Meridian Hill Park Study

Meridian Hill Park Study Created by Renee LaGue Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program National Park Service 2014

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Table of Contents Meridian Hill Park Study Park Study Goals Project History Park History

Part I: Park Visitor Study

Part II: Community Study 1 2 3

5

Methodology 6 Sitting, Lying, and Standing 7 Walking, Dog Walking, and Jogging 8 Fitness 9 Wheeled and Sports 10 Arts and Music, Other Play 11 Hammocks and Slacklines 12 Circus and Park Sales 13

Upper Park Visitor Use Graphs Weekday Visitors, Upper Park Saturday Visitors, Upper Park Sunday Visitors, Upper Park

Lower Park Visitor Use Graphs Weekday Visitors, Lower Park Saturday Visitors, Lower Park Sunday Visitors, Lower Park Park Visitor Study: Issues and Opportunities

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Race and Ethnicity Income and Poverty Level School Locations Map School Type Age of Students Transportation Map Recreation Facilities Map Nearby Recreation Facilities The Value of Unprogrammed Space Other Venues for Recreation Activities

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

Part III: Maintenance & Infrastructure

35

Vehicles in the Park Fountain Maintenance Bicycle Infrastructure Mall Lawn, Recycling, Golf Cart Storage

36 37 38 39

Part IV: Appendices Jon Jarvis’ Forward to the Urban Agenda; Notes Nearby Recreation Facilities List

41 42 43

Park Study Goals

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Goal 1: To observe and share

Goal 2: To research community

Goal 3: To observe park

how people are using Meridian Hill

connections with the park in terms

conditions and note maintenance

Park during weekdays and weekends,

of recreation and school facilities,

challenges and unmet needs.

both through quantitative measures

demographics, and transportation

(counting users and activities)

options, all of which may have an

and qualitative measures (notes,

effect on park use.

photographs).

“As the NPS looks to its second century of stewardship and public

“Connect... to the diversity of the community. Stewardship is the

engagement, some of the greatest innovations are now occurring in

process... If we do that well, then the stewardship of the park will be

urban spaces. The NPS, through its many programs and parks, has

ensured for the future.”

much to offer the urban dweller: a sense of place, an escape from

cubicle confines, recognition that everyone’s history is important ... and a threshold experience to a greater outdoors.”

-NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis (see appendix for full forward to the

Urban Agenda)

-Brian O’Neill, former superintendent, Golden Gate National Parks

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Project History (Removed from online version) ...

It is the hope of the RTCA staff that this document will be useful to Rock Creek Park staff in terms of management, current and future partnerships, interpretation and education, and deciding appropriate regulations.

Ticket booth in Meridian Hill Park (NPS website).

View south toward the Dante statue of the east ascent under construction. March 14,1932 (NPS website).

Park History

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Meridian Hill Park is a formal 11.5-acre park in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It was acquired, designed, and constructed over a period of about 26 years between 1910 and 1936. Plans were created, discarded, approved, and modified at the same time that construction was happening. By the end of 1936, the park was considered complete.

The park appears to have been well-maintained and heavily used in the years from the park’s official opening to the end of World War II. A series of outdoor “starlight” concerts ran through the summer of 1944 as part of a collaborative effort by government agencies to provide public entertainment during the Depression, New Deal, and war years. A lack of funding for maintenance and upkeep during World War II, however, contributed to park deterioration that continued into the 1960s.

The starlight concert series was reinstated in the 1960s and a report was completed suggesting park rehabilitation strategies. However, riots damaged some businesses east of the park and affected use of the park following the assassination of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 5, 1968. In 1969, one of the leaders of the Black United Front began calling the park “Malcolm X Park.” Because the park contains a memorial to President Buchanan, it cannot legally be named anything else. A bill to change the name did not pass Congress.

Circa 1944 photo of Meridian Hill Park. The armillary sphere in the foreground was damaged in the 1960s and was removed in the early 1970s for repair and cleaning.

Its whereabouts are currently unknown.

In 1974, the park was listed on the National Historic Register of Places, which spurred restoration work and a report. In 1976, as part of the Bicentennial celebration, the NPS led civic groups and volunteers and held a “reopening” ceremony to show community members what had been accomplished in the park.

In 1990, a group of local citizens formed the “Friends of Meridian Hill,” which worked to increase community awareness, improve the park’s image, and decrease crime in the park. In 1994 the park became a National Historic Landmark. Since that time, factors including collaboration with the Friends group, increased Park Police activity, restoration efforts by the NPS, and demographic changes in the surrounding community have made the park safer and more attractive.

(Source: Meridian Hill Cultural Landscape Report)

Historic photo of people seated along the lower reflecting pool, likely to listen to an outdoor concert. (NPS website)

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Part I: Park Visitor Study

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Methodology Meridian Hill Park- Locations of Stationary People

Meridian Hill Park Study: Methodology • • • • • •

• • • • •

I divided the park into 7 areas, 3 in the upper park and 4 in the lower park.

I spent 10 minutes in each section with the exception of Sunday afternoon, when I had to divide section C (the section containing the drum circle) into nine subsections and spent 20 minutes there total.

I tallied the number of people in each section participating in each activity on a study sheet like the one to the right.

Study periods were from 7-8 a.m., 9-10 a.m., 11-noon, 3-4 p.m., 6-7 p.m., and 7-8 p.m.

I attempted to count moving people in one section only, and if they were seen in both the upper park and the lower park they were recounted.

