New/Improved Green Spaces in Washington DC

New/Improved Green Spaces in Washington DC. By: Allie Burke.

Green space #1: Dewey Park. Background: 2 million dollar renovation plan 14.5 acres Formerly included a small playground, four tennis courts, a basketball court, a multi-use rectangular field, and two small paved parking lots Rock creek bike trail runs along Dewey road Construction recently completed in 2020.

Improvements→ Renovation Plan. Changed to recreational needs of the community Ex  Four tennis courts not needed New playground Outdoor gym with fitness stations 22,000 square foot dog park Renovation of 1400 linear feet of rock creek trail Stormwater management and beautiful landscaping New basketball court Additional 11 parking spaces $140,000 In-line hockey rink built through Capitals’ Rink Refurbishment initiative Art throughout the park A “tyke track” Renovated soccer fields.

Dewey Park Art.

Dewey Park Concept Plan. SOCCER FIELD LARGE PARK STREET HOCKEY: FUTSAL TRUCK SMALL DOG ADULT FITNESS M MY land-National Capital Prk 2-5 PLAY AREA 5-12 EXPAN*D_ PLAY PARK NG LOT Dewey Local Park COURT RENOVATION PLAN.

Benefits to DC Residents. Utilized and incorporated community members in decision-making and construction Montgomery County Parks Staff held a community meeting and used suggestions from community members to incorporate into their plans in 2016 E lementary school students involved in construction Artist Juan Pineda installed several murals in 2020 renovation plan Involved Washington Capitals in development of hockey rink Capitals’ Rink Refurbishment initiative Helped contribute to the development and investment to the growth of the game Gives DMV residents increased opportunities to play hockey No trees or prior shrubbery taken down to create these spaces Increased landscaping→ increased air quality and reduced CO2 emissions Also more aesthetically pleasing to DC/DMV residents Multiple different amenities draws in residents and different people to the park.

Suggestions:. Increased trees/shrubbery Arboretum Increasing number and diversity of trees Plan to increase and plant trees/shrubbery around the park→ could potentially include DC residents within this planting→ bring together community Will increase overall air quality in area Ensure spaces are welcoming to all cultures and ethnicities Through diverse art, live music, different events, etc. Advertisement of the park (signs, websites, social media, newspapers, etc.) Could have food trucks with different cultured foods, cultural items etc. cafes/facilities to draw in wider array of residents to the park.

Green Space #2: 11th Street Bridge. Anacostia river→ once one of the most polluted rivers, improving from a previously graded “F” to a “D” in 2018 by Anacostia Watershed Societies health exam West side of the river: Washington Navy Yard, U.S government buildings, upscale cafes, and luxury apartments East side of the river: historic Anacostia neighborhood, a predominantly black community that experiences some of the cities highest unemployment and poverty rates President of Anacostia Watershed Societies Foster says now that the river is safer and cleaner, he wants to bring together both sides of the river PLAN: transform bridge into an elevated urban park by 2023.

. PLAN→ 11th Street Bridge Green Space. Environmental education center Outdoor performance spaces Playgrounds Community gardens Green spaces like these are now considered critical urban infrastructure.

A design of the 11th Street Bridge, connecting Anacostia to Capitol Hill. OMA New York.

12 13 1. Rain Garden 2. Capitol Hill Look Out 3. Amphitheater 4. Hammock Garden 5. Picnic Garden 6. Fem Garden 7. Anaquash Plaza 8. Urban Agriculture 9. Lawn 10. Interactive Art 11. Sculpture Lawn 12. Anacostia Look Out 13. Kayak & Paddle Boat Launches 14. Waterfall 15. Environmental Education Center 16. Play Space 17. Anacostia Park 14 15 16.

History of Marginalization Across Anacostia Neighborhoods.

“Imagine coming up the river, and there being this iconic structure on the bridge park. Then, at night, it’s lit up,” Foster says, “I tell people it’s going to be the Arc de Triomphe of the Anacostia restoration. Overall, it’s going to be an incredible structure that will get us a connection not only between the communities east and west of the river, but also a connection to the river itself” (Ramirez)..

