by John Burwell Scout Troop 100 has once again contributed an amenity for the enjoyment of visitors in Linnean Park, thanks to a recent Eagle Scout service project. On May 3, Life Scout and Sidwell Friends junior Ian Condon led almost 20 scouts from his troop in assembling and installing a heavy-duty metal park bench, […]
More things to do in June: Violins and pickleball in our parks
One of the joys of walking neighborhood streets and trails is the unexpected encounters along the way. Here’s just one example: A year ago, our editor-in-chief heard the faint strains of violins while on a hike in Rock Creek Park. Following the sound, she eventually stumbled upon a violin concert at Picnic Grove #13. You […]
School updates: A history of protest at Jackson-Reed; UDC’s new School of Education; the science of dog walking
The Jackson-Reed High School graduation in June will be the school’s 90th commencement. That’s a lot of years, and a lot of history – not all confined to Jackson-Reed classrooms. The March issue of the Jackson-Reed student newspaper, The Beacon, covers the February 27th anti-ICE protest that drew high schoolers from across the region to […]
Forest Hills Park has a 90-year history of parent advocacy, DIY, and many do-overs
Forest Hills Park and Playground have taken many forms over the years. And it exists today because of the efforts of neighborhood parents and grandparents going back 90 years. Acquiring the property at 32nd and Chesapeake Streets took a federal lobbying effort. Leslie Boudinot Flenner Wright, a neighborhood activist and mother of four, had succeeded […]
School updates: Sheridan’s new addition; UDC’s new signs; Latest journalism from Jackson-Reed
Sheridan School celebrated the completion of its new two-story addition with an October 5th ribbon-cutting ceremony, and has since been showing it off with tours and open houses. Sheridan added an entry vestibule on the ground floor… And meeting and classroom spaces above. The addition took years of planning and months of construction. “Construction rarely […]
Community service and cool jazz: A day at Forest Hills Park
by Marlene Berlin Last Saturday, September 13th, was a lovely day to be out enjoying one of our neighborhood’s most popular gathering places – and cleaning it up. That’s how the day started for volunteers who pitched in at Forest Hills Park and Playground that morning. Then, a few hours later, jazz musicians performed for […]
September in the Neighborhood: A big day out on our Main Street; Levine’s Community Sing; Picnic at Peirce Mill
Community spirit and solidarity: In the District, we have them in spades. And to maintain our energy for good works and good trouble, we need art. We need music. We need opportunities to relax, connect with friends and loved ones, and enjoy ourselves. Some suggestions for filling our cups in September: September 6: Children’s Day […]
Join your neighbors for coffee and a cleanup at Forest Hills Park this Saturday, July 12
The message below is from Van Ness Main Street’s Good Clean Fun Initiative, which is looking out for Forest Hills Park and Playground. GCF volunteers have also devoted time to getting the District’s advice and assistance on cleaning up the overgrown area between the baseball field and Brandywine Street, which has becoming a dumping ground […]
It was an ordinary hike in the woods. Then, I heard violins.
by Marlene Berlin One Saturday morning in early June, I was hiking the Western Ridge Trail in Rock Creek Park, heading north. After I crossed Grant Road, I heard what sounded like a live strings performance. I followed the music up the trail to Picnic Grove 13 near the Rock Creek Nature Center, to find […]
The Forest Hills Playground group wants to talk about the sandbox
A request for community feedback about a feature of Forest Hills Park: The leadership team for Good Clean Fun is seeking community input regarding the Forest Hills Playground sandbox. A public sandbox, when properly maintained, is a wonderful sensory experience for kids. However, ensuring that a sandbox is fun and safe for children requires an […]