Major Renovations to Bundy Field Underway

Check out the Friends of Bundy website for all of the details on the latest amenity coming to our great neighborhood!  There's going to be something for everyone, with new state of the art soccer, lacross, and softball fields and a new dog park!

Alternative to Massive Parking Lot Proposed for Bundy School

I am remiss for not having written about the ongoing debate regarding the current vacant lot behind Bundy School in the 400 block of P Street (not to be confused with the adjacent athletic fields, known as Bundy Athletic Fields). As I understand it, the lot is currently slated to become a massive parking lot for child advocacy group Safe Shores, which will soon occupy Bundy School. Some neighborhood residents have proposed reducing the size of the parking lot to accommodate a park (in particular, a dog park) while allowing for adequate off street, confidential parking for the reutilized Bundy School. The Washington Post and Greater Greater Washington report on the topic today.

I agree with park proponents that a large parking lot abutting P Street is harmful to the neighborhood. The oversized surface lot will create a dead-zone along P Street and will represent a missed opportunity for adding vitality to the block. A park, particularly a dog park, will attract users throughout the day and throughout the week, which will provide added security to the street and will enhance the adjacent and nearby parks, Safe Shores, schools, businesses, and residences as a result. Also, a dog park is needed in the eastern Shaw area, as none currently exists despite the area's numerous dog-owning citizens.

For more information, check out the Friends of Bundy Park webpage.

Thinking About: Improving Shaw Recreation Field

Although it is fairly well used, I think the Shaw Recreation Field (bounded by Shaw Middle School, Rhode Island Avenue, 11th and R Streets, Northwest) could be a much better place and asset for our neighborhood. Below is a run-down of what I see as the problems with the current park and what could be done to fix the problems. I *believe* that the field may be due for a makeover when Shaw Middle School is overhauled, so maybe dreaming now of what we want isn't too pie in the sky. There are also some short-term solutions that could enhance the park without significant investment.

Present Conditions
In terms of amenities and uses, Shaw Recreation Field (the "park") includes a skate park, two basketball courts, a large field (used mostly for soccer), and a dog park, all of which are in constant use. There are no running or walking paths and no games available in the park. There is no ongoing programming for park activities, such as tournaments or concerts. Finally, there is no neighborhood group that maintains or watches over the park as a whole (the Shaw Dog Park group is very active and a good steward of its area, however).

Aesthetically, the park has no landscaping apart from some trees and grass. There are no flowers or shrubs. An asphalt parking lot takes up potential recreation space and acts as a physical buffer between the school and the park. There is no public art in the park. There are no banners and limited signage identifying the park.

The park lacks connectivity and flow. There are no clear primary gateways or entrance points to the park. There is no access to the park from 10th Street to the north. There are no paths within the park.

Proposed Solutions
I think the park’s layout should be realigned to accommodate additional uses, particularly uses that compliment the adjacent middle school. It would be great to add paths such that runners and walkers could traverse pleasant, measured loops. It would be nice to add volleyball courts and/or additional competitive sports areas. It would also be nice to have other game areas throughout the park – like a chess area, tetherball, four square, and the like. An amphitheater – perhaps where the large concrete plaza and temporary library is today – would also be a neat addition.

The park could benefit from programming. Concerts, performances and/or group exercise would bring additional patrons to the park. Food vendors – particularly on the weekend – could enhance passive use of the park (e.g., reading a book in the shade, people watching, etc.). A neighborhood group that could tend to flower beds and generally be stewards of the park would also be great.

As I’ve said before, I think it would be nice to re-open 10th Street between Rhode Island and R Street to vehicular traffic. Short of that, however, I think the pedestrian connection should, at very least, be restored by placing a path through the park. The park also needs clearer gateways and entrances.

Public art – perhaps a signature sculpture at 10th and Rhode Island Avenue – throughout the park would be a nice enhancement. Flower beds and landscaping would also make the park a more enticing place. Park branding – through entrance signage, street pole banners, and wayfinding signs – would also make the park more inviting.

What do you think would make Shaw Recreation Field a better place in Shaw? I’d love to hear your suggestions for short term, minor improvements and long term, money-no-obstacle dreams.

