|
Community Improvement Day Ribbon Cutting: (l-r) Bill Alsup,
Corp. Sponsor; Robert Stewart and Michael Hartman,
Improvement Day Co-Chairs; Gary Ball, DCBIA Community
Services Corp. Pres.; Chris Smith, DCBIA President;
Gayle Hazelwood, NPS; Councilmember Yvette Alexander;
Willette Seaward, ANC 7D Chair; and
Dennis Chestnut, Groundwork.
|
Inter-organizational collaboration can be tough on the toes: territory, missions, budgets -- so many opportunities for a misstep, and so many chances to get stomped. On Sep. 12, though, nearly 600 participants risked toes together in Fort Mahan Park in a multi-organizational effort that transformed the park and nearby trail.
The DC Building Industry Association (DCBIA), the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), Groundwork Anacostia River DC, the National Park Service (NPS) and a host of volunteers improved an area covering the equivalent of five city blocks. Brush was cleared; flower, shrubs and a rainwater garden planted. An abandoned pool and pool house were replaced with a basketball court. Climbing mounds were created. Informative signs were installed. Finally – most impressively, by all accounts -- the hiker/biker trail was extended from Fort Mahan to the Marvin Gaye Park trail.
Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander was also impressed by the variety of people – long-time residents and new homeowners, students, expert volunteers -- working in concert.
Event Day
Each year for 17 years, DCBIA has organized a “Community Improvement Day” project, an annual collaboration of volunteers from the building trades working together with community members to design, plan and implement a project. This year's project – which began with the abandoned pool in Fort Mahan Park -- brought together DPR, Groundwork and NPS for months of planning. Other government agencies, schools and neighborhood groups contributed.
DCBIA organizers initially worried about fund-raising in a recession. But industry donations eventually exceeded expectations, with over 50 companies making financial and in-kind contributions.
DCBIA arranged for industry volunteers, while Groundwork organized locally. Originally hoping for 300 participants, Michael Hartman, co-chair of this year's event, was delighted by the record turnout, including more than 100 students.
“On site improvements began in earnest a week before the September 12th event,” says Hartman, “and so did the rain.” But construction crews were able to prepare most of the work sites. The workday started at 7:00 a.m., took a break for a ribbon-cuting and lunch, and continued working through the afternoon – with one crew remaining until 6:30 to finish their task.
"I never think that the event can get better, but every year it does,” says Mark Baughman, of SKB Architecture & Design, who served as DCBIA Community Services Chair .
A Lasting Transformation
Dennis Chestnut, a lifelong Hillbrook resident, has seen the urban-nature relationship in the area change over the decades.
“A transformation started when Lady Bird Johnson created the urban park between Minnesota Avenue and 44th Street along Watts Branch...then the Fort Circle Trail at Fort Mahan in the 70s, and, just a couple of years ago, the Marvin Gaye Park trail project.” Finally, hundreds of volunteers helped create the trail linking Fort Circle and Marvin Gaye Park trails. “Over $500,000 was leveraged to make this happen....and it did not cost the citizens of Washington, DC one cent.”
Between the signs, the trail extension and the improved sight-lines, neighbors say, passersby appear to be noticing historic and natural resources they'd previously overlooked. Chestnut and his wife, Zandra, watched neighborhood children climbing the new mounds after the event, happily exclaiming, “These are going to stay here!” On November 14, Groundwork Anacostia River DC will put the finishing touch on what was achieved with NPS, DPR, and DCBIA by planting 25 trees in partnership with Casey Trees. Volunteers are needed to help plant these trees. All are encouraged to celebrate the new park and trail. Contact Dennis Chestnut at Groundwork, 202-286-4970 or dchestn@msn.com, to volunteer or learn more about “Changing Places, Changing Lives.” |
