Thanks to all who wrote in with this great update. We can check this Horse’s Ass Award nomination off the list. This weekend folks were enjoying the area playing frisbee, soccer and just lounging around.
For the weekends it seems like the space is probably best used for soccer and frisbee passes rather than full on games so more folks can enjoy the space. It looks great!
“Dear PoP,
When are they gonna take down the fence around Meridian Hill Park? The grass there looks to have grown in nicely and the people want to play some soccer.”
This is a great question as the grass seems to be perfect. Anyone know what the parks department is waiting for?
“Dear PoP,
My partner and I are looking for a good DC spot to host our wedding reception. We’d like a place that can seat about 325 people (with room for dancing) and is not fancy. Something like a YMCA, a high school, or a community center could be perfect, as long as it has a really large open space. Have you run across anything like that in your explorations of our city?”
Hmm, I’m thinking a wedding at Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park could be pretty awesome. Anyone know if that is possible? If you are looking for indoors you might want to check with the folks at EL Haynes Charter School. They have a nice new gymnasium. Anyone else have any good “not fancy” wedding spot suggestions for somewhere in DC?
OjO Latino is a series by Néstor Sánchez Cordero. This week features “The return of water at Malcolm X / Meridian Hill Park … and some broken noses as well”. Néstor says, “Images are around, the secret is to catch them at the right moment and with the right light…”
Broken noses after the jump. (more…)
It never ceases to amaze me how awesome Malcolm X/Meridian Hill Park is. It was packed with folks this beautiful Sunday. I had to shoot some video of the drum circle. People were just so happy it was contagious. In addition to the drums folks were reading, sunbathing, having a picnic, tossing the frisbee. The beautiful life at its best!
And I forgot Tina did a profile last August.
Back in January I asked if folks had a name preference. At the time I voted for Meridian Hill because I had never seen Malcolm X actually written anywhere until I saw this sign. So I’m going to take the biggest cop out ever and from this point forward call it Meridian Hill/Malcolm X park. Weak, but I think it’s the proper solution. Does this sign change anyone’s mind on what is the proper name of the park?
This sculpture actually creeped me out, truth be known. But it always amazes me how I can walk past something so many times without noticing it and then one day I’m like “what the hell is that?”. Wild. So here’s the real question – does anyone recognize where it’s from?
Thanks a million to a reader for sending the following response to his inquiry:
All of the necessary infrastructure work, as well as construction work on the entire lower level of the park, were completed over a year ago.
Construction of the lodge house on the upper level has been completed and was inspected last week. That inspection revealed a few items that need to be corrected by the contractor before the Park Service accepts the building. Until these corrections have been made and the building is occupied, the fencing and plywood around the lodge house will remain in place to prevent vandalism.
The lawn areas on the upper level of the park have been regraded and sodded, and are under contractor warrantee. This means that the contractor is responsible for maintaining the lawn areas for 1 year and turning over a well established, lush lawn to the Park Service at the completion of the contractor maintenance period. The contractor has the option of leaving the snow fencing up during this maintenance period, and we expect them to do so since the contractor will face a substantial financial burden should the lawn areas be damaged.
If you are concerned about the amount of available space, the lower level is open and has not been affected by construction on the upper level.
Sincerely,
Adrienne Coleman
Superintendent, Rock Creek Park
National Park Service
So from time to time when I write about Meridian Hill Park people get a bit upset because they believe the true name is Malcolm X park. But I just noticed walking by the other day that it has Meridian Hill etched into the stone on the border of the park. So is that a recent addition? When did the name change occur? Anyone believe one name is more appropriate than another?
This is probably the coolest fountain in the city when it is filled. It’s good to see it still has a function when it’s drained.