Shaw Dog Park's 6 Month Anniversary Celebration this Saturday!

The Shaw Dog Park in the 1600 block of 11th Street is an awesome community asset. In addition to providing a place for area dogs to get some exercise and to have some fun, the park has proven to be an excellent venue for building community among dog-owning and dog-admiring neighbors. This amenity is one of many that has enhanced the quality of life in Shaw over the past few years.

A six month anniversary celebration of the Shaw Dog Park will take place this Saturday (May 16) from 10-12 at the park. Councilmember Jack Evans and ANC Commissioner Alex Padro will be there, so it will be a great time to thank them personally for making the dog park a reality. There will also be food (for humans and dogs), drink, raffle prizes, and short presentations on pet-related matters: health, insurance, massage, etc.

Hope to see you there!

Shaw's Virtual Dog Park

Shaw's dog park now has a virtual home on the web. The new website is a great resource for information regarding this awesome new asset to our community!

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.

What's Up, Dog

With the public comment period regarding the proposed dog park regulations concluded, the Department of Parks and Recreation and the other participating agencies are reviewing all comments from the public meetings and submitted written comments to determine the best practices for dog exercise areas in the District. It appears that the DPR will likely abolish the proposed requirement regarding the absence of rats within a certain radius; additional changes may be also be made to the proposed regulations. Once the Office of the Attorney General rules that the regulations are legally sufficient, the final document will be published in the DC Register and we can start talking about site proposals, community input, design, construction, management, and so forth. Check out DPR’s FAQ’s here.

If you haven’t had a chance to sign up for the Dogs of Greater Shaw
list serve, which has been relatively quiet for a while, do so soon in anticipation of the many organizational and fundraising tasks ahead of us (note: when signing up, you can register to receive "daily digests" so you only get 1 email from the yahoo group that contains all messages, if any, posted that day). I have a feeling another meeting of Shaw's Paws is imminent.

On a dog-related note, mark your calendars: Starting next Wednesday (June 6), Hotel Helix’s Lounge will host the "Dog Days of Summer" dog happy hour every Wednesday night. As reported by Washingtonian, dogs are welcome on Helix's patio and “specialty cocktails like ‘Pet Peeve’ and ‘Pooch Hooch’ are served—for people, not dogs.” A portion of the proceeds goes to the Washington Humane Society. The Society also brings in a dog that is up for adoption to the lounge every Wednesday to mingle with the crowd.

Summaries of DPR's Dog Park Meeting on Proposed Regulations

I was unable to attend last night's meeting because of work, but thanks to Matt at Binformed and Commissioner Chapple for their informative reports on the event and on needed citizen follow-up.

DPR Dog Park Meeting Tonight

The Department of Parks and Recreation is hosting a forum tonight at the Kennedy Recreation Center (1401 7th Street, NW) to discuss DPR’s proposed dog park regulations. The forum begins at 7:00pm. I strongly encourage all dog-park enthusiasts to attend.

Speaking of dog parks, I was in Manhattan this weekend and witnessed several wonderful examples of dogs, humans and cities co-existing wonderfully. In particular, I watched pups and their owners playing at the dog parks in Union Square and in Madison Square Park. In both cases, the dog parks are one of several components comprising vital public spaces and attract numerous spectators. Other elements common to both of these engaging parks include playgrounds for children, public art, fountains, and green space. Madison Square Park features the Shake Shack, a DELICIOUS permanent burger and shake stand (a woefully inadequate description for this heavenly eatery!) and a well established citizen group that organizes a variety of activities occurring in the park. Union Square features a regular farmers market, attracts a variety of street performers, and is surrounded by a thriving retail, restaurant, and entertainment district.

I bring up these parks to illustrate that dog parks do not need to remove a park from use for other purposes but can compliment and add to a park’s existing uses. And, correspondingly, dog parks indeed add vitality to existing parks. I don’t mean to beat a dead horse in continuing to espouse pro-dog-park propaganda, but clearly this hot topic is here to stay until reasonable dog park regulations are in place and until we achieve this amenity in or near Shaw for all to enjoy.

