Crispus Attucks Park News – April 20th, 2004
Dear Friends of Crispus Attucks Park,
Well, there’s no question spring has arrived! And as the weather heats up, so does our work on the park. Here’s the latest:
[1] SPONSOR A TREE FOR "EARTH DAY"
April 22nd is Earth Day, and what better way to celebrate than to plant some trees? As we mentioned in a previous e-mail, we have received a grant to install playground equipment in the park this summer. While this is great news, the park has few shade trees, and none in any of the spots where it makes sense to install the playground equipment. As I’m sure everyone who’s spent time in the park on a summer day can attest, it can get pretty hot out there!
Thus, we are in DESPARATE need of trees! What’s more, if we don’t plant them VERY soon it will be too hot to plant them and we’ll have to wait until fall. We would like to plant at least three small shade trees that would provide some shade for the play area while not obscuring any views. We have set a goal of raising $2000 to plant and maintain at least three trees (hopefully more) plus do the minimal necessary grading and landscaping around the play area. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation towards the purchase of these needed shade trees or landscaping, please contact Reggie Parrish at 202-986-5968, or rparrish40@hotmail.com.
[2] "GREAT AMERICAN CLEAN UP" PARK SPRUCE-UP DAY-- SATURDAY, APRIL 24th
As part of the “Great American Clean Up” activities going on all over the District (and the country!) this month, we’re organizing a Park Clean Up/Spruce Up Day for Saturday, April 24. That weekend is one week before the big Yard Sale, and we’d like to get the park in top shape for that event. Over the past few weeks we’ve focused on removing any large debris from the alleys. We’d like to focus this Saturday on clearing dead foliage growing on the fence, and clearing the weeds and dead foliage along the bottom of the fence around the outside of the park. If you’re interested in helping out, contact:
-- Reggie Parrish (202-986-5968, rparrish40@hotmail.com), OR
-- Jon Jensen (571-212-0303, jonjensen93@hotmail.com)
Or just come out to the park any time this Saturday morning to lend a hand. Bring your clippers, shovels, gloves, plastic trash bags, or anything else you think would be helpful.
[3] “BLOOMINGDALE'S BIGGEST YARD SALE” UPDATE
It’s less than two weeks away, but it’s not too late to register if you’d like to sell at the yard sale. Remember, if you prepay by April 24th the registration fee is only $15 per spot ($20 after 4/24). Registration form is attached. For more information, contact Barbara Fogle at 202-483-2121 or barbarafogle@hotmail.com.
Some other yard sale tidbits:
- An elderly neighbor would like to sell at the yard sale but cannot tend to the table herself and would therefore like to share a table with someone else.
- This and next week, we’ll be distributing flyers widely around Bloomingdale and other neighborhoods to make sure we get customers out on the day of the yard sale. We could always use more help distributing flyers. Or feel free to print out the attached “Customer Flyer” and post on bulletin boards, give to friends, etc.
- An “e-vite” for the yard sale recently went out to everyone currently on the Friends of the Park e-mail distribution list. Please feel free to forward the e-vite to others who might be interested in coming.
- We see Bloomingdale’s Biggest Yard Sale as a great opportunity to promote awareness of the park, and to – yes – raise money for its maintenance and development. We plan to have information available at the event regarding the general design plan for the park as it stands, and possible community program ideas that could make use of the park. We’ll also have a suggestion box, so bring your ideas!
If you would like to help out with any of the above, or if you would like to receive the e-vite but haven’t, please e-mail me at jacorea@aol.com.
[4] PARK IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2004
Our April 7th Crispus Attucks Development Corporation (CADC) board meeting was very productive. We spent much of the time developing and prioritizing a list of short term and long term park improvements. While longer term improvements (such as a new fence) will require a serious capital campaign and/or the procurement of large grants, we can begin making many of the shorter term improvements ourselves at relatively low cost. Some possible improvements beginning as early as this month include:
- Planting trees to provide shade for new children’s playground area (see item [1] above)
- Removing the asphalt path adjacent to the concrete pad toward the east end of the park
- Repairing/replacing sections of fence, adding additional gates, painting fence
- Adding brick footpaths
Of course, even these tasks will require money and volunteers. As always, contact me if you’re interested in helping out, and look for future e-mails for information about specific projects. We continue to work toward a comprehensive, staged, long-term park plan. Minutes from the April 7th board meeting are available if you’d like to see them (again, just e-mail me at jacorea@aol.com).
[5] QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE PARK?
Feel free to e-mail me at jacorea@aol.com. if you have suggestions, concerns, or questions about the park. We look forward to hearing from you!
__________________________________________________________________
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About the Park: Crispus Attucks Park is the 1.36 acre lot bounded by the alleys of the 2000 blocks of North Capitol and First Streets NW and the unit blocks of U and V Street NW. The homeowners of the properties surrounding the park own the park in common. Named in honor of Crispus Attucks, an African American former slave and the first person to lose his life in the Boston Massacre, the property is a green oasis in Bloomingdale. Crispus Attucks Development Corporation (CADC) is the nonprofit community organization that oversees the park’s maintenance and development.