Crispus Attucks Park News: June 21, 2004
Dear Friends of Crispus Attucks Park,
Summer has officially arrived, and the park has never looked better! Read on for the latest park news. But first, let me welcome the dozen people who recently joined the park list serve!
[1] COME SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS!
If you haven’t seen the park lately you should come by and see how great it looks with the recent improvements we’ve been able to make. First, thanks to the hard work of a great group of volunteers, we terraced a section in the northwest quadrant of the park where the slope was particularly steep, which had been contributing to erosion problems. Now, not only has the erosion problem been remedied, but it also looks beautiful. Several neighbors have already donated plants to fill in the steps created by the terracing.
Second, with the money raised from our adopt-a-tree drive and the park yard sale, we were able to purchase and install ten trees in the west end of the park, which has up until now looked a little spare compared to some of the beautiful landscaping at the east and middle sections of the park. These trees will provide badly-needed shade for the play area that we are looking to install along the north fence.
[2] WATER NEEDED FOR NEW TREES
This request goes out specifically to people who own homes adjacent to the park. The ten new trees we have planted need a lot of water during their first summer in the park. We have so far been relying on a handful of neighbors who have been donating their water and/or dragging hoses around the park to do the watering. Since the park belongs to all of us, we are hoping to share this burden with more homeowners around the park.
If you are willing to donate some of your water supply (others can lend you a hose if you don’t own one), help with the actual watering, or both, please call me at 202-332-2850, or e-mail me at jacorea@aol.com. Thanks!
[3] CRISPUS ATTUCKS PARK WELCOMES BLOOMINGDALE GARDEN CLUB
We are pleased to announce that the Bloomingdale Garden Club will be adopting a small section of the park to use as a creative laboratory. The planting bed will run along the south fence from the gate to just beyond the newly planted crape myrtle tree. We’re excited that the park will benefit from the expertise and creativity of Garden Club members, and that we can play a part in helping our neighbors learn the pleasures of gardening.
[4] MORE SUMMER PROJECTS!
We are setting our sights on the next few park improvement projects. There are two more terracing projects on the horizon: one across the entire west fence, and another along the western end of the south fence. These two projects are strictly meant to reduce erosion, and won’t result in the same kind of multiple levels produced by first terracing project.
In addition, we would like to remove the black asphalt path adjacent to the concrete pad at the east end of the park, fill it with soil, and plant grass. This project won’t alter the concrete pad itself, just the asphalt that runs along side it.
Of course, even with all-volunteer labor we can’t do these projects until we have money for materials and rental equipment. Crispus Attucks Development Corporation (CADC) is actively pursuing sources of funding for these projects, including corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and private donations. If you know of any potential sources of funding, would like to help raise money, or would like to make a donation, please contact John Corea at jacorea@aol.com or 202-332-2850.
[5] ATTORNEY NEEDED
CADC is seeking a real estate attorney interested in providing some limited pro bono legal assistance for several specific park issues. If you would like to help, please contact me at jacorea@aol.com or 202-332-2850.
[6] QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE PARK?
As always, 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 court 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.