Hipchickindc Visits Crispus Attucks Park
03 November 2008 11:00 AM | By Prince Of Petworth in Neighborhoods - Bloomingdale, hipchickindc
Now that Thai Crossing and Timor Market have already made an appearance on the Prince of Petworth blog, I figured I might as well go ahead and divulge the location of the secret park in Bloomingdale/LeDroit Park. Nicely tucked away between the unit blocks of U and V Streets NW, and 1st St and North Capitol Streets NW, the Crispus Attucks Park website (www.crispusattuckspark.org) describes it as, “An Urban Oasis for Washington DC’s Bloomingdale Community”. It is named after Crispus Attucks, who was a former slave and the first person to be killed during the Boston Massacre.
Just a few years ago, this 1.36 acre parcel was a flat grassy lot with spots of asphalt and concrete surrounded by chain link fence. Thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers, it continues to transform into a planned landscape that includes paths, flowers, trees, and sitting areas. It includes both dog-friendly and dog-free zones, and features the added perk of a bag dispenser to encourage the proper disposal of doggie deposits. Story continues after the jump.
The website includes a history of the park, which I found quite fascinating and somewhat parallel to the changes that have occurred in the neighborhood as a whole. From 1910 to the 1970s, the property was occupied by a brick building owned by C&P Telephone. The abandoned building was turned into a community center for several years but lost funding in the late 1980’s. Following a fire that gutted the interior of the property, the building and lot were taken over by encampments of homeless people, and overrun with prostitution, drug activity, and illegal trash dumping. The building was eventually razed. It impresses me that generations of neighbors worked diligently, through the crime and what must have been arduous legal battles with the city, to re-claim the park for the neighborhood.
The park is privately owned by the homeowners whose properties surround it, however, community use is encouraged. Ongoing upkeep and management of the park are performed entirely by volunteers. The park relies on donations and fund-raising events, such as the annual “Bloomingdale’s Biggest Yard Sale” and Casino Night, which is coming up on November 8th, 2008 (see website for details). Other activities are planned seasonally and include a community BBQ and holiday tree lighting.
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03 November 2008 11:18 AM | Jessica Said:
This looks like it could be a great model for the piece of land in that block behind Red Rocks. I think the city is in the process of acquiring that land. Anyone know the latest?
03 November 2008 11:59 AM | NateG Said:
looks nice! i’m not suprised that a privately owned park is in much better condition than some of the unkept public parks in this city!
03 November 2008 2:34 PM | Anonymous Said:
Haven’t a relatively lot of people been shot and/or killed in this area over the last year? I think I remember a three year old was shot, and a few weeks ago a woman was killed at dawn while waiting for the bus. Just curious, and of course huge areas of DC have lotsa killings.
03 November 2008 3:38 PM | hipchickindc Said:
Not near the park, no.
There was a very tragic crime recently, several blocks away, where a woman was stabbed while waiting for a bus. Yoga District, newly opened on 1st St NW, is doing a fundraiser on behalf of her family on the 16th of November as part of their Grand Opening.
03 November 2008 6:00 PM | Anonymous Said:
Thanks for the bit about Yoga District doing the fundraiser. Good to know.
03 November 2008 6:22 PM | hipchickindc Said:
For anybody who is interested, please see the link for the information about the fundraiser for Delfa Hercules’ family.
http://bloomingdaleneighborhood.blogspot.com/2008/10/fundraiser-for-delfa-hercules-family.html
Also, please support Crispus Attucks Park by attending Casino Night!
http://www.crispusattuckspark.org/CasinoNight08Invite-electronic_files/slide0001.htm
03 November 2008 7:15 PM | Bloomingdale resident Said:
Dont blow up our spots too much, hipchickindc… Imagine if our lil park was suddenly packed to the brim like malcome x? I know its smaller than that, but it would be pretty terrible. We’re already pretty inundated from out-of -neighborhood’rs.
03 November 2008 7:52 PM | hipchickindc Said:
Per Jessica’s comment, I think it’s more likely a potential inspiration to other neighborhoods. Um, I hope so, anyway.
03 November 2008 8:38 PM | IMGoph Said:
other bloomingdale neighborhood blogs are covering the happenings in our neighborhood as well (cough, cough) here.
03 November 2008 8:50 PM | hipchickindc Said: