11th and Monroe Park (NW) 2nd Community Meeting Tonight

Thanks to all the readers for sending the word about tonight’s second meeting.

Please join DPR
Wednesday, March 3rd at 7:00 p.m. to discuss improvement for the 11th and Monroe Streets Park
Metropolitan Police Department Substation
750 Park Road, NW

After the jump you can see the meeting notes from the previous meeting in Feb.

11th + Monroe Park

Park Improvement Project

Community Meeting #1

February 17, 2010 – Columbia Heights Recreation Center – 7 p.m.

Meeting Minutes

The meeting started at 7:00 pm and concluded at 8:30 pm.

Introductions were held, which was followed by DPR staff presenting the community planning timeline, existing conditions, a map of neighborhood open spaces and a comparison of similar DPR projects. A discussion was held to develop priorities for the park.

* Attendance

Leo Albornoz, DPR Language Access coordinator; Sybongile Cook, Executive Office of the Mayor; Richard Dubeshter, resident; George Escobar, DC Office of Latino Affairs; John Fanning, DPR; Honorable Jim Graham, Councilmember, Ward 1; John Greer, resident; Ingrid Gutierrez, DC Office of Latino Affairs; John Henderson, Washington Parks and People; David Janifer, DPR; W. Jordan, resident; Camille McKenzie, Columbia Heights/Shaw Collaborative; Byron McNeil, resident; Michele Molotsky, DPR; Richard Klugman, resident; Betty Pair, ANC Commissioner and Friends of the Park; Jackie Reyes, Office of Ward 1 CM Jim Graham; Brent Sisco, DPR; Jeremiah Williams, resident; Calvin Woodland, Office of Ward 1 CM Jim Graham; Timothy Vafides, Executive Office of the Mayor; Jeff Zeeman, North Columbia Heights Civic Association; Emily Zimmerman, resident

* Scope of Project Overview
o Previously, DPR made basic renovations to the park but lacked funding for other improvements.
o Feedback from the meeting will guide the design of two conceptual designs.
o The conceptual designs will be presented and reviewed by the community at the next meeting on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. – Location to be determined.
o Based on the community feedback, DPR will refine the concepts and develop a final design for a third community meeting. The goal of this meeting is to receive approval of the final conceptual plan from the community. The third meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. – Location to be determined.

* Anticipated Project Timeline
o Approach consensus on design by the end of March 2010.
o Develop Construction Documents (CD) and solicit contractors in early spring 2010. The process of developing CDs will take 4 months once a consensus is reached and an A/E firm bid is accepted, the General Contractor (GC) typically takes 12-16 weeks after that to build.
o We hope to start construction in the spring.

* General Comments by Brent Sisco, Landscape Architect
o Positives: The 11th + Monroe Park is a corner lot. It has mature Oak trees, a playground, new fencing, and a lot of access points.
o Challenges:
+ The trees create a perimeter and they don’t permit southern sunlight to reach the park.
+ The surface is lower and doesn’t give clear site lines.
+ The retaining walls are high.
+ There’s a sense of verticalness.
+ The park doesn’t feel safe.
+ Lack of greenness.
+ Poor drainage.
o Vision: To create a restorative environment when you can be distracted from your troubles.

* Discussion of Design Preferences

Every participant was asked to name his/her three priorities. They are in ranking order from highest to lowest.

+ Fence Improvements: non jail feeling, retractable, green, etc (7)
+ Green space (6)
+ Park benches: not concrete (6)
+ Swings (4)
+ Garden (3)
+ Level the surface/improve site lines (3)
+ No walls or make them more functional (3)
+ Tables: similar to 14th + Girard (3)
+ Drainage (2)
+ Restrooms (2)
+ Trees (2)
+ Water Element, fountain or sprinkler (2)
+ Bulletin Board (1)
+ Enliven the SW corner (1)
+ Lighting (1)
+ Multilingual Welcome (1)
+ Open Space (1)
+ Play Equipment as universal equipment (1)
+ Sandbox (1)
+ Signage (1)
+ Spinners (1)
+ Trolley theme (1)

* DPR Contact Information

Please share the minutes of this meeting with any of your neighbors who were not able to attend the meeting. As you think about the park if you have ideas of things you would like included in the park that were not discussed please feel free to contact members of the DPR team. We welcome your feedback.

David Janifer: [email protected] or 202-316-4227.

Michele Molotsky: [email protected] or 202-445-1706.

Brent Sisco: [email protected] or 202-615-9824

* The DPR Website for the 11th + Monroe Project will be located at:

http://app.dpr.dc.gov/DPR/information/capital_projects.asp