I initially intended to observe twice during each weekday, Saturday, and Sunday. During my initial observation days, I determined that I would need to be in the park from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., necessitating two shifts each day.

I decided that observing three weekday mornings, three weekday evenings, and twice each on Saturday and Sunday would be sufficient.

I spent a total of 74 hours in the park, almost 2 full work-weeks.

I observed Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Monday, Thursday, and Friday evenings from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

I observed twice on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, once from 1 to 8 p.m., and once from 3 to 8 p.m.

I observed twice on Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon and twice from 3 to 8 p.m.

I observed on 14 days between June 26th and September 7th, 2014. Dates included 6/26, 7/12, 7/16, 7/18, 7/22 , 7/27, 7/31, 8/18, 8/24, 8/29, 8/30, 8/31, 9/6, and 9/7. I also observed on 6/23 and 7/3, but because I had not standardized my observation methods, quantitative data was thrown out.

Difficulties Encountered During Study: •

•

Moving people were far more difficult to count than stationary people.

The faster they moved, the more difficult they were to count. For example, runners doing laps were counted along with runners passing through the park and it was difficult to remember who had already been counted.

When few people were in the park, counts were very accurate. The more people in the park, the more counts became an estimate, particularly counts of large crowds (the drum circle) or fast-moving people.

Meridian Hill Park User Study

Day/Date:_________________________ 7:00 am

9:00 am

11 am

3:00 pm

5:00 pm

7:00 pm

1:00 pm

Target Areas:

Weather (degrees/conditions):

__________________________________ __________________________________

# of People

A

C

E

Lie-Hard Surf.

Lie-Hard Surf.

Lie-Hard Surf.

Lie- Grass

Lie- Grass

Lie- Grass

Sit- Hard Surf.

Sit- Hard Surf.

Sit- Hard Surf.

Sit- Grass

Sit- Grass

Sit- Grass

Stand

Stand

Stand

Walk

Walk

Walk

Dog Walk

Dog Walk w/dog

Jog/Run

Blue: Bench/Hard Surface Sit Green: Grass Sit Yellow: Lie down Red: Stand

Each dot= one person unless a number is written in or next to it.

Fitness

Ground ball

Ground ball

Ground ball

Wheeled

Wheeled

Wheeled

Air ball/frisbee

Air ball/frisbee

Air ball/frisbee

Tree impact

Tree impact

Tree impact

Other

Other

Other

B

D

F

Lie-Hard Surf.

Lie-Hard Surf.

Lie-Hard Surf.

Lie- Grass

Lie- Grass

Lie- Grass

Sit- Hard Surf.

Sit- Hard Surf.

Sit- Hard Surf.

Sit- Grass

Sit- Grass

Sit- Grass

Stand

Stand

Stand

Walk

Walk

Walk

Dog Walk

Dog Walk Jog/Run

Day/Date:_________________________ 8:00 am

10 am

12 pm

4:00 pm

6:00 pm

8:00 pm

2:00 pm

Jog/Run

Fitness

w/dog

E

G F

Dog Walk w/dog

Fitness

Jog/Run

D C

# of People

# of People

A

Jog/Run

B

G

Dog Walk w/dog

Jog/Run

Fitness

Fitness

Fitness

Ground ball

Ground ball

Ground ball

Wheeled

Wheeled

Wheeled

Air ball/frisbee

Air ball/frisbee

Air ball/frisbee

Tree impact

Tree impact

Tree impact

Other

Other

Other

Questions: • • • •

Is this a good extrapolation of the number of people in the park for an hour, given that half of my hour was spent in the upper park and half in the lower park and the upper park generally had more visitors than the lower park?

Given that some people come to the park and spend the afternoon or day while some people only walk through the park, can hourly counts be added up to give the number of park visitors during the day?

How will these numbers change as the seasons change?

How much does weather affect activity?

Sitting, Lying Title , and Here Standing Hard Surface Lie/Sit

Park visitors sitting or lying on hard surfaces were usually seen on wooden or concrete benches. Activities were varied and included reading, talking, and sleeping.

Grass Lie/Sit

Park visitors sitting or lying on the grass were observed sunbathing, reading, studying, cuddling, picnicking, spending time with friends, throwing sticks to off-leash dogs, meditating, and sleeping.

7 Stand

Park visitors standing were observed enjoying the views, picnicking, talking on cell phones, participating in tours, and listening to the drum circle. One regular brings his turtles to the park in a basket.

8 Walk

Many visitors were seen walking, which included people walking with strollers. I took very few photos of people walking because it was not a particularly notable activity.

Walking, DTog itle WHalking ere , and Jogging Dog Walk

Dog walking included people jogging with dogs and playing with off-leash dogs. The mall and the hillside gardens were popular areas for people with dogs to gather and talk.

Jog

Joggers and runners frequently used the walk around the upper mall as a track to run laps. They also ran drills on the straight steps in the lower western side of the park.

Fitness Fitness

Fitness is a broadly-defined category that included people working out, doing crunches, stretching, yoga, tai chi, acroyoga, fitness with bands, capoiera, leaping jumping jacks, tae kwon

do, and meditative practices. People participated in fitness activities individually, with personal trainers, in groups, and in group classes. Acroyoga was very popular on Sunday afternoons but did not seem to be class-based or have leaders.

Groups occasionally brought fitness equipment.

