quality of life

Outdoor Pools Open for Memorial Day Weekend! Regular Schedule Starts June 18th

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

From a press release:

[On Friday] Mayor Gray will officially Kick off the 2012 Summer Pools Opening Kick-Off and open the new Rosedale Community Center.

Mayor Gray will officially Kick Off the 2012 Summer Pools Opening at Rosedale Community Center. DPR has 19 outdoor pools, 11 spray parks and 5 Children’s Pools that will be open starting Memorial Day Weekend. The Mayor will also unveil the new Rosedale Community Center with new pools, a new gym, new activity rooms, a new artificial turf field and more.

You can find a full list of DC’s outdoor pools here. While pools will be open this weekend, please note regular hours begin June 18th.

You can see the popular Banneker Pool’s [2500 Georgia Avenue, NW] schedule here and all other pools here.

Record Number of Travelers Visit Washington, DC in 2011

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Faucetini

From a press release:

The District of Columbia welcomed a record 17.9 million visitors in 2011 — a number that tops the District’s previous record of 17.4 million total visitors, set in 2000. Newly released data from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI) show the nation’s capital welcomed 1.8 million overseas visitors in 2011, a 4.1 percent increase over 2010. When added to the 16.1 million domestic visits in 2011, the nation’s capital welcomed more visitors than ever last year according to Destination DC, the District’s official convention and tourism corporation.

Holy cow that’s a lot of tourists, I had no idea the numbers were that high.

In other news, metro escalator lines faced record congestion…

A breakdown of the visitors after the jump. (more…)

Clean Teams Returning to Ward 1

By Prince Of Petworth

From Council Member Jim Graham:

I am pleased to announce the Ward One Clean Teams will soon be back in full force in many of our neighborhoods – – covering a total 38 blocks throughout the Ward. I worked hard to get the funding back into place for this important service. I want to thank Mayor Vincent Gray, Chairman Kwame Brown, and Harold Pettigrew, Director of the Department of Small and Local Business Development for their help in re-establishing Clean Teams.

We have missed these services – – and value this work in our neighborhoods.

We are giving people a chance to rebuild their lives with jobs, while fulfilling this useful purpose. Charlie Whittaker successfully competed for this contract, and again has the supervision of this service. His able services are much appreciated.

Please look for Clean Team members in the neighborhoods below starting in the next few weeks. (Adams Morgan has had no lapse in their green team cleanups, due to a different source of funding, part private and part DC gov.)

Georgia Avenue — Georgia Avenue, NW from Irving Street, NW to New Hampshire Avenue, NW (Node 1, Pleasant Plains : Petworth, (10 linear blocks);

U Street — U Street, NW from 9th to 14th Streets; and the northside from 14th to 17th Streets, NW (6.5 linear blocks);

14th Street MidCity —14th Street, NW from S Street, NW to Florida Avenue, NW (5 linear blocks);

14th Street Columbia Heights —14th Street, NW from Columbia Road, NW to Spring Road , NW; and Park Road, NW from 14th Street, NW to Hiatt Place, NW (11 linear blocks)

11th Street —11th Street, NW from Kenyon to Monroe Streets, NW(3 linear blocks)

Mt. Pleasant— Mount Pleasant Street from 16th Street, NW to Park Road, NW (3 linear blocks)

Dear PoPville – Meeting tomorrow night re: U Street Liquor License Moratorium

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Jess J

Dear PoPville,

As a homeowner in, and resident of, the U Street corridor, I received a flier the other day from the organizers of the new civic association, the “Shaw-Dupont Citizen’s Alliance,” which is intent on imposing a five-year liquor licence moratorium on the Corridor. The new association defines its boundaries as being from 12th to 16th Streets and from S to U Streets, N.W. Their first meeting is TOMORROW night, at 7:00, at the Thurgood Marshall Center, which is located at 1842 12th Street. Here is a link to their website with the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting.

I already have communicated to them my own personal opinion on their proposed moratorium (I am strongly opposed), and I would urge that others let their views be known as well. Maybe I am wrong, but I do not believe that the majority of my neighbors want to see this happen.

Fines for “Careless Walking” – A Good Idea for DC?

By Prince Of Petworth

Last weekend I rode the Capital Crescent trail and laughed when I saw the sign above at the Georgetown entrance. Then I saw this report from USA Today:

“This spring, Fort Lee, N.J., police began issuing $85 fines for careless walking, and the Utah Transit Authority made distracted walking around trains punishable by a $50 fine.”

Seems like “careless” or “distracted” walking would be very difficult to enforce but do you think it’s a good idea?

Field Renovation Completed at Walter Pierce Park – Is the Fence a Necessary Evil?

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in Aug. 2011 we saw how awesome the field at Walter Pierce Park (Adams Mill Road and Ontario Place, NW) in Adams Morgan was looking. Looks like the restoration is completed. One big change you’ll note are the pretty big fences. Do you think they are a necessary evil?

