Comments on: 14th and Girard Street, NW Park Opening Celebration Saturday

By: alicia

alicia — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:41:37 +0000

I would also recommend using a porous surface sealer to protect against outdoor elements

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:25:50 +0000

It is still as ugly as it was before.

By: BLA

BLA — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:30:30 +0000

LOL, the whole point of parks in city neighborhoods is that they help establish community interaction, involvement and identity. Where else are people supposed to meet and learn to become a community? Not everyone flocks to wonderland bar or the red derby to meet the neighbors.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:52:52 +0000

I know its sacreligious in this community to say so, but I think we already have plenty of green space. I didn’t move to the City for more parks. The whole thing should have been torn out and replaced with a building. This will just be a private playground for the nearby projects and for vagrants. Sure there will be a chess game or two (maybe), and a few good basketball games, but I think it was an overwhelming waste of funds for something that will not benefit the community as a whole.

By: Néstor Sánchez Cordero

Néstor Sánchez Cordero — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:16:43 +0000

Glad to hear that Brian, it was really cool. The police were definitely interacting….

By: brian

brian — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:14:26 +0000

my schedule would only allow 11:30am-12. even that early, the grill was out and already in use, and the park was full of happy people. the weather was perfect. i met a very friendly anc commissioner, and we spoke 10-15 minutes. the police were there interacting in a very positive way with the park patrons. good times all around!!! and to think, the *real* party didn’t even start till 2!

By: RD

RD — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:00:36 +0000

I think it does look nice, but i do enjoy the irony in listing “little usable green space” as a reason to renovate the old park, when the renovation just poured concrete over what was the existing green space.

By: Néstor Sánchez Cordero

Néstor Sánchez Cordero — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:31:00 +0000

I just came back from the park, I missed you POP, I was there from 230 to 4 aprox. I didnt see the guy with the huge beard, I wanted to say hi too. Anyway, here is my two centavos: The park is great and an improvement of what was there before. The community seemed so happy and festive it was contagious. They were giving free hamburgers, hot dogs and soda. There was music and folks were dancing and having a great time. They even had a Michael Jackson tribute and an impromptu dance contest (to Billie Jean) and a cool kid won it. A bunch of kids (and three older white dudes) were going at it at the new basketball court and seemed to be having a great time. An older guy was teaching a kid how to grab the basketball and dribble.

Where were you Ontarioroader? Naomii? Bloomingdale? The anonymous bunch? Some of you prejudged the whole initiative even before it was opened and didnt even go there to check it out, meet the neighbors, the organizers, take your kids to play with the kids at the fountain.

Some of you dont like the Georgia Av Caribbean parade, the 4th of july neighborhood fireworks, the drum circle, the urban parks, et al….Geez, what do you like? or better yet, what is your idea about a neighborhood? When you think of park and benches all you can say is “bumfest”?

I am transient here in this city. One day I will go back home. I have many fond friends and memories form this area, Ive met the coolest, most interesting people while here, nevertheless, and this is from the perspective of a foreign Latino, I have seen the double standard, racism and classism that still divides this country. You might not want to accept it but it’s still there.

Excuse me if I have offended anybody but I just think its very unfair to the community and the friendly, happy folks at 14th and Girard to label them as “bums, prostitutes, shooters, boys in the hood.”

My name is Néstor and my Ojo is Latino

By: sheepprofessor

sheepprofessor — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:43:32 +0000

While this may be lost on those of you without kids, public bathrooms make life significantly easier when you’re trying to do anything with young children. And kids are the target market here, right? If undesirable elements mis-use them, well, that’s what we have police for.

There are still public bathrooms at Meridian Hill at the top of the big fountain. I have taken my two year old in there several times in an emergency situation and have never had a problem.

By: James in Washington

James in Washington — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:32:52 +0000

I think I will walk up the street and check it out. But I do think the bathrooms were a bad idea (and wasn’t there some resistance to them?). It’s not like the park is going to be a drive to destination for families wanting a staycation. Most people who will use it live within a couple blocks. They can go potty at home.