9 Not all classes charge money; a well-attended free yoga class is held on Sunday.

What benefits might the park realize from these varied and popular fitness activities?

Below: A free yoga class on Sunday afternoons.

10 Wheeled

Bicycling was by far the most common wheeled activity, although a few visitors were seen on skateboards and non-motorized scooters.

Skateboarders were only observed using paths in an appropriate manner.

Wheeled and Sports Sports

Soccer, Frisbee, and catch were very popular sports activities. Visitors were also observed playing kickball, football, croquet, bocce, kubb, t-ball, beanbags, and badminton without a net. Parents often played ball with toddlers and young children. Groups of 4-5 children often kicked soccer balls together. A regular group of between 8 and 14 men played pick-up soccer games most weekday evenings on the mall. Frisbee was a surprisingly common sport in the park.

Arts and MTusic itle, H Oere ther Play Arts and Music

Meridian Hill is an arts and music destination. Photographers were seen with professional equipment taking headshots and photographing engagements, wedding parties, and models. Professional video cameras were observed twice. Painters were seen with easels several times and people were observed playing many different instruments. The drum circle, a regular Sunday afternoon event, is a big draw for the park, swelling attendance over Saturday’s numbers by around 1,000 at 5:00-6:00 and 7:00-8:00 p.m.

11 Drum Circle: Decibel Level and Complaints The drum circle runs from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sundays, or for six hours. NIOSH-AINSI and CDC offer guidelines saying that if a sound is sustained for six hours, the recommended permissible decibel level is 87 or less. The EPA/ World Health Organization are slightly more conservative and recommend a decibel level of less than 76 if the sound is sustained for six hours.

ROCR should consider taking decibel readings around the perimeter of the park in order to obtain baseline information as to how loud the sound level really is. This may assist in making decisions on how to address neighbors’ complaints of the drum circle.

Other Play

Children were often engaged in play activities that did not fit neatly into any category (such as playing in the dirt) or were switching rapidly between activities. Summer camp groups usually fit into this category.

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Hammocks and Slacklines

Hammocks and Slacklines

Hammock users and slackliners made up less than 0.8% of park users at any given time. An average of 4 visitors used slacklines or hammocks on Sunday from 3-4 p.m., but they only made up 0.4% of the 1110 average visitors at that time. While very few visitors use hammocks or slacklines, they are visually quite striking and more memorable than hundreds of people walking, sitting, or walking dogs.

Precedent: Slacklining Policy in Yosemite National Park From Yosemite National Park’s website: http:// www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/slacklining.htm “Slacklines are popping up all over the place. The National Park Service worked with local “slackers” to create a slackline policy:

(Note that the above hammock is tied to a light post)

The Rules: • All lines must be constructed so as to protect trees from any damage • Lines may remain in place within the Camp 4 boundary for the length of the owner’s stay • All lines constructed outside Camp 4 must be removed when not in use • Lines must not be constructed on oak trees in Yosemite Valley The Reasons: Anyone who has spent any time learning the art of slacking knows how damaging these lines can be to trees. There are many ways to pad and protect the anchor trees (carpet, sticks, sleeping pads, haul bags, clothing, etc.), but make sure whatever you do is working.”

Questions: Is there a way for ROCR to reach out to and work with the slacklining and hammock community in the park?

Could Yosemite’s slacklining policy be adapted for use in Meridian Hill Park?

Circus and Park Sales Circus

Visitors performed circus activities only during Sunday afternoon and evening while the drum circle was happening. They stood in close proximity to the drum circle on the Mall. Specific activities included spinning poi, hula-hooping, juggling, and one visitor was seen performing aerials. Some circus visitors stayed after dark on Sunday and brought out glow-in-the dark poi.

13 Sales in Park

A few visitors sold water, soda, and handmade jewelery while the drum circle was occurring. It appeared that several people might have been selling baked goods as well.

Upper

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Park Lodge (Bathrooms)

Visitor Use Graphs The upper park includes the mall, the curvilinear paths and surrounding area, the lodge, the linden allee, and the terrace overlook. The upper park is roughly 6.5 acres and makes up slightly more than half of the roughly 11.5-acre park. During the study period an area near the sixteenth street entrance was closed, as was the northern end of the mall, shown with dashed red lines.

Terrace Overlook

Mall

N

Curvilinear Path

Linden allee

Weekday Visitors Title ,HUere pper Park

275

Close-Up Close-Up of of Below Below

250

1600 225 1500 200 1400 175 1300 1600 150 1200 1500 125 1100 1400 100 1000 1300 75

Number of Park Visitors

15

1200 900 50 1100 800 25 1000 700 0 900

7:00-8:00 am 9:00-10:00 am and11:00 am-12:00 pm 1:00-2:00 pmas it is light.

3:00-4:00 pm135 visitors 5:00-6:00 On weekdays in the upper park, joggers dog walkers probably arrive as soon Around are, onpm average, in 7:00-8:00 the upperpm park before work between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. Most of these visitors are walking, walking dogs, or jogging.

Between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. the upper Morning A ernoon 800 park sees its fewest average visitors, 80 during the half-hour, likely because many visitors have gone to work.

In the summer months, camp groups 500 Upper 700 of children can often be found playing in the park between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

400 Weekday 600 Activity in the park slowly increases until 5:00 pm, at which time it increases dramatically. At 5:00 p.m., many people get off work, there is more 300 Average of Lie/Sit Hard Surf Average of Lie/Sit Grass Average ofthe Stand Average of and Walk7:30 p.m. A regular group shade, and the heat of the day becomes less intense.

