parks

Holy Awesome – Video: President Harding attends the unveiling of a statue of Jeanne d’Arc at Meridian Hill Park in 1922

By Prince Of Petworth

Well this is freaking awesome. The Meridian Hill Neighborhood Association has a new initiative – they write:

“I wanted to let you know about a new MHNA initiative this year- an online compilation of neighborhood history. It’s just a start, but we’ve already unearthed some cool things: 1922 video footage of President Harding unveiling the Joan of Arc sculpture, a documentary on the New School of African American Thought (once at 2208 14th St), a full historic review of the 1300 block of Florida Ave, etc. In the coming month 3 graduate students from Georgetown will be interviewing some of the neighborhood’s older residents, writing up transcripts and posting them on our new site. We also hope to add more old photos too.

If you (or your readers) have old photos/videos/articles about the neighborhood, we’d love to scan & post them.”

But what got me super psyched is this 1922 video footage they found. Even though there is no sound the footage is mesmerizing. You can watch the video here. The explanation says:

“1922, January 6. Ceremony of unveiling a statue of Jeanne d’Arc in Meridian Park. Crowd assembled for the ceremony. President and Mrs Warren G Harding arrive at ceremony. Officials speak at stand. Unveiling of Jeanne d’Arc statue. Flags on poles. Man places bouquet and flowers in front of the statue. Secretary of War, John W Weeks speaks. Side view of statue. Various officials speak at ceremony.”


Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw

Signs that Spring is here and Summer is on the Way

By Prince Of Petworth

There are two major indicators, besides the cherry blossoms of course, that indicate to me that Spring and Summer are well on their way. They are both water related. One (above) are the fountains at Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park. They are now in full effect.

And the second one (below) will be when this gets filled. Oh so close…

Kingsman Dog Park Open at 5pm Friday in Capitol Hill

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user jsmjr

The Kingsman Dog Park is located at 14th Street and Tennessee Avenue, NE.

From Hill Hounds:

Kingsman Dog Park will open to the public at 5:00 pm this Friday, March 25th. To celebrate, please join us for an informal get-together from 5-7 pm at the new park. We invite everyone to come by, take a look around, play a little fetch and make some new friends from the neighborhood. Members of the Hill Hounds Steering Committee will be there to answer questions about the park and to hand out free treats to your very patient pooches.

The park will be open until 10:00 pm on Friday. Starting on Saturday, March 26th, the park will be open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm every day of the year.


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Dear PoP – Why are these Restrooms Locked?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Took advantage of the lingering daylight and went for a walk in Malcolm X Park. Despite seeing human feces in a stairwell (I’ll spare you and the readers a picture) and having to leave a bench shortly after sitting because the area reeked of urine, the park’s restrooms are padlocked during open hours. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen them open (I could be wrong there). Is there a reason for this? They’re brand new–just constructed last year. It doesn’t seem to make sense that they’re locked up.”

Hmm, when I walked through the park last weekend the doors were open. Maybe they just close at dusk? Anyone know what time they close? The NPS Website says the park is open during daylight hours. I’m guessing the bathrooms must’ve just closed for the night when you stopped by.

Revisiting the Pocket Park at 14th and Oak St, NW/What the Helen of Troy is This?

By Prince Of Petworth

When we looked at the park early last week the fences were still up. I finally got a chance to see it without the fences and I now see what everyone was talking about. This does feel like an awful lot of concrete. But if the city/neighborhood can set up a mini crafts fair and/or music I still think it can be a useful space.

But I do have a question – what the helen of troy are these?

Pocket Park at 14th and Oak St, NW Looking Good in Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth

Wow, I feel it’s been a really long time coming but it looks like it’s gonna be worth the wait. This past weekend was the first time I’d seen what the space was looking like. Even though planting still needed to be completed – you can certainly get a taste of how it’s gonna look. It was bulldozed back in Sept. ’10. And of course this the former home to the benches.

From what you can tell now – do you think this is an improvement?

Ed. Note: Yesterday the Washington Post reported that:

“An outside investigator has concluded there was “no wrongdoing” by former D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty in the issuance of parks and recreation contracts to firms with ties to his administration.”

I will return for more photos when everything has been planted and the weather warms up a bit.

McPherson Square 2.0

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in July the whole area was fenced off and a reader wrote that:

“Rehabilitation of McPherson Square: This includes but is not limited to replacing all the sidewalks in the interior of the park, replacing concrete curbing, re-setting historic granite curbs, removing lead paint from decorative fence, re-painting decorative fence, removing one Chinese Elm tree, re-grading portions of the site, replacing the benches and trash receptacles with new, installing post and chain at all corners and along sidewalks with the greatest impacts from foot traffic, replacing the streetlight system along the interior sidewalks, replacing the sod, replacing drinking fountains with handicapped accessible models, and relocating the electric supply access from the street to the interior of the park.”

Looking good. Here it is from July:

Though now nearby Franklin Square remains far more crowded:

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