parks

Photo by PoPville flickr user Joe in DC

“Dear PoPville,

Federal management of many DC public spaces – principally the urban parks far from the Federal core – is a subject that gets my panties in a bunch. Meridian Hill park is just one of many examples, and also the closest to my apartment and therefore my heart.

For me, nothing illustrates the absurdity of the arrangement better than the current shutdown. Witness: City residents making full use of the park despite “closure”; drum circle shut down because…wha?; trash accumulating; etcetera.

Are there any viable initiatives/actors who are trying to get assets like these turned over to city control? I would love to lend my efforts (yes, I know it won’t be a quick fix) to something like this. But first: I’m assuming the city would prefer to have control – is this so?”

Photo by PoPville flickr user ianseanlivingston

From a press release:

“Mayor Vincent C. Gray announced today that, out of a concern for the spread of vermin, the Department of Public Works will begin servicing the litter cans at national parks in the District, starting Friday, October 4.

The collections only will take place from park sites that are accessible to the public (some parks have been barricaded by the National Park Service). The collections from these sites, which are under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, will continue while the federal government is shut down.

“The National Park Service parks in the District attract large numbers of visitors – especially during the unseasonably warm weather we have been enjoying lately. It is imperative that someone remove the trash in a timely fashion before garbage piles up and rodents and other vermin are attracted. Because the federal government cannot step up to provide this basic service to District residents and visitors, I have authorized DPW to service the litter cans for the duration of the federal shutdown,” said Mayor Gray.

Park visitors are asked to put their trash in the litter cans to assist DPW in their efforts to keep the parks vermin-free.”

Photo of last year’s Park(ing) Day courtesy of Casey Trees

From Casey Trees:

“This year’s installation will be within 3 big parking spaces at the corners of 1700 K St. NW & 17th, sandwiched within a block of both the Farragut North & West metros. We’re urging passersby to reassess their relationships with green space, and remind them of how important they are in an urban environment – and of course, the importance of trees in those spaces. We’d love to encourage you to open up a discussion about the installation itself or the general movement on your channels, whether social or real-time, and even come downtown to see us – we’ll be at our location from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm!”

You can see a map of all of tomorrow’s locations from DDOT here.