Washington Post Article on Dog Parks

The Washington Post is covering the issue of the proposed dog park regulations. For those of you unaware, among the suggested rules (read them all at Binformed) are that the area: 1) must be at least 10,000 square feet, or a quarter of an acre; 2) must take up no more than 25 percent of a park; 3) must have a slope of no more than 5 percent; and 4) must be certified by the Health Department that there are no rats within five blocks.

In a piece yesterday, the Post unfortunately attempts to align the dog park issue with gentrification, presumptuously noting:

Demand for dog parks is increasing, particularly in such gentrifying areas as Petworth and Capitol Hill. Along with a desire for granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, many affluent homeowners want dogs and a legal place for them to exercise without a leash, as the District's strict leash law requires.

Today, the Post discusses last night's community meeting in Chevy Chase about the proposed dog park regulations.

There are certainly reasonable concerns on both sides of the dog park issue. No less, I think the current regulations are far too restrictive on what constitutes a potential site, and I think that dog parks are a community ammentity all should support--dog owners and non-dog owners alike (read my rationale, posted in the comments here).

Do you want to weigh in on or learn more about the regulations? Binformed has great coverage of all things related to the dog park issue and provides comprehensive information about how you can make your voice heard (note: DPR extended the comment period regarding the regulations until May 1). Also, don’t forget that DPR is holding a community meeting at the Kennedy Recreation Center on Monday, March 26, 2007 from 7:00pm to 8:00pm to discuss the proposed regulations.

Dog Day

TONIGHT - DC Dogs Yahoo! Group is hosting a city-wide dog proponents meeting to discuss the proposed dog park regulations tonight at 7pm at the Second District Station, 3320 Idaho Ave., NW. The goal of the meeting is to develop some cohesive strategies to respond to the Department of Parks and Recreation’s proposed regulations.

Binformed has posted a copy of the proposed regulations , which most agree are far too restrictive on what constitutes a suitable site for a dog park.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR - The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is holding a meeting on its proposed dog park regulations at the Kennedy Recreation Center on Monday, March 26, from 7pm to 8pm.

BE ON POOP PATROL – Make it a resolution to start carrying extra plastic bags on you when walking around the neighborhood, and do the dirty deed of picking up after someone else’s dog. It’s gross but will go a long way towards helping our cause.

Weekend Shoutouts

Wow—there’s a lot to do in Shaw-land this weekend…. Here are a few of the highlights (I KNOW I’m leaving out some, so please forgive me…

1. Washington Home and Garden Show at the Convention Center - See yesterday's post for a more detailed discussion on the event.

Washington Home and Garden Show
Washington Convention Center
11 am - 9 pm Thursday and Friday
10 am - 9 pm Saturday
11 am - 6 pm Sunday

2. Art, Art, and MORE ART in Shaw – Art events ABOUND in Shaw this weekend:

+ DCist Exposed at Warehouse – DCist’s photography exhibit opens tonight at Warehouse, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

+ The WPA\C 9 x 10 Show at the William W. Parker Gallery Reception Tonight – WPA\C commences its new “nine-by-ten” exhibition series: 9 shows of 10 member artists each at the Parker Gallery (housed in Mickelson’s Fine Art Framing at 629 New York Ave NW). These shows will provide a new outlet for WPA\C member artists, and each exhibition will present a diverse cross-section of the WPA\C membership to the public, showcasing works in all media. An opening reception will be held tonight from 6-8pm.

+ Long View Gallery’s Gerard Erley Show Reception Saturday Night – This beautiful oil painting show entitled “Poetic Landscape” went up yesterday at The Long View Gallery. Saturday night from 6 to 8 pm, all are welcome to attend an Artist Reception at the gallery.

+ Turkish Folk Music Concert and Reception at Ninth Street Gallery on Sunday - The Ninth Street Gallery invites you to a free concert by the Turkish Folk Music Group of Washington, followed by Turkish tea and delicacies, on Sunday from 2 to 4 at the gallery, located at 1306 9th Street. A PowerPoint presentation and informal discussion about Turkey will follow.

