parks

Ledroit Park News – Park and Restaurant Edition

By Prince Of Petworth

I know there are lots of fans of Ethiopian restaurant, Zenebech Injera, located at 608 T St, NW by Florida Ave so I wanted to share news that they’ve applied for a liquor license. Zenebech had also briefly closed last summer. Anyone been back recently?


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I also wanted to share the news that the LeDroit Park Civic Association has put together a survey soliciting names for the new community park coming to 3rd and V Streets NW. I’m voting for Ledroit Park Park. You can fill out the survey here.

You can see more info about the park here.

Trees Being Cut Down at Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

About 8-10 of the trees in that great little grove/canopy as you come up the steps from 16th street on the upper half of the park are gone. I know they’re doing work on the retaining wall on 16th street, but sheesh. I’m totally bummed.”

But at least some good news is that the same reader says the new public restrooms are now open.

ANC rep Brianne K Nadeau sent word last week:

Another part of the restoration of Meridian Hill Park includes the reinforcement of the west wall of the upper level. This is a project funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. While the National Park Service originally thought the disruption would be minimal, upon further inspection, they are really going to need to get in there and tear some stuff apart to get the job done and keep the wall safe.

As a result of the work being done to make the wall structurally sound they are going to have to tear out some of the existing trees. They will of course replace them as soon as possible. The trees will be taken out Monday, and that part of the park will look pretty bare for a while until the work is done.

Serious Work Begins at 10th and French St, NW Park in Shaw

By Prince Of Petworth

I was glad to see the park at 10th and French St, NW finally start to see serious construction. I always thought this location had the potential to be a sweet park. The biggest noticeable change at the moment is that they demolished the crazy concrete structure in the middle. Stay tuned for more photos as progress continues. Here’s what it looked like in July ’08:

DC Finally Resolves the Meridian Hill vs Malcolm X Park Debate

By Prince Of Petworth

Perhaps because I’m a bit masochistic I’ve always enjoyed reading people’s opinions on whether or not the park is called Malcolm X or Meridian Hill. Basically the national park service calls it Meridian Hill (which is the technical official name because NPS owns the land) but long time residents as well as the city have generally referred to it as Malcolm X park. The debate has gotten rather contentious and heated at times. As a result I have always referred to it as the Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park. I nearly fell over when I saw the above city sign city sign on U St, NW. At long last, a compromise!

By the by the park (between 15th and 16th St, NW and Euclid and W/Florida Ave) is looking beautiful. Fountains stay on until mid-Nov.

Update on 11th and Monroe St, NW Park Renovations

By Prince Of Petworth

Last we heard the park was closed in late August due to lead contamination. Following is an update from Donny Gonzalez, Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization:

Regarding the 11th and Monroe construction schedule, looks like we are tentatively scheduled to begin visible work “moving dirt” in late January, weather permitting. The proposed schedule is as follows:

– Procure design services by end of October.
– Receive construction design by end of November
– Obtain necessary permits between December – End of January
– Procure Builder / Construction (approx 60 days to complete) between Late Jan / Early Feb through end of April or early May.

Right now, the park is currently closed due to low levels of lead contamination that came from building construction near by. The DC Department of the Environment (DDOE) placed a stop work order on that project and is currently negotiating a settlement with the developer to abate the contamination. We are looking at several options to mitigate the contaminated area keeping the construction timeline in mind.

As I understand it, DDOE expects the area to be abated within 30 days or so. Please note that the schedule I have provided is not meant to be exact, it is to give you an idea of the proposed schedule, but it is subject to change. This is the latest plan of action from OPEFM to develop your neighborhood park. We will make every attempt to stick to this schedule and to deliver it in a timely manner.

Protest Benches Gone – Triangle Space at 14th and Oak, NW Bulldozed – Renovations Underway

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

What’s up with the little triangle shaped park at Oak and 14th? As of yesterday it’s blocked off with a chain link fence, the kind they use for construction sites.”

This is the park that had the protest benches. We spoke about the renovation plans here and here.

To see a bigger version of the rendering click here – dpr_14_oak_ogden_concept_201003

Dear PoP – The Yards Park is Awesome!

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I was down at the kick-off concert Saturday at The Yards — what a fantastic place. There was an art show going on, live bands, food, etc. I will send some pictures.”

Some folks have already mentioned how impressed they were with the new park but I wanted to share this sweet photos from the opening ceremonies this past weekend.

More photos after the jump. (more…)

The 5pm Post – Grand Opening of The Yards Park

By Prince Of Petworth


Photos Courtesy of Vikrum Aiyer and the office of the Mayor

This looks awesome! Between this and the Georgetown waterfront development we’re finally getting some sweet river front options. From a press release from the office of the Mayor:

Nestled between Nationals Park and the historic Navy Yard, The Yards provides residents with additional outdoor green space along the water to visit and enjoy. The new park includes a public marina, a terraced riverfront performance venue, a quarter-mile long boardwalk with shops and eateries and a biking and jogging trail.

“The Park at the Yards is one of the key pieces in demonstrating the District’s commitment to the work of the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative,” said Deputy Mayor Santos. “It re-affirms Washington, D.C.’s place on the world’s stage of the best waterfront cities and will expand the ability of all District residents to partake in the beauty and vitality of the Anacostia River.”

The new waterfront park is just one part of The Yards, the largest economic development project currently under construction in the District. The $1.5 billion plan calls for 5.5 million square feet of retail, housing, office and civic space on 42 acres of land along the Anacostia River. With the participation of the District, the U.S. federal government, Forest City Washington and MacFarlane Partners, The Yards will include 2,800 units of residential and affordable housing, 1.8 million square feet of office space and 400,000 square feet of retail space. Phase 1 of The Yards is slated for completion in 2013.

Lots of great activities this weekend. From Capitol Riverfront BID:

“I’d like to let you know about the YARDS PARK GRAND OPENING on Friday, Sept. 10- Sunday, Sept. 12th. The Yards Park, DC’s new waterfront destination and a centerpiece of the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood, opens to the public for a weekend celebration. The Yards Park is like no other place in the region and offers the DC Region a new destination to enjoy the outdoors and the river. The Yards Park is 5.5 acres, which is the size of about four football fields, and cost $30 million. The Park design reads as a series of unique rooms—from the great lawn to the sculptural bridge, the waterfall/canal basin to the overlook and terraced steps– and provides for a variety of experiences within the Park.

The free event includes a variety of live bands on the boardwalk stage including 3 under the Eighteenth Street Lounge label and the local Red Lobster Buffet band; children’s activities such as a ship moonbounce, face painting, balloon hat making, crafts, a rock climbing wall, and more on Saturday; ArtWhino Beautiful Minds exhibit; beer gardens by Capitol City Brewery; free VIDA fitness classes on Saturday; Trapeze School demos; fireworks; doggie social and contests and much more!”

More photos including a full list of weekend activities plus a rendering of the completed project after the jump. (more…)

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