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!