3. Dogs Owners in Shaw Meet-Up at Azi’s on Sunday – If you own a dog and are interested in meeting other dog owners and/or in getting involved in the movement for a dog park, dog crime patrols, and all things dog and Shaw related, show up this Sunday at 2 pm to meet some other pooch owners.

4. All the Fun Stuff You’re Used to Doing in Shaw - Check out the Liberation Dance Party at DC9, the shows at 9:30 Club, Black Cat, Arena Stage, and Studio Theater, the cultural offerings of the Warehouse Arts Complex, Project 4 Gallery, the Ninth Street Gallery, and the Long View Gallery, and the chance to get your freak on and knock back some drinks at places like Avenue and Be Bar.

Weekend in Review

I must say I had an ideal weekend.

Dog-wise, we took the official canine mascot of Remaking Le Slum Historique to experience his very first dog park on Saturday. We went to the Adams Morgan Dog Park, where he frolicked, sniffed, rolled, jumped, tackled, and generally had a lot of fun. The experience made me realize how little we ask for when we ask for a dog park and what an asset to a community a dog park can be. Sunday’s cooler temps kept the pooch inside.

House-wise, I gardened for the first time as a homeowner in Saturday's sunny and warm weather. Although this week's forecast freezing temps might kill all of my newly planted pansies (it’s hard to make those plants masculine . . .), it was fun to add some color to the yard.

Neighborhood-wise, I picked up trash up and down the block (fyi, smokers still enjoy throwing their butts on the ground) and helped Drew take pictures of Shiloh’s vacant properties (we hope to upload them to Shilohdc.blogspot.com today or tomorrow).

Entertainment-wise, the rather low-key weekend culminated in an un-low-key, much fun Scissor Sisters concert at 9:30 Club last night. 9:30 Club doesn’t seem to get the love it needs to get from the city. Do any of those blue way-finding signs direct visitors to it? I don’t think they do, despite the fact that it’s a major anchor on our northern border and draws huge crowds and notable groups/events to our area. The club itself could use some external sprucing up to give it some curb appeal, but some streetscape improvements (like new street lights, brick walkways, etc.) would really give patrons a better view of DC and of our neighborhood. Are there any concrete plans for such improvements?

Blog-wise, here are some highlights worth noting on this Monday morn:
+ Thanks to Fifth and Oh for pointing me to two things:

1. Shaw has been named one of the 20 or so "top emerging gay ghettos" in the country (meaning it’s an increasingly gay enclave like the Dupont of yore) by gayghettos.com. The website characterizes gay ghettos as areas that resultantly realize higher property values, less crime, better schools, ethnic diversity, and growth.
2. Remaking Le Slum’s contributor Drew was quoted in an article in the February 21 issue of the Northwest Current about the same! We haven’t yet seen the article.

+ Dog owners of Shaw are encouraged to attend a Dogs of Greater Shaw (or whatever the organization is to be called; I’m rooting for “Shaw’s Paws”) meeting this Sunday at 2pm at Azi's Café. Discussion will likely touch on the newly released dog park regulations, organizational needs, plans for proposing a dog park, and so forth.
+ There’s another article about the convention center hotel in today’s Washington Examiner. The article discusses the upcoming competition from the Washington Harbour project in Maryland.
+ The stop work order on 1416 9th Street has been lifted and walls are going up.

A Long Shot: Can Oprah Help Shaw’s Paws?

So in a moment of “it can’t hurt to ask,” I emailed the producers of the Oprah Show yesterday proposing a story about opposition to dogs, alluding to the ongoing chants against dogs/dog-owners from our humble slice of D.C. Here’s generally what I said (I had to cut some of it to meet their character limitation):

I am an owner of an adorable rescued boxer mix puppy (I will gladly provide photos or video of the cute mutt if asked!). My dog has already brought me much joy, and I hope through further training he can become a therapy dog to bring joy to the infirm as well.

