinks, and a mug from his string of Bono’s Restaurants. Thought you should know the landscape and contents of the park may never be the same. I wonder where Geary Simon is now and what should be done with the memorabilia uncovered this morning!”

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