Mayor Seeks Community Input on Rose Park Playground

Mayor Vincent Gray and D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Director Jesús Aguirre have called for a series of public meetings to discuss proposed improvements for the District's playgrounds. The Rose Park Recreation Center playground (2609 Dumbarton St., NW) is one of 32 playgrounds across the city slated for renovations and the only one selected in Ward 2.

“We need our residents to let us know how we can improve the play-space experience in their neighborhood,” said Aguirre in a press release. “We want these renovations to reflect a broad spectrum of community input.”

A meeting in the Rose Park Recreation Center tonight from 6 to 7:30 is the first of two public meetings. Department of Parks and Recreation staff members will present an overview of the Play DC: The Playground Improvement Project and residents will have the opportunity to offer feedback.

Then architects will return to Rose Park to present renderings of the proposed project and will take additional feedback at that time. The second round meeting will be Thursday, Dec. 20 also from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Rose Park Recreation Center.

“My One City Action Plan includes as one of its main goals improving the quality of life for every child and adult in the District, and the Play DC initiative is crucial to achieving that goal,” said Mayor Gray in a press release. “That’s why getting a broad sampling of public feedback is necessary, and I urge residents to attend the feedback sessions on the project at their local playgrounds.”

If you are unable to attend the meetings, you can comment via an online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PlayDC.

Rose Park recently underwent renovations and upgrades to include an expanded flag pole area, a new walkway and new benches among other improvements. That project was financed entirely through private funds and organized by the Friends of Rose Park.

When the government-funded playground upgrades were announced earlier this year, David Abrams of the Friends of Rose Park said his organization was "delighted to see that Rose Park is included on the list of playgrounds identified by DPR and we look forward to working with DPR in a true public/private partnership to insure that the needs of the folks who use the park are met."