Benefits to DC residents. Green spaces like these are now considered critical urban infrastructure Can help keep city’s residents cool during summer heat waves Presence of green spaces, parks, and trees in cities can have a positive impact on a person's mental health and well being, especially considering the placement of this bridge in low-income black communities A study by Lancet Planetary Health shows they can help prevent premature deaths through public health means Less traffic noise, less heat-island effects, increased biodiversity, reduced stress, increased air quality, ecosystem services, higher social capital, increased physical/ mental restoration, increased physical activity, benefits to metabolism and immune system.

→ Benefits to DC Residents. Studies show green spaces are more abundant in wealthier and majority-white neighborhoods Anacostia neighborhood: Low-income people of color are more likely to live in neighborhoods that experience more extreme urban heat→ preponderance of heat-absorbing urban design features and a lack of cooling green space Anacostia neighborhood faces a higher risk of heat stroke and heat-related illnesses due to lack of vegetation and tree cover, compared to wealthier counterparts of the river A green space bridge will help alleviate these affects and lower the marginalization of the lower-income neighborhoods of the Anacostia.

Potential Issues. “Green gentrification” Housing spikes and an influx of new, wealthier, and largely white residents move into a historically marginalized neighborhood Displaced residents could be forced into peripheral areas that do not enjoy the amenities now on offer in their former neighborhoods “Low-income communities of color may have access to parks, but they tend to be smaller, more crowded, and of lower quality than the parks that are in more affluent and whiter communities,” -Alessandro Rigolon (assistant professor for the city and metropolitan planning at University of Ohio) Fear of displacement and gentrification left many long-term residents east of Anacostia River in Ward 8 to initially oppose the 11 th street bridge park project Project leaders set aside plans and listened to communities’ concerns→ then put those concerns at the center of the planning process to brainstorm solutions “We’re looking at the data coming from similar parks across the country, in terms of their impact on the economic pieces, and we know that housing prices tend to rise,” Noorani states, “The data tells us that there will be displacement unless we intentionally make sure that there’s equity and inclusivity in these types of projects” (Ramirez). BBAR(Building Bridges Across the River) established a strong equitable development plan to address the issues highlighted by the community.

Suggestions. Continue to incorporate community’s ideas and wishes throughout the project Check-in with community throughout construction at set times (after certain construction is underway, certain plans are in place, etc.) before implementing said plans Incorporate community engagement practices to draw multiple parts of DC residential communities to the area and increase diversity/ culture/ ethnicities feeling welcomed to the park Continue incorporating anti-green gentrification practices and monitor price and housing increases after park is built to ensure gentrification does not occur Market and advertise the bridge effectively through inclusivity, clear green initiative, and displaying the positive effects of the park to surrounding community members, especially ward 8 Ensure ward 8 access to parks remains a main goal throughout construction and post project completion.

“When you look at the social issues around the river, the fact of the matter is that those of us who lived here for a long time have been traumatized by the poverty and the violence that we have been compelled to live in,” Richardson told Grist. “And when you are trying to transform a community, you can’t do that by yourself. The 11th Street Bridge Park project is on to something because they paid attention to the community” (Ramirez)..

“Because we were so intentional in destroying Black communities,” Adams added, “we must also be intentional in rebuilding them” (Ramirez)..

Works Cited. Dewey Local Park . Montgomery Parks. (2022, February 11). Retrieved June 12, 2022, from https:// montgomeryparks.org /parks-and-trails/ dewey -local-park/ McGahey, Brian, Ken, and Daryl Cline. “Dog Park and Futsal/Street Hockey Facility Included in Dewey Park Reopening.” The MoCo Show, October 13, 2020. https:// mocoshow.com /blog/dog-park-and-futsal-street-hockey-facility-included-in-dewey-park-reopening/. Goldchain , Michelle. “12 D.C. Area Parks Either Planned or under Renovation.” Curbed DC. Curbed DC, July 27, 2017. https:// dc.curbed.com /maps/park-development-map-dc- virginia - maryland . “Green Spaces and Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta ... - the Lancet.” Accessed June 13, 2022. https:// www.thelancet.com /journals/ lancplh /article/PIIS2542-5196(19)30215-3/ fulltext . Ramirez, Rachel. “Can City Green Space Improve Cities for Those Who Need It the Most?” Grist, September 21, 2021. https:// grist.org /justice/green-space-cities-gentrification-11th-street-bridge-washington-anacostia/..