An average of 260 people are in upper park between 7:00 500 of between 8 andAverage 14 menofplay soccer on the upper mall most weeknights after about 7:30 p.m. when it Average is coolerofand the park is in shade. They 200 Dog Walk/Jog Average of Fitness Average of Jog/Run Wheeled 400 continue to play by the light of the streetlights after dark.

Average of Sports Average of Other Play 100 300

600

0 200 100

7:00-8:00 am

9:00-10:00 am

11:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00-2:00 pm

3:00-4:00 pm

7:00-8:00 am

9:00-10:00 am Morning

Average of Lie/Sit Hard Surface Lie/SitHard Surf

11:00 am-12:00 pm

Upperpm 1:00-2:00

3:00-4:00 pm

Time ofWeekday Day Average of Lie/Sit Grass Grass Lie/Sit

Upper Average Stand of Stand

Weekday Average Jog/Run of Jog/Run Average of Lie/Sit Hard Surf Average Average of Lie/Sit Grass Average of Stand Average Sports of Sports Other Playof Other Play Average of Dog Walk/Jog Average of Fitness Average of Jog/Run

Average Dog Walkof Dog Walk/Jog

7:00-8:00 pm

A ernoon

Morning

0

5:00-6:00 pm

Average Fitness of Fitness

5:00-6:00 pm

A ernoon

Average of Walk Walk Average Wheeledof Wheeled Average of Walk Average of Wheeled

7:00-8:00 pm

1200

16 1100

Saturday Visitors Title Here, Upper Park

25 0

Close-Up of Below Close-Up of Below

1600 225 1500 200 1400 175 1600 1300 150 1500 1200 125 1400 1100 100 1300

Number of Park Visitors

1000 75 1200 900 50 1100 800 25 1000 700 9000 600 800 500 700 400 600 500 300 400 200 300 100

9:00-10:00 am

11:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00-2:00 pm

3:00-4:00 pm

5:00-6:00 pm

7:00-8:00 pm

A ernoon I did not make it toMorning the park on weekends before 9:00 a.m. On Saturday, there are around 110 people in the upper park at 9:00 a.m., more than the 80 on a weekday. Between 11:00 and 11:30 a.m., there is a spike in activity mostly caused by an average of 24 people doing fitness activities Saturday individually, with personal trainers, and in group classes. The number of very active park visitors dips during the heat of the day from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. but the number of people sitting, lying, and standing increases and Upper holds steady throughout the afternoon. By 3:00 p.m., there is an average of 230 visitors in the park. This number holds steady with fairly little change throughout the rest of the evening, although visitors do migrate Lie/Sit Hard Average of Lie/Sit Grass Average Average of Walk from sitting onAverage the grassofto sitting on Surf benches or standing as the evening wears on.of Stand Average of Dog Walk/Jog Average of Fitness Average of Jog/Run Average of Wheeled Average of Sports

200 0 100

9:00-10:00 am

11:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00-2:00 pm

3:00-4:00 pm

9:00-10:00 am

7:00-8:00 pm

A ernoon

Morning

0

5:00-6:00 pm

11:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00-2:00 pm Saturday

Time ofUpper Day

Morning

Average of Lie/Sit Hard Surf Hard Surface Lie/Sit

Average of Lie/Sit Grass Grass Lie/Sit

Dog Walkof Dog Walk/Jog Average

Fitness of Fitness Average

AverageofofSports Lie/Sit Hard Surf Other Average Lie/Sit Grass Average Average ofofOther Play Sports Play Average of Dog Walk/Jog

3:00-4:00 pm

Average of Fitness

Saturday Average Stand of Stand Upper Jog/Run of Jog/Run Average

5:00-6:00 pm A ernoon

Average of Walk Walk Wheeledof Wheeled Average

Average of Stand

Average of Walk

Average of Jog/Run

Average of Wheeled

7:00-8:00 pm

Sunday Visitors, Upper Park

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Number of Park Visitors

1300 1200 Sunday starts out slowly, with fewer than 100 visitors between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. People may be at church or simply asleep, but like on Saturday, the 1300 1100 number of visitors does not exceed 200 in the upper park until 1:00 p.m.

1200 1000 Park use spikes dramatically after 3:00 p.m., when the drum circle starts.

Hundreds of people gather around the drum circle, sitting, standing, dancing, 1100 900 selling water and crafts, playing instruments, riding bicycles, playing, talking, and videoing/photographing. This crowd was counted under the art/film/ 1000 800 music category because it was impossible to record the specific activities of so many people and because they were all gathered around a music activity.

900 700 Spatially, most people in the upper park in the afternoon were clustered 800 as close to the drum circle as possible, with the few sports visitors farthest 600 away from the drum circle where there was enough space to throw a Frisbee or kick a ball. Acroyoga accounted for most of the 5:00 to 6:00 pm rise 700 500 in fitness visitors. At its peak between 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., the upper park contained around 1,250 visitors. Because it was extremely difficult to 600 400 count such a large number of constantly-moving visitors, this number should be taken as more of an estimate than other counts.

500 300 Despite the large visual impact of hammocks and slacklines, the 400 number of people participating in these activities is very small, 200 as can be seen by the tiny green line second from the top or 300 the right-hand side of the graph.

