Crispus Attucks Park News – May 12th, 2004
Dear Friends of Crispus Attucks Park,
I’d like to welcome the more than thirty new members of the park listserv! Here’s the latest park news.
[1] “BLOOMINGDALE'S BIGGEST YARD SALE” A HUGE SUCCESS!
As most of you saw, our big community yard sale was a big hit! I have to say that when Barbara Fogle first suggested the idea, some were skeptical (okay, I was skeptical). But then, if anyone can pull off something like that, it’s her. Barbara, thanks for whipping us all into shape and organizing a fantastic event!
Thanks also to everyone who came out. With the money we raised through seller registrations, sales, and some very generous donations from neighbors who “adopted” new trees, we will be planting 10 new trees before the end of May! Which brings us to item [2] …
[2] URGENT!! – 8-10 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR TREE PLANTING PREP, Saturday May 22nd
BEFORE we can plant any trees, we need to do some terracing to remedy the erosion problems we’ve had in the park. We have a three-stage plan for terracing the west end of the park, and we need to complete the first stage before the trees go in. All this means is that we need to dig out some ledges and install some pressure-treated lumber at the step-downs.
Unfortunately, after purchasing the necessary trees and materials, we have no funds available to pay for labor, so we MUST RELY ON VOLUNTEER LABOR to do the terracing. WE NEED 8-10 PEOPLE WILLING TO COMMIT to helping out on Saturday, May 22. If you would like to help, PLEASE SIGN UP by emailing me at jacorea@aol.com or calling me at 202-550-2631. We need to know how many people we’ll have in order to plan properly.
We’d like to start in the morning, so we can finish before it gets too hot, and hopefully if we have enough people it won’t take too long. The dirt in that part of the park is mostly clay and very hard. Please bring your own tools. Shovels are good, pick-axes are even better. If you don’t have any tools but still want to help, let me know. And if you can’t help but could lend us a shovel, that would be great too. Thanks in advance.
[3] DOGGIE HAPPY HOUR?
Is it just me or have there been more dog owners bringing their dogs to Crispus Attucks Park lately? It’s great to see the park being used – and also great to see people picking up after their dogs.
For all the dog owners (and dog lovers) in the neighborhood, some have suggested that we have a Doggie Happy Hour in the park some weekday evening after work. This could just an informal thing – a chance for dog owners in the neighborhood to meet each other and let their dogs burn off some energy. Everyone would need to chip in a few dollars to help pay for the beer, soda and maybe some chips.
If this something people would be interested in doing, let me know (jacorea@aol.com, or call 202-550-2631). Also, let me know your preference for times. We were thinking of 6:00 or 6:30pm on a weeknight, to allow people to get home from work but not have it be too late.
[4] REGULAR PARK MAINTENANCE
Several people have told me recently that they don’t have the time to be involved in the park on an ongoing regular basis but want to be able to help out occasionally. There are many ways to contribute to the park. One way is to help out some weekend with the mowing or trimming. Right now this job usually falls to a handful of people who have been dutifully tending to the park grounds for years. We have paid people to do some of this on occasion, but that means less money for much-needed plants and materials. If you would like to help out some Saturday or Sunday, call Jon Jensen at 571-212-0303. Don’t worry if you don’t have a lawnmower or weed wacker. There are plenty of neighbors willing to lend them out for the park.
[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.