On the Adams Morgan listserv Mindy updates folks:

As I’m sure many of you have already seen, the field at Walter Pierce Park is now back online and ready for use (albeit with a permanent fence around it). According to DPR, the field will be open for free usage most of the time (unless otherwise permitted) and the gates will only be locked for maintenance purposes.

If you have an organized league, class, program, event that wants to use the field, you must apply for a permit from DPR (http://dpr.dc.gov/DC/DPR/Facilities+and+Permits/Permits+and+Reservations).

If you just want to play some Frisbee, toss a ball, or lay on it, and it is not permitted at the time you wish to use it, you’re free to do so.

Signage has been posted at the gates explaining the need for a permit and we’re working with DPR to make sure those signs are bilingual.

While there are a whole host of rules, regulations and requirements affiliated with athletic fields in the DPR system (available on their website), there are a few important ones that everyone should be aware of whether you have a permit to use the field or not.

1) Boisterous conduct, vulgar and profane language is prohibited.
2) Fields should not be used within 24 hours of significant rainfall.
3) No dogs are permitted, with the exception of registered service dogs.
4) Alcohol is not permitted anywhere in the park.

The field is currently permitted for the following dates/times:

Mondays through June 14 3:30pm-5:30pm
Tuesdays through June 14 3:30pm-5:30pm
Wednesdays through June 28 6pm -9pm
Thursdays through June 14 3:30pm-5:30pm
Thursdays through May 31 6pm-9pm
Saturdays through June 26 10:30am-1pm
Sundays through June 26 10:30am -1pm

Some folks have already complained about the excessive drinking occurring on the field on Thursday evenings. DPR and MPD are both aware of the situation.

If you have any issues with people using the field when they shouldn’t be, or issues with the conduct of those using the field, please don’t hesitate to contact the DPR Park Rangers: 202-441-2605.

Arcadia’s Mobile Farmers Market Launched

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

“Arcadia’s Mobile Market is a bright green, retrofitted school bus that operates as a farmers’ market on wheels.

The Mobile Market brings local, sustainably-produced vegetables, fruit, eggs, milk and meat to Washington, D.C. neighborhoods.

Wednesdays 4:00-7:00pm
Ledroit Park/Common Good City Farm, Corner of Elm St and 3rd St, NW”

See complete schedule here.

Mobile Market Flyer

DC Caribbean Festival to Take Place in Baltimore

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user rjs1322

You can read previous coverage about the festival here.

From a press release:

D.C. CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL, INC. (DCCC) has modified its program for the 20th Annual DC CARNIVAL™ in
2012.

On the weekend of June 23-24, 2012, DCCC will showcase the Annual Pan Jam, featuring local Steelbands and the Annual Dimanche Gras featuring the judging of costumes and live entertainment at the Crossroads Entertainment Complex, 4103 Baltimore Avenue Bladensburg, Maryland from 3:00 p.m. Admittance is $15.00/adult, children 12 years and under $5.00.

On the weekend of July 13 -15, 2012, DCCC has accepted an invitation to join the Caribbean American Carnival Association of Baltimore (CACAB) in their Annual Caribbean Carnival/Festival, at Lake Clifton Park, Baltimore, MD 21218 for a “Baltimore/Washington One Caribbean Carnival ” celebration!

On Saturday July 14, 2012, the Parade starts at 12:00 Noon at 900 E 33rd Street, travels along Alameda Street to St. Lo Drive. The Festival continues at Lake Clifton Park until 10:00 pm; $10 entrance fee. On Sunday July 15, 2012 the Festival continues from 12:00 Noon to 9:00 pm featuring Intl. Entertainment, sponsors and food and crafts vendors; $15.00 entrance fee.

For additional information contact CACAB @ 410-362-2957 or DCCC @ 202-670-4835 or visit www.DCCARNIVAL.ORG

Friday Question of the Day – Should Liquor Stores Be Allowed to Sell on Sundays? (reader request)

By Prince Of Petworth

If you ever have a topic you’d like to see discussed on Friday please send your suggestions in an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail with Friday Question of the Day in the subject line.

A reader sends in this news from the Washington Post:

D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) said today he is likely to recommend allowing Sunday sales for holders of Class A (liquor store) licenses as part of the city budget. The additional $710,000 in sales tax revenue that would be generated by dropping the restriction would go some way toward the $3.2 million Graham needs to find to kill Mayor Vincent C. Gray’s proposal to extend bar hours as late as 4 a.m.

In late March we discussed whether or not bars should be allowed to stay open an hour later. How about Sunday liquor sales?

Do you think liquor stores should be allowed to sell liquor on Sundays? If so, should there be any restrictions? Do you think this is a good way for the District to raise revenue?


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