100 200 0 100 9:00-10:00 am 11:00 am-12:00 pm 1:00-2:00 pm

Drum circle starts 3 pm

3:00-4:00 pm

Morning

0 9:00-10:00 am

5:00-6:00 pm

7:00-8:00 pm

Afternoon

11:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00-2:00 pm

Sunday3:00-4:00 pm

Time of DayUpper

Morning

Average of Lie/Sit Hard Surface Lie/SitHard Surf

Average of Lie/Sit GrassSundayAverage Grass Lie/Sit Stand of Stand

Average Dog Walkof Dog Walk/Jog

Average Fitness of Fitness

Upper Average Jog/Run of Jog/Run

5:00-6:00 pm Afternoon

Average of Walk Walk Average Wheeledof Wheeled

Average of Sports Sportsof Lie/Sit Average Hard Surf

Average of Art/Film/Music Average of Tree Impact Art/Music Tree Impact Average of Lie/Sit Grass Average of Stand

Average of Circus Circus Average of Walk

Average of Dog Walk/Jog

Average of Fitness

Average of Wheeled

Average of Jog/Run

7:00-8:00 pm

Lower

18

Park

Visitor Use Graphs The lower park includes the hillside gardens, the east and west ascents, the cascades, the Buchanan Memorial, the reflecting pool, and the lower Sixteenth Street entrance. The upper park is roughly 5 acres and makes up slightly less than half of the roughly 11.5-acre park.

Hillside Gardens

East Ascent

Buchanen Memorial

Cascades

N

West Ascent

Reflecting Pool

Lower 16th St. Entrance

1000 900

Weekday Visitors Title,HLere ower Park

800

Close-Up of Below

Number of Park Visitors

1600 700 1500 150 1600 125 1400 1500 100 1300 1400 120075 1300 50 1100 1200 25 1000 0 1100 900 1000 800 900 700 800 600 700 500 600 400 500 300 400 200 300 100 200 0 100

19

Close-Up of Below

7:00-8:00 am

9:00-10:00 am

11:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00-2:00 pm

3:00-4:00 pm

5:00-6:00 pm

7:00-8:00 pm

A ernoon

Morning Lower

Weekday On average, the lower area of the park sees much less use than the upper area, and like the upper park, it sees the least use on weekdays, with less than 120 visitors at all time periods during the day.

Like the upper park on the lower park shows a U-shaped pattern Average of Lie/Sit Hard Surf Average of Lie/Sit Grass Average of weekdays, Stand Average of Walk with increased use before and after work, although there is also a rise in mid-day visitorship. This might be because the lower park is of Dog Average Fitness days. The greatest Averageincrease of Jog/Run Average of Wheeled shadier than theAverage upper park andWalk/Jog more pleasant on hotofsummer in morning and evening use comes from dog walkers, walkers,Average and joggers. of Sports Average of Other Play

7:00-8:00 am

9:00-10:00 am

11:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00-2:00 pm

3:00-4:00 pm

7:00-8:00 am

9:00-10:00 am Morning

11:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00-2:00 Lowerpm

3:00-4:00 pm

Time of Day Weekday Lower Average Stand of Stand Weekday Average Jog/Run of Jog/Run

5:00-6:00 pm

A ernoon

Average of Lie/Sit Hard Surface Lie/SitHard Surf

Average of Lie/Sit Grass Grass Lie/Sit

Average Dog Walkof Dog Walk/Jog

Average Fitness of Fitness

Average of of Sports Lie/Sit Hard Surf Sports Average

Average ofofLie/Sit Other Play Average OtherGrass Play

Average of Stand

Average of Walk

Average of Fitness

Average of Jog/Run

Average of Wheeled

Average of Dog Walk/Jog

7:00-8:00 pm

A ernoon

Morning

0

5:00-6:00 pm

Average of Walk Walk Average Wheeledof Wheeled

7:00-8:00 pm

900

20200

Saturday Title Visitors Here, Lower Park

1300

175

Close-Up of Below

1200

150

1100

125 1300

1000 100

1200

75

900 1100 50

800 1000

Number of Park Visitors

25

700 900 0

600 800

9:00-10:00 am

11:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00-2:00 pm

3:00-4:00 pm

5:00-6:00 pm

7:00-8:00 pm

The pattern of visitors in the lower park on Saturdays is similar to the pattern in the upper parkAbuternoon with no late-morning peak, a dip in Morning 700 500 the late afternoon, and fewer overall visitors. A larger than usual proportion of park visitors are engaged in fitness activities in the morning Saturday in classes, with personal trainers, or individually. Fitness visitors and joggers often make use of the long straight stairway on the western 600 Lower the paved areas near the reflecting pool.

400 side of the lower park for drills and activities. Classes sometimes occur on Average of Lie/Sit Hard Surf

Average of Lie/Sit Grass

Average of Stand

Average of Walk

In the afternoon between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., an average of 60-70 people sit or lie on the grass, mostly in the hillside gardens. This 500 300 Average ofof Dog Walk/Jog Average of Fitness Average of Jog/Run Average is more than the number visitors participating in any other activity. Because the lower park is shadier and lowerofinWheeled elevation than the upper park, it gets dark more quickly and stationary visitors leave earlier than in the upper park.