I live in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C., an area of the city experiencing a lot of renewal in recent years. There are many other dog owners in the neighborhood who, like me, desperately desire a neighborhood dog park: a place for our dogs to play with one another and to run freely and a place to congregate with other dog owners. Unfortunately, dogs seem to represent the changing identity of the neighborhood, and long-time residents vehemently oppose the idea of a dog park (admittedly there are some irresponsible dog owners in the city who hurt our cause through not picking up after their dogs and through not properly caring for/training their dogs; I pick up the waste of other dogs whenever appropriately armed . . . ). The mere suggestion about carving out part of one of the publicly owned fields or parks in the area is consistently met with vehement opposition (usually without any consideration of the land’s appropriateness for use as such), despite the fact that many of these spaces are underutilized or not used at all. It is sad that people want to forego a neighborhood amenity seemingly solely because it would benefit newcomers to the neighborhood.

I write you because I know that Oprah is a great unifier of people and a lover of dogs. I do not know what specific sort of show/segment idea this necessarily presents but believe that it would be interesting to probe the mentality of dog owners and dog opponents (I do not think this is a rare situation, particularly in the neighborhood renewal context). Much healing and dialogue needs to be done to bring the diverse neighborhood of Shaw together, and salvaging the relationship between dog owners and the dog-less is a baby step in the right direction. I think dogs and responsible dog owners are an asset to a community and think Oprah can help bridge this one gap in our neighborhood.

I can envision a variety of ways in which Mrs. Winfrey could help us. Realistically it's unlikely I will ever hear back from her or her people on this, but can’t hurt to ask, right?


Photo Credit - January 2006 cover of O Magazine, copyright Harpo, image found online
here.

Shaw's Paws

With the addition of an adorable, unbelievably well behaved, smart beyond comprehension, 10 week rescued old boxer mix puppy to my household this past week (pictured), my interest in all things dog has gone up tenfold. On the neighborhood front, I’ve joined the Dogs of Greater Shaw Yahoo! Group and am very happy to know that these good canine owners are working on behalf of our neighborhood pups. I’ll report back on notable plans, actions and events relating to this group, and encourage other concerned dog owners to register.

Good dogs and dog owners can be a real asset to a community. Dog-walking produces foot traffic which in turn helps reduce crime (indeed there is talk in the Dogs of Greater Shaw Group about coordinating dog walks with community watch groups). We hope that our puppy can be trained to be a therapy dog to help out at local hospitals. Other examples of how dogs enhance society abound.

Currently, we have a lot to do to make our neighborhood more dog friendly. The Dogs of Greater Shaw group is working towards achieving a dog park in the neighborhood, which is a very desirable, much needed, community-building amenity. Better litter pickup (including picking up those pesky chicken bones!) and more trash cans throughout the neighborhood are less obvious canine needs. Rat poison should not be pet-accessible. Pet-friendly ice melting substances are needed during this season. Signage promoting responsible handling of dog waste and dog waste bag dispensers throughout the neighborhood would also be good additions.

The following is a brief list of resources for dog owners in our neighborhood. If you know of any others, chime in!


Shaw Dog Resources

1. Dogs of Greater Shaw Yahoo! Group - Our very own dog/dog owners group!

2. City Paws Animal Hospital - Wonderful vet/animal hospital close by.

3. Dogs by Day and Night - Cageless day care and boarding facility open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

4. Wagtime - Shaw's doggie boutique offering a variety of pet products, nutritional foods, treats, toys and gifts. They also offer an array of services.

5. Licensing Requirements in D.C. - D.C. Department of Health's requirements for dog tags.

6. Dupont, Scott and Logan Circle Dog Group - our successful canine-loving neighbors, who have plans for an impressive makeover of the dog park at 17th and S/T!

7. Adams Morgan Dogs - Adams Morgan's dogs have it good: an amazing dog park and a dedicated, organized support group.

8. Binformed's Dog Park in Shaw Thread - a good resource for dog park information.

Dog Park Pitch?

Matt at binformed.com is trying to organize Dog owners in Shaw to establish a dog park. Check out his ideas and join his cause here. As one who is eagerly awaiting the arrival of a boxer puppy this spring, I'm all for the effort to bring dog park(S!) to our area.

Matt also plugs the Department of Parks and Recreation Meeting scheduled for Tuesday night (01.09.07) at 6:30 pm at the Kennedy Recreation Center. The meeting will include a discussion of renovations to the park at 6th and N., and may present an opportunity to pitch that park, at least in part, as a dog park site.