Update from Meetings / ACTION ITEMS

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to give a brief update of the recent meetings on the future of the small triangular park located where West Virginia Avenue meets 8th and K Streets NE.

First, a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who was able to make it to one of the meetings. We had some great discussions and several new ideas were brought forward. If you’re not currently on the email distribution list, please send a message to kstreettriangle@gmail.com and we’ll make sure you receive future meeting notices.

Alright, on to meeting notes!

Current State of the Park:

If you’ve been by the park lately, you may have noticed the community bulletin-board in the middle is no longer there. We’re not sure why. The bulletin board’s roof had started to deteriorate due to exposure, but the posts were still strong and in good condition. This past Saturday, we found part of the roof in the middle of the park but everything else was gone. It looks as if someone sawed the posts at ground level. I contacted the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) — who owns the space — but they had no information on the bulletin-board. They indicated they did not remove the bulletin-board or give authorization for its removal. If you know what happened, please let us know. Inquiring minds want to know…

What's Left of the Bulletin Board's Roof. Oct 22, 2011

The Bulletin Board's Posts Appear to Have Been Cut at Ground Level

There appears to be a general consensus among neighbors that the current boxwood shrubs outlining the park are overgrown and should be removed and replaced. The high shrubs currently create a visual barrier, and some people tend to use this as an excuse to throw trash in the park rather than respect it as a public space. Additionally, the high shrubs provide a possible hiding place for people who may have ill-intentions and thus create a safety concern. However, the shrubs do act has a green “fence” and keep people from loitering, so it was expressed that they should be replaced by something that accomplishes this same result. Based on the discussions regarding the shrubs, I have started to engage DPR about what they would require to remove the shrubs.

View of the High Shrubs and the Previous Community Bulletin-Board

Future of the Park:

Several great ideas were shared about what could go into the space, among them was a public art installation, tree(s), fresh landscaping and an ‘active-zone’ installation (see ActiveBodyWorks.com).

A public art installation has been a very popular idea. This would require volunteers to get together and identify what, if any, support maybe available from the city or other art groups. Volunteers would also need to reach out to the community, in particular the homes that front the park, to obtain feedback on any proposed art installation. Finally, volunteers would need to work with the appropriate city agencies to determine what could be installed.

The planting of shade tree(s) has also been a very popular idea. Tree planting would provide much needed shade for that area and would require less bureaucratic hurdles than installing a public art piece. Trees would have to be watered until well-established, so volunteers would need to take on that duty to ensure the trees survive the intense DC summers. The idea of planting trees is not mutually exclusive to a public art installation; both could be accomplished in this space.

New landscaping has also been widely suggested. Any new landscaping would have to be drought tolerant and should be low maintenance. ANC 6C04 Commissioner Tony Goodman provided a list of plants used in the recent street-scaping project at the intersection of New York and Florida Avenues near the ATF Headquarters building. Tony also had the idea of organizing a design competition among landscape architects to create a plan for the space. His idea was that the winner could win a small cash prize as well as the recognition that their plan would be implemented in the park.

Next Steps (ACTION ITEMS):

It’s time to form a core group of volunteers who want to be engaged in transforming this space. Several great ideas have been proposed, but we need to form a plan in order to move forward. If you are interested in being apart of this core group of volunteers, please email your interest to kstreettriangle@gmail.com. Group members will start to work on the details of how to move forward. I anticipate we will meet once or twice a month in the beginning and then adjust the meeting schedule as needed. Remember, this park is a community asset, so the more volunteers we have, the better.

Again, thank you to everyone who has become involved already! Let’s keep the momentum going and improve this space!

Don’t Forget: Meeting this Saturday!

Don’t forget!  We have a meeting this Saturday (22 October) at the park.  Meeting starts at 2PM and will be held rain or shine.  Bring your neighbors and your best ideas and let’s continue the ideas-discussion!

Currently, there appears to be a consensus for some sort of public art or tree(s) for the park itself and new landscaping.

Some of the major points/ideas shared so far:

• New landscaping should be drought-resistant and require minimal care
• Remove the current hedges and replace with something that (A) discourages people from hanging out in the space; (B) is aesthetically pleasing; (C) discourages people from throwing trash in the park
• Remove the current community billboard (not used anymore; is rotting from the elements)
• A permanent, public art installation appears to be preferable but everyone has a different idea on what kind of ‘art’ they’d like to see
• Tree(s) would be a simple, nice addition but would take time to mature

All are welcome at this Saturday’s meeting! Meet new neighbors, share your thoughts, and get involved! See you Saturday!

Upcoming Meetings!