Average of Sports 400

200

300

100

200 100

0 9:00-10:00 am

11:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00-2:00 pm

3:00-4:00 pm

Morning

0 9:00-10:00 am

5:00-6:00 pm A ernoon

11:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00-2:00 pm

Saturday 3:00-4:00 pm

Lower Time of Day

Morning

5:00-6:00 pm A ernoon

Average of Lie/Sit Hard Surface Lie/SitHard Surf

Average of Lie/Sit Grass Saturday Average Grass Lie/Sit Stand of Stand

Average of Walk Walk

Average Dog Walkof Dog Walk/Jog

Average Fitness of Fitness

Average of Wheeled Wheeled

Sports Average of Sports Average of Lie/Sit Hard Surf

7:00-8:00 pm

OtherofPlay Average Lie/Sit Grass

Jog/Run of Jog/Run Lower Average

Average of Stand

Average of Walk

7:00-8:00 pm

Sunday Visitors Title, LHower ere Park

21

Number of Park Visitors

1300 1200 1300 1100 1200 1000 1100 900 1000 800 900 700 800 600 700 500 600 400 500 300 400 200 300 100 200 0 100

The number of visitors in the lower park on Sunday mirrors the trend of the upper park but without the afternoon’s explosive growth in numbers.

At 1:30 p.m., there are only around 100 visitors in the lower park, most of them walking. At its peak between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m., the lower park has around 380 visitors on average. 90 of these are sitting or lying on the grass and 200 of these are walking, many to the upper park and the drum circle area. Many of the people sitting on the grass and standing are participating in large-group picnics.

By 7:30 p.m., many visitors are leaving the lower park. I observed twice on Sunday evening, once in midsummer and once in early September. By early September, the park is quite dark at 7:30 p.m., which probably explains the observed drop in evening activity. I observed the upper park on the same day but did not see a similar drop in evening activity. In the upper park, the drum circle doesn’t end until 9:00 p.m. It gets dark slightly later, as it is more open, and people use lighted Frisbees and poi and play sports by lamplight along the mall.

Drum circle starts, 3 pm

9:00-10:00 am

11:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00-2:00 pm

3:00-4:00 pm

5:00-6:00 pm

Morning

0 9:00-10:00 am

11:00 am-12:00 pm

7:00-8:00 pm

A ernoon 1:00-2:00 pm

3:00-4:00 pm Sunday

Time of Day Lower

Morning

5:00-6:00 pm A ernoon

Hard Surface Lie/SitHard Surf Average of Lie/Sit

Sunday Grass Lie/Sit Average of Lie/Sit Grass

Stand of Stand Average

Walk Average of Walk

Dog Walk Lower Average of Dog Walk/Jog

Fitness of Fitness Average

Jog/Run Average of Jog/Run Average of Lie/Sit Hard Surf

Wheeled Average of Wheeled Average of Lie/Sit Grass

Sports Average of Sports Average of Stand

7:00-8:00 pm

22

Park Visitor Study: Issues and Opportunities This park is excelling at providing opportunities for outdoor active and passive recreation to a diverse, intergenerational, urban constituency who may have limited access to unprogrammed green space.

This park is loved and used by large numbers of visitors, far out of proportion to the amount of time and money the Park Service is able to put into it. Is there an opportunity for NPS to harness community support, such as working with partners?

Activities are happening in the absence of official programming provided by the National Park Service. This means that the NPS has no opportunity to manage or influence these activities and can only regulate (often popular) inappropriate activities as they are occurring. In turn, this often casts the Park Service in a negative light among visitors.

There is an opportunity for the Park Service to build a diverse urban constituency by working with user groups to determine appropriate and inappropriate uses and also by creating programs for these visitors.

23

Part II: Community Study

24

Race and Ethnicity 60 1990

51%

50

45%

44%

2000

43%

40

2010 32%

30

27%

25%

20

10

7%

Legend

¯

Census tracts that were more than 50% within a half-mile radius of Meridian Hill Park were used to calculate these data.

0 250 500

1,000

Feet 1,500

Categorizing race and ethnicity is by nature problematic. The current US Census form asks

people first about Hispanic origin, which is not considered a race, and then about race, requiring people to check one or more boxes. These categories are not always clear. The census considers Arabs, Turks, and Kurds white. Migrants from the former Soviet nations in Central Asia are considered white as well, although Australians may be considered Pacific Islanders1.

Many communities have said they’re unsure of how to identify themselves on census forms2. A growing number of Americans don’t select a race category.

According to the Pew Research Center, “As many as 6.2% of census respondents selected only ‘some other race’ on the form, the vast majority of whom were Hispanic.”

9%

8% 4%

5%

census_tracts_fordisplay TractPly NPS Properties

0

census_tracts_fordisplay

% Black Non-Hispanic

% White Non-Hispanic

Despite problematic categories and incomplete results, it is useful to look at race and ethnicity data in order to see trends. For this study, data were used from census tracts at least 50% within the half-mile boundary from Meridian Hill Park. I obtained this data from NeighborhoodInfo DC3. These data were already separated into the categories shown.

Despite data limitations, the numbers show some very clear trends. The number of people identifying as Black non-Hispanic dropped dramatically, from 45% in 1990 to 25% in 2010, while the number of people identifying as White non-Hispanic saw a sharp increase in only ten years, from 8.5% in 2000 to 27% in 2010. The number of people identifying as Hispanic has held fairly even between 40 and 50% over the past two decades. Asian non-Hispanics people make up a small percent of the population.

