The long-empty sandbox at Forest Hills Playground has been refilled, thanks to Van Ness Main Street, local businesses and donors.
On July 18th, VNMS launched a sandbox fundraising campaign, and as of July 27th had raised $900 of the $2,760 cost of purchasing and hauling the sand – six tons in all. Days Inn, one of the first to pitch in, donated $250. (If you have children or grandchildren who enjoy the park, or simply want to support this community asset, you can donate here.)
Van Ness Main Street executive director Gloria Garcia called Tenleytown ACE Hardware on July 20th and within 24 hours, “ACE corporate lead Courtney, found us six tons of sand.”
“She informed us that bulk was less expensive than bags delivered by ACE and their employees,” Garcia told Forest Hills Connection. Courtney set up the bulk delivery, through a Maryland company, and gave VNMS the nonprofit discount. The hardware store is also donating toys for the sandbox.
The sand, however, is the star of the show, and it arrived on Wednesday, July 26th. A crew of four from Capital Area Playground Services set to moving the sand from truck to sandbox. They had an audience for their work – including Garcia, a few VNMS board members, and some eager young children.
Photos courtesy of Faith Mullen.
Even while empty, the sandbox at Forest Hills Playground attracted young children like a magnet.
Katie Stewart visited Forest Hills Playground with her 2 1/2-year-old daughter a few days before the delivery.
The last time the sandbox was full was in 2018, thanks to the DC Department of General Services and some prodding by Friends of Forest Hills Playground.
In May 2018, DGS delivered new sand and even swept the surrounding turf clean.
Sand, in the hands of small children, tends to travel. So over time, the sandbox empties out, and the dropoff from ground level becomes a potential hazard for unwary kids and adults.
After the playground’s 2014 renovation, Friends of Forest Hills Playground would work with the Department of General Services and the Department of Parks and Recreation on getting the sandbox topped off or refilled. And when the friends group became a special program of Van Ness Main Street in 2022, VNMS took up the effort. (Forest Hills Connection is another special program of Van Ness Main Street. We maintain our editorial independence.)
“I have been working on this for at least a year,” Garcia, told ANC 3F’s July 18th meeting.
After hearing nothing from DC agencies, Van Ness Main Street adopted another Friends of Forest Hills Playground tradition, one that predates the playground’s renovation: It started fundraising and planning to replace the sand on its own.
Sand will be an ongoing need for the playground, and ANC 3F Commissioner Courtney Carlson said it should be the city’s responsibility, and not the neighborhood’s. She offered the ANC’s backing.
MPD Lieutenant Marlon Ollivierre, also speaking at the ANC 3F meeting, even offered his department’s support. He suggested that Garcia contact Kyi Blank, the Second District community outreach coordinator.
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