North Columbia Heights Green

We have been continuously improving the design and advancement of the Green – as shown in the attachment with this message. With the assistance of the District Department of the Environment (DDOE), we were able to move forward by revising the layout in order to better deal with the groundwater issue discovered by our geotechnical engineer. Revisions to the Site Plan and Stormwater Management Plans are moving forward toward fulfilling the permit requirements prior to construction.

We appreciate your patience and support with the project and look forward to continuing making NCHG a sustainable Green for the entire community.

Washington Parks & People and its community partners have been continuously improving the design and advancement of the North Columbia Heights Green, a model new park being carved out of a long-blighted vacant lot. The transformation of this site has already produced massive improvements, including blockage and removal of extensive dumping, abandoned vehicles, and illegal activity, and excavation of embedded debris and concrete throughout the site.  Following months of complex legal work, all but one of the liens on the property were removed and the community acquisition of the site was completed.  Last spring and summer, a range of community partners created a test model youth garden on the site, which helped guide the long-term planning for the site.

The plans for the Green have been revised based on continual community input and assessment of the surrounding green space needs.  Site planning and management is led by a working group of neighbors and partners of the site who are committed to the site's ongoing improvements. Key planned features of the Green include community garden plots, butterfly garden, native plantings, fencing, greenhouse, storage shed, learning space with covered pavilion, and eight parking spaces. The team is now completing site layout revisions, grading plan, site details, topographic site survey and rough grading of the site, and related geotechnical engineering in preparation for construction.

National Recreation and Parks Association, Washington Parks & People and our partners celebrated the first public playground in this neighborhood in 30 years, August 20, 2009. Marvin Gaye Park will be the focus of a university study documenting the long-term health benefits the playground and surrounding park will bring to the youth and children of this community.