% Hispanic

% Asian Non-Hispanic

The neighborhood around Meridian Hill Park is being gentrified rapidly (see next page for income charts). Overall the neighborhood is more diverse today, at least according to these census numbers, than it was in 1990. Will the community continue to be a rich mix of racial and ethnic backgrounds, or will gentrification continue to push out minorities and low-income people?

1: nytimes.com/2013/08/22/opinion/fix-the-census-archaic-racial categories.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 2: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/03/14/u-s-censuslooking-at-big-changes-in-how-it-asks-about-race-and-ethnicity/ 3: neighborhoodinfodc.org

Income and Poverty Level

25

Average Family Income in 2010 Dollars $120,000 $120,000

$103,600

$100,000 $100,000

$60,000 $60,000

$54,700

30%30% 25%25%

$83,600

$80,000 $80,000

Poverty Rate

$20,000 $20,000

5% 5%

1980 1980

21.7%

14.7%

15%15% 10%10%

0

22.0%

20%20%

$64,100

$40,000 $40,000

0

25.8%

1990 1990

2000 2000

2007-11 2007-11

In 2007-11, the average family income in the area surrounding Meridian Hill Park was twice of that in 1980.

0

0

1980 1980

1990 1990

2000 2000

2007-11 2007-11

The poverty rate has gone down 11% total since 1980. 7% of the reduction occurred from 2000 to 2007-11.

35%35% 30%30%

Child Poverty Rate

25%25%

Along with changing racial and ethnic demographics in the neighborhood, 20% 20%in there have been dramatic changes average family income and the poverty rate. The average family income in the area surrounding Meridian Hill 15%15% doubled between 1980 and 2007-11. (All incomes were adjusted to constant dollars using the Consumer Price Index).

10% Given the recent demographic 10% changes, it seems likely that this rise in prosperity stems from more affluent 5% 5%(gentrification). With the rise in people moving into the neighborhood income has come a corresponding decline in the poverty rate, from 25% to 0 0 1990 2000 15%. The rate of child poverty has declined 1990 as well, although the rate of child 2000 poverty is still higher than the poverty rate as a whole. Nearly a quarter of the area’s children are still living in poverty.

35

32.0%

31.4%

30 25

23.2%

20 2007-11 2007-11

15 10 5 0

1990

2000

2007-11

The child poverty rate has gone down 9% since 1990. 8% of the reduction occurred from 2000 to 2007-11.

26

School TitleLocations Here Map

25

Public School

25

Child Care Location

1

9 Irving St. NW

3

2

Independent School

25

5

Public Charter School

25

6

8

7

Larger dot= more students

12

11

4

Girard St. NW

10 34

NW

bi

m

lu Co

d aR

CLOSED

14th St NW

33 Euclid St. NW

13

31

30

14

16th St NW

5 minute (1/4 mile) walk

10 minute (1/2 mile) walk

32

16

15

17

29 28

25

26

24

18 V St. NW

19

23

27

U St. NW

W

14th St NW

15th St NW

16th St NW

17th St NW

18th St NW

T St. NW

S St. NW

w

Ha

m

ps

hir eA ve N

W

20

Ne

r Flo

eN Av ida

CLOSED

22

21 R St. NW

#

School Name

Grades Students

1

Columbia Hts. Ed. Campus

6-12

1266

2

LAYC Career Academy

16-24

92

3

Barbara Chambers Ctr.

PK

200

4

Little Flower Montessori

PK

20

5

DC Bilingual

PK-6

385

6

The Next Step

15-24

170

7

Youthbuild

16-24

116

8

Centronia Annex

PK

20

9

Tubman

PK-5

509

10

Appletree Early Learning

PK

161

11

Easter Seal Society

PK

33

12

Centronia at Harvard St.

PK

100

13

Ec Mazique Wardman Ct.

PK

16

14

Cardozo Ed. Campus

6-12

681

15

Shining Stars Montessori

PK

87

16

Inspired Teaching Demo

PK-5

268

17

YMCA Anthony Bowen

PK

19

18

Meridian

PK-8

588

19

Christian Tabernacle

PK

75

20

Garrison

PK-5

280

21

Ec Mazique Parent-Child

PK

160

22

Ross

PK-5

161

23

Ec Mazique Municipal

PK

48

24

Martha’s Table

PK

24

25

St. Augustine Catholic

PK-8

180

26

Semillitas

PK

25

27

Oyster Adams Bilingual

4-8

325

28

United Planning Org #2

PK

16

29

Marie Reed

PK-5

377

Ward 1

30

Briya

PK

44

Ward 2

31

Lanier Lullabies

PK

17

32

Jubilee Jumpstart

PK

50

33

H.D. Cook

PK-5

396

34

David’s Stars

PK

31

School ype TitleTH ere

27

Young People by School Type

CHARTER SCHOOLS ON THE RISE

4000 3500

Within 1/2 Mile

3000

Within 1/4 Mile

Charter school enrollment is on the rise in DC— enrollment jumped 10% in 2013. Forty-three percent of all students in DC are now charter school students1, a trend mirrored in the area around Meridian Hill and seen on the graph to the left. Charter schools often receive less funding than public schools, have less outdoor space and do not have the same quality infrastructure4.

Charter schools may rely on existing parks and recreation fields, including Meridian Hill, to fill that gap, or they may not provide outdoor opportunities for their students.

Number of Students

2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0

Child Care

Independent

Public

Charter

School Type, Patterns, and Implications

Charter schools allow students greater choice of location but proximity to home is still a factor in attendance. Sixty-one percent of DC public and charter school students living in Ward 1, where Meridian Hill Park is located, attended school there in school year 2012-132. Around a quarter of students living in neighboring Wards 2 and 4 also attended school in Ward 1.

