Would you like to see new playground equipment at Upshur and Hamilton Parks? More programs and classes offered by the Department of Parks and Recreation? How about new basketball courts, improved pool facilities, a dog park, and lots of trees and green space?
Then, please join us, The Friends of the 16th Street Heights Parks, as we work with the Department of Parks and Recreation to transform Upshur and Hamilton Parks into the great community assets that this neighborhood deserves. Committees are forming, and we need chairs co-chairs, and members for our committees, as well as committee members to join our Executive Board.
The Friends of the 16th Street Heights Parks is a group of community members dedicated to improving Upshur and Hamilton Parks. Over the past few years, we have:
- Held community-wide visioning meetings to solicit input from community members about their hopes and goals for Upshur and Hamilton Parks;
- Organized annual park clean-ups and co-sponsored events like the annual Easter egg hunt at Upshur Park;
- Successfully lobbied for DPR programs, including children’s soccer at Hamilton Park and children’s T-Ball at Upshur Park;
- Successfully lobbied DPR to install new soccer nets at Upshur Park; and
- Gained official recognition by ANC4C as the official community group advocating for our neighborhood parks.
In cooperation with DPR, we are now working towards obtaining construction documents that will detail the long-term improvements envisioned for Upshur and Hamilton Parks. We will then work with DPR
to implement the plans.
We are inviting community members to join The Friends of the 16th Street Heights Parks Group and, specifically, to serve on one of our five committees:
- Park Design, Building, and Maintenance Planning Committee
- Dog Park Committee
- Fundraising Committee
- Events and Programs Committee
- Outreach/Membership Committee
We need your skills, your experience, and your ingenuity! And, whether you have one hour or ten hours a month to give, we believe that a concerted effort from the community as a whole is the surest way to bring about the revitalization of these two parks. So, any and all assistance is encouraged and welcome.
If you are interested in chairing, co-chairing, or serving on one of our committees, or learning more about supporting the mission of The Friends of the 16th Street Heights Parks, please contact Carrie Beaudreau at carriellenc@hotmail.com or (202) 722-2925; Jean Badalamenti at jnfz@starpower.net; or Maria Barry at mariabarry@gmail.com.
We welcome you to visit our web site at www.friendsof16thstreetparks.org. Instructions for joining our Group’s list serv can be found at our web site, or a member of our Group can sign you up for our list serv if you provide us with your e-mail address.
We hope to hear from you, and look forward to working together to revitalize Upshur and Hamilton Parks.
