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Thursday, October 16, 2008

Shaw Getting a Dog Park

From Jack Evans on the Shaw Yahoo! Listserve:
I am pleased to announce construction has began on the new dog park near Shaw Jr. High School site - and at my request the project has been expanded to 15,000 square feet. On a walk-thru the community in September, Mayor Adrian Fenty promised the Shaw/Logan neighborhoods this much needed urban amenity, which was originally slated to be 10,000 square feet. Working with the Department of Parks and Recreation, after numerous requests from constituents in these Ward 2 neighborhoods, I asked for and secured the larger area. The dog park which will be located on the soccer fields near 11th & R is eagerly awaited. The park will open in the near future -- stay tuned for the ribbon-cutting date and time!
Woot! I can't wait to walk the ReNewShaw mascott over to this new dog park near 11th and R Streets to watch him enjoy playing with his fellow neighborhood hounds.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jack Evans has reall improved. He now understands that people east of the park need his help, and has made himself widely available.

Mr. Q said...

I like your optimism Anon1:10 and hopefully its true...my thinking is Jack is a politician and Cary S came closer to upsetting him than he thought possible...and he now understands the voting demographic is changing east of 14th St...now let's keep it up and elect ANC Commissioners that can get something accomplished! Vote for ShawRez's picks and you'll continue to see real changes!!

Anonymous said...

what about all the people who used to play soccer there?

Unknown said...

Yeah, it's like Robin Hood, but strike that, and reverse it... rob from the poor and give to the rich.

Flip is and reverse it, it's your frip-a-rip-ran-yan
(thanks Missy Elliot, if you get it you get it, if you don't, you don't)

Although I have a pooch, and can't wait to spend some time in the new dog park, catch 22.

Shaw Rez said...

Alex Padro made the following comments on the Dogs in Shaw list serve, which I think speak to the issue raised by anon:

As a Latino myself, I take offense to the suggestion that the motivation for the location of the Shaw Dog Park was to displace a resource for the Hispanic community. The truth is that the siting of the park was made easier by the fact that the soccer enclosure had been the source of innumerable complaints about public drunkeness and unruly and anti-social behavior, uncontrolled
trash, pubic urination and defecation, etc. MPD has had been routinely sending bicycle officers to the site at night, even deep into the AM hours, to address the complaints and illegal activity, and making arrests when the offenders have not scattered as soon as an officer appeared, as was generally the case. Further, the vast majority of the individuals who were using the soccer enclosure and generating the complaints drove vehicles with Maryland tags. MPD Lt. Michael Smith concurred with the recommendation that a dog park should replace the soccer enclosure, which is not to be reestablished at the Shaw Recreation Center site. I sugested to DPR that they move it to a rec center that was able to properly secure the site after hours in order to prevent the illegal activities that made the Shaw location such a blight.

Alex

Alexander M. Padro
Commissioner, ANC 2C01

Anonymous said...

Alex makes some good points but I think this is a pretty clear example of gentrification. I tend to think of Shaw as being a little better about sensitivity to older residents than some other neighborhoods, but not really in this case.

EdTheRed said...

What's next? Converting the Shaw basketball courts to squash courts? How about a Caribou Coffee where the skate park is now?

Anonymous said...

Off-topic, but do you have any more news on new, ongoing, or proposed developments on or around 9th street (other than the obvious, like Marriott)? We need some of your juicy development gossip!

Anonymous said...

this is a wonderful addition to our neighborhood. there is plenty of room for everyone to play soccer, basketball, skate boarding and even play area for children. why so many cynics...

Anonymous said...

Yeah, wonderful addition, plenty of room for everyone, so why the f**k did they tear down the soccer court? Why not put it right on top the useless baseball diamond?! Or the skate park, which sucks for skating anyway.