2500 Georgia Avenue, NW
I accidentally told someone that after Memorial Day public pools don’t open until June 24th. I was psyched to see I was wrong. You can find a list of all DPR pools and hours here.
parks
Yesterday we learned about the snakes falling from trees in Walter Pierce Park [2630 Adams Mill Rd, NW] in Adams Morgan and now I see this ominous sign: “Do you know anything about the Dog Bite“? I fear for what we learn next…
Walter Pierce Park
From MPD:
Walter Pierce Park [2630 Adams Mill Rd, NW]
On Thursday, May 23, 2013 around 11:40am a call came in about a couple of snakes that fell out of the trees. When the snakes fell they scared the children, and everyone fled. This was in the playground area. I responded but found no snakes. I caught one small enough to fit inside an empty water bottle I had. It was probably a black rat snake. They are indigenous to trees and the warm weather is drawing them out.
But fear not the National Zoo says:
Common rat snakes tend to be shy and, if possible, will avoid being confronted. If these snakes are seen and confronted by danger, they tend to freeze and remain motionless. Some adults attempt to protect themselves. They coil their body and vibrate their tails in dead leaves to simulate a rattle. If the snakes continue to be provoked, they will strike.
Though the National Wildlife Federation cautions:
“Although black rat snakes do not usually attack when threatened, there have been extreme cases of black rat snakes charging at predators. Black rat snakes also produce a strong foul odor when scared to deter predators and people.”
Photo courtesy of Robyn Swirling
From an email:
We’ve formed a group called Friends of Columbia Heights Dog Park, to support improvements to and maintenance of the dog park at 11th & Park Roads NW. The park is currently a bit of an eyesore, and we want to fix that (as well as a number of safety and sanitation issues) by putting down a different ground material, building a double-entry gate, closing up areas where small dogs can escape, and creating enforceable rules and norms. The land is owned by WMATA, which makes doing this work on our own a little more challenging (we’re totally willing to do all the work, but need guidance and input from them to ensure they still have all the access they need to do what they do). We want to be able to go to them with a list of MANY supporters as part of our effort to get this done. So if you’re a dog owner who uses the park (or you don’t use it because you think it’s gross), and/or you’re a neighborhood resident who is interested in seeing the park get beautified and better maintained, please sign up at www.columbiaheightsdogpark.org.
Great news on the fountain front – Meridian Hill Park fountains have been filled “early”! Thanks to everyone who sent word yesterday. In early April a reader was told the fountains wouldn’t be filled until Memorial Day due to budget constraints. Super psyched to see they are already filled:
From Council Member Jim Graham:
Dear Friends: We have good news for the Park at Georgia Ave and Irving. Mayor Gray has decided to direct $200,000 this year for needed in improvements at the park. I had made this one of my top funding priorities requested of the administration, but obviously it could not have happened without the Mayor’s enthusiastic support. Thanks also to the fine work of our Georgia Avenue stakeholders, including the Collective, the business association and Sylvia Robinson.
Please use this link to have the details and letter confirming this funding.
Photo by PoPville flickr user mosley.brian
On Friday I mentioned that a friend of mine works at The Nature Conservancy and they were taking us bird watching. We just had to decide where to go – it’s gonna be Teddy Roosevelt Island. We’ll meet at the Island (more details via email) at 8am Sat. May 4th. The tour should last until around 10am. The event is free but limited to the first 15 people who respond. Please email me at princeofpetworth(at)gmail with bird watching in the subject line if you’d like to go. Also if you have a car and are able to take others please let me know. And thanks again to The Nature Conservancy for making it happen.
Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99
Long story short – a friend of mine works at The Nature Conservancy:
“The world’s largest environmental non-profit. In the last 60 years, with the help of over 1 million members, The Nature Conservancy has protected over 120 million acres, thousands of miles of rivers, and operate over 100 marine protected areas globally.”
They have been kind enough to offer a birdwatching tour to PoPville on Sat. May 4th. So we just have to decide where to go – the Arboretum or Teddy Roosevelt Island? Let me know where you prefer and I’ll announce the location on Monday. On Monday I’ll also pick the first 15 folks who want to go.
So where shall we go the Arboretem or Teddy Roosevelt Island?
Dear PoPville,
I found out that the fountains at Meridian Hill Park, due to sequestration-related budget cuts, will not be turned on until Memorial Day weekend, in an email from the permits specialist at Rock Creek Park.
I learned this because I applied for a wedding ceremony permit for April, and they notified me yesterday (they’ve never guaranteed that the fountains would be on earlier, but generally they were turned on in early April from past years) since so many people get married there because of the fountains.
In 2011 they were turned on as early as March 27. In some ways, I’m glad we know exactly when they’ll be turned on, but disappointed that we won’t get to enjoy them until the beginning of summer!
At least the fountain at the sculpture garden has been filled. Stay tuned for Jazz starting back up May 24th.