Professional sign-maker, I am not...

For those of you who are just joining us…. Welcome!

This blog is focused on the small triangular park located where West Virginia Avenue meets 8th and K Streets NE in the Near Northeast/H Street neighborhood of Washington, DC.

Presently, there’s not much there except some overgrown shrubs and an old community bulletin board that unfortunately is rotting from exposure to the elements.

This space has so much potential and could be a real community asset! The park occupies a prominent intersection in our neighborhood and could be a well-maintained focal point. Every day numerous people see this space as they pass by on foot, on the bus, or in their cars.  Let’s make it something worth looking at!

So what would you like to see there? A permanent public-art installation? A statue? New landscaping? Trees? Flower-boxes?

Come share your ideas and get involved with the park-improvement project by attending one (or all!) of the upcoming community meetings! Dates, times, and locations are below. The basic agenda is to share ideas for the space and identify people who want to play an active role in improving the park.

Meetings at the park will be held rain or shine!  If you have any questions, please email kstreettriangle@gmail.com. Hope you can make it!

Upcoming Meetings:

• October 3 at 7 PM: ANC Commissioner Adam Healy has been gracious enough to allow some time to discuss the park-improvement project during his ANC Single Member District meeting.  The meeting will begin at 7PM at Pilgrim Baptist Church, located at 700 I Street NE.
• October 8 at 9 AM: Meet at the park!  This is the first of two Saturday meetings planned.
• October 22 at 2 PM: Couldn’t make the first Saturday morning meeting? Here’s a second chance on a Saturday afternoon! Meet at the park!

Great Ideas!

It’s been a while since I’ve posted but I wanted to let everyone know that I’ve continued to work diligently on this project. I started a new job however, so if you’ve emailed me and I haven’t responded, please know I’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.

We’ve had some great ideas from neighbors in the area. It appears that the idea of some sort of permanent, public art installation and new landscaping is leading the pack. Admittedly, that’s the direction I’ve been leaning towards so I’m glad there appears to be some sort of general consensus there.

Still though, this is a public space and I’d like to generate as much open discussion as possible. I’m going to post some signs in the park within the next week or two (depends on when they’re delivered) that promote this blog to further the online discussion. I hope everyone will continue to check-in now and then and continue to add their ideas and opinions. I’d like to continue the discussion until mid-October, and then start to narrow down the ideas to one plan. From there, I’d like to identify what funding sources are available and then hopefully begin transforming the space in Spring 2012.

Adam Healy, Commissioner for ANC 6A01, put me in contact with someone from the DC Commission on Arts and the Humanities to discuss a possible grant application in FY2012. I’ll continue to follow-up on that route and post information here.

I hope everyone has a great week!

 

Keep ’em Coming!

Wow! Lots of great comments and ideas so far!

It appears to me that there seems to be some general consensus behind adding some sort of public art, landscaping, and trees to this space. I like those ideas a lot. I think each of those things would add much-needed visual appeal to the park.

I also like that some people have talked about closing that one block (between 8th and K) of West Virginia Avenue. I don’t know how the people whose homes front that one block would feel; that’s another topic and discussion. At the least though, I think that entire area could be signed better for safety.

A dog park near Florida Avenue is another great idea. I’d be happy to help out with any eventual community effort there. For now, I’d personally like to focus on the K Street Triangle park to avoid stretching myself too thin.

So keep the comments coming! I think it’s important that we have a meaningful discussion about the future of this space. Tell your friends and neighbors and encourage them to share their thoughts and opinions here. I’m hoping that we can develop a plan this fall and work to identify resources and paths forwards over the winter.

I hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend!

And…. We’re Live!

Hello World!

First post on a new blog. This is kind of exciting (for me at least).

This blog is focused on the small triangular park located where West Virginia Avenue meets 8th and K Streets NE in the Near Northeast/H Street neighborhood of Washington, DC.

K Street Triangle Park (from Google Earth)

It’s a small park in the middle of a busy intersection. Currently, there’s not much to look at except for some overgrown boxwood shrubs and an old community bulletin board that unfortunately is rotting from exposure to the elements.

This space could be so much more! The park sits at a prominent intersection in our neighborhood and could be a well-maintained focal point. Every day numerous people see this space as they pass by on foot, on the bus, or in their cars.  Let’s make it something worth looking at!

So what would you like to see there? A permanent public-art installation? New landscaping? Trees? Flower-boxes? This blog was created in order to start a dialog within in the community about what this spot could and should be.

In the meantime, check out the blog topics and share your ideas and opinions! Together, we can make this a great community improvement!