Prince Of Petworth » Blog Archive » Tina Attends Girard Street Park Ribbon Cutting

Tina Attends Girard Street Park Ribbon Cutting

11 December 2008 9:04 PM | By Prince Of Petworth in Neighborhoods - Columbia Heights, quality of life

A mere couple of months ago PoP spotted a pretty weak looking park at 14th and Girard St. Then just a couple of weeks later he got word that the park was getting a facelift, and this past Monday I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the brand new Girard Street Park play surface area. If only everything in the District happened this fast!

Back in August the park was pretty sad looking (http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=3652) so this is definitely a HUGE improvement. Mayor Fenty, Ward 1 councilmember Jim Graham, and DC Department of Parks and Recreation Director Clark Ray were all there for the big event, as the largest rubber playing surface in the entire District of Columbia was opened to the public.

The park is also home to some basketball courts and a community garden run by a program called CityBlossoms. I got to meet Executive Director Rebecca Lemos who explained to me that the garden is tended to by children from some local community programs, including Centronia, Community of Hope and the Columbia Heights Youth Organization. Right now there are some “winter crops” growing, including some yummy looking cauliflower!

The park looks great now, and I really hope it stays that way. I live right around the corner and have seen some pretty shady activity going on over there. But it’s my hope, along with most of the community I’m sure, that people respect this great new space and try to keep it safe and clean for the children of Columbia Heights!

12 December 2008 12:06 AM | Boomhauer Said:

Now only if they could, you know, stop the gunfire on Girard…..

12 December 2008 9:25 AM | Otis Gal Said:

Most of the kids who live near that playground have been scared to go for years. It’s only when adults bring them from their schools or after school programs that it really gets used.

From Today’s Washington Post:
“Within hours of the gunfire that killed Willow, 16 gunshots were fired in the 1400 block of Girard Street, home of the Girard Street Crew, which often spars with 1-7, said D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1). The back-and-forth there has been going on for years. In the past few years, a string of young people has been stabbed, shot or beaten because of neighborhood beefs.”

12 December 2008 10:45 AM | Thor Said:

You’d think after all those shootings and stabbings these crews would kill each other off.

12 December 2008 2:51 PM | Eric Said:

This park isn’t at 14th and Girard. There is a different, smaller one there. I think this one is at 15th and Girard.

12 July 2009 11:41 AM | Todd C Wiggins Said: