16th Street between Euclid and W Streets NW
ICYMI: Fences Go Up Around Freedom Plaza and John Marshall Park – “PLAZA BEAUTIFICATION AND FOUNTAIN REHABILITATION”
Thanks to everyone who sent photos yesterday:
“Just walked my pup through Meridian Hill/Malcolm X park and on the upper level there are fences that block off the railing that over looks the lower portion of the park and doesn’t allow you to go down the stairs.” (more…)
I suppose we should prepare for more sightings…
Thanks to P. for sending earlier this afternoon:
“Ospreys over Adams Morgan. Then these two planes flew east over Meridian Hill Park a few minutes ago.”
Anyone else see these V-22 Ospreys?
From Wikipedia:
“The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-use, tiltrotor military transport and cargo aircraft with both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. (more…)
Thanks to s vp for sending this magnificent photo from Columbia Heights Saturday morning:
“I saw the most gorgeous bald eagle early this morning. The reason it caught my attention is because i heard some very loud crows cawing and when I opened my window i I saw that the eagle had gotten one of the (many) dead alley rats.
While it might seem like a small thing, this is a reminder of how toxic rodenticides don’t just kill rodents — they ripple through the entire food chain. (more…)
A reader reports 11:45am: “Not sure what’s going on. Thought I’d send so people can avoid.”
Prep for No Kings weekend?
Eduardo asks:
“anyone knows why is Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park in such dire conditions? Tall grass, looks abandoned. Never been so unkept. The weeds are so tall they almost cover the signs. Looks like an abandoned place.” (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
Early Monday morning (around 8:00 am) while I was walking at Meridian Hill Park, I was confronted by an unhinged man who grabbed my arm and tried to pulled me into the wooded side trail on the side of the park closest to 15th Street. He then pulled out a container of pepper spray and sprayed me in the face. (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
This perpetrator was accosting dozens of innocent people yesterday at Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park for more than an hour during the 5 to 6pm timeframe. Councilwoman Nadeau’s office responded to my outreach and is following up with the UOC (911 dispatch).”
Date and Time of Incident
March 19, 2025 05:16 PM
Please provide a detailed description of the incident
I called 911 for the first time at 5:16 pm to report a male perpetrator – across the street from my apartment window – who was threatening passersby with physical harm and using hate slurs as part of the verbal threats (more…)
16th Street between Euclid and W Streets NW
Thanks to Terry for always passing on the latest from the National Park Service:
“…it does not look like the funding for this project will be available until at least the 2027 Fiscal Year. We are anxious to get the fountain repaired as well, but unfortunately we do not have the funding for it at this time.” (more…)
There was a time… photo from 2007 by Chris Campbell
Rough report from Politico:
“Nearly 780 people were fired at the National Park Service, said one person briefed on the administration’s call with park superintendents. The NPS may have to cancel tours and possibly close visitor centers if they don’t have probationary employees in place on Monday, this person said.”
Don’t think that bodes for finding funding to fix the fountain :(
I guess we better enjoy that new armillary sphere…
From the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a bill to expand the mission of the National Park Service (NPS) to include active use of NPS parks in urban areas in addition to preservation. The idea for the bill came from a George Washington University report that examined strategies to create a more activated park system in D.C., which noted that NPS parks in D.C. are “inconsistently managed and inequitably maintained” and “do not meet the needs of people who both live near and experience the park system as a part of their daily lives.”
“NPS’s primary mission is to preserve spaces for the enjoyment of future generations. This noble mission was crafted for the purpose of wilderness preservation, allowing nature to remain untouched by time. However, this mission is ill-suited for the unique needs of NPS neighborhood parks,” Norton said. “This bill would expand the mission of NPS to include the promotion of active use of its parks located in urban areas. Active use prioritizes current enjoyment by people and improves quality of life, including with playgrounds, pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly infrastructure, sports and recreation facilities, community events, and programming for public holiday celebrations.”
Norton’s introductory statement follows. (more…)
Thanks to David for sending from “From Meridian Hill Park yesterday at around 11:30am.”
Much more fun than the last time the police got involved in a snowball fight…
Flashback to 2009: (more…)