SCHOOL DISTRIBUTION

SUMMER CAMPS

There are 34 schools and child care locations within a ten-minute walk of Meridian Hill Park that serve a total of 6,940 young people. Nearly half (14) of these facilities are located within a five-minute walk of the park, but only a quarter of students attend programs there because the facilities have a smaller capacity. Several very large schools, particularly the 1,200-student Columbia Heights Education Campus, are located between a quarter mile and a half mile of the park.

Camps appear to be using the park as an outdoor play area during the summer months, with visitors engaged in ball sports, bicycling, jump rope, chalk, and other games. It is unclear whether summer camps are affiliated with school programs. The average summer camp group consisted of around 20 adults and children, with an outlier group of 60. The average summer camp group used the park between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on weekdays.

Public schools are distributed fairly evenly, although public schools to the south of the study area enroll fewer students, likely because they are closer to the less residential area of downtown DC. Child care centers show a similar pattern.

There are two public schools in the eastern part of the study area which were closed due to low enrollment.

The seven charter schools are clustered in two distinct areas north and east of the park. The one independent school, a Catholic school, is also located near the eastern cluster. Because many charter schools move to better or larger buildings as they grow or disband and vacate buildings, the locations of individual charter schools will likely change, but the current pattern may remain if those buildings or areas are particularly well-suited for schools.

A kids’ tae kwan do class performs on a Saturday morning.

1: www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dc-debates-growth-of-charterschools/2013/02/10/31/31344456-6642-11e2-af53-7b2b2a7510a8_story.html 2: blog.metrotrends.org/tag/charter-schools See appendix for notes

28

Age of Students

Within 1/2 Mile

high-schoolers attend school at least a quarter-mile away, they are able to walk further by themselves and may come to the park after school on their own.

Within 1/4 Mile

QUESTIONS

Young People by Grade Level

2500

2000

Is the location of these schools affecting public use of Meridian Hill Park?

Should the location of these schools drive any management decisions about what activities are allowed or not allowed in Meridian Hill Park?

Does the location of these schools present an opportunity for educational programming at Meridian Hill Park?

Whose role is it to ensure that the recreational needs of these students are met?

1500

1000

500

0

0-K

1-4

5-8

9-12

Student Ages DC BABY BOOM Between 2000 and 2010, the Columbia Heights-Mt. Pleasant area lost 3,200 students despite being one of the fastest-growing areas in the city1. Now, millennials ages 18-34 make up 35% of DC’s population, as opposed to 23% of the population as a whole, and are contributing to a recent baby boom1.

Total city school enrollment increased 4% in 2013, its fifth consecutive year of growth2. In the neighborhoods surrounding the park, there are 1.7 times as many children in child care, pre-kindergarten, and kindergarten as there are in first through fourth grades. It remains to be seen whether young families will stay in the city or continue to send their children to local schools.

TWO LARGE NEARBY HIGH SCHOOLS The largest nearby high school is at the Columbia Heights Education campus, which accepts students district-wide who meet admission requirements.

Cardozo Education Campus, the second-largest school in the study area, is fed by all of the elementary and middle schools in the focus area as well as others outside the focus area3.

This large feeder range for the nearby high schools likely accounts for the large number of 9th-12th graders attending school near the park. While all

Children wait for an organized activity to occur.

1: http://datatools.urban.org/features/OurChangingCity/demographics/#age 2: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/overall-dc-school-enrollment-increases-withcharters-growing-faster-than-dcps/2013/10/17/0f8dd7fc-375e-11e3-80c6-7e6dd8d22d8f_story.html 3: http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/Learn+About+Schools/School+Changes+SY13-14

Transportation Title Here Map

29 A Well-Connected Park Meridian Hill Park is well-connected to the surrounding communities and the city as a whole.

There are two green line metro stations, Columbia Heights and U Street/African American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo, within a half mile of the park. There are many nearby bus routes with stations adjacent to or a block away from the park. The Circulator bus costs only $1 and runs a block from the park.

Irving St. NW National Zoo

Columbia Heights Metro Station

Ad am

sM

ill

Rd

NW

Harvard St.

Girard St. NW

W

bia

N Rd

11th St NW

m

lu Co

aR

am lor

W

dN

14th St NW

16th St NW

5 minute (1/4 mile) walk

10 minute (1/2 mile) walk

Euclid St. NW

Ka

U Street/African American Civil War Mem./Cardozo Metro Station

V St. NW

U St. NW W

250

500

17th St NW

S St. NW

R St. NW

13th St NW

14th St NW

W hir eA ve N m ps Ha w Ne

0

Feet 1,000

T St. NW 15th St NW

16th St NW

id

18th St NW

r Flo

N ve aA

Bicycling infrastructure has expanded greatly in recent years. There are 14 Capital Bikeshare stations within a half-mile radius, all created since 2010. According to DDOT’s Draft 2014 longrange transportation plan, in 2000 there were fewer than three miles of marked bicycle lanes in the city. DC now has more than 60 miles of bicycle facilities in the form of bike lanes, cycle tracks, shared streets, and off-street trails. The 15th St. cycletrack and bike lane, the Euclid St. bike lane, and the W St. bike lane all connect the park directly to the local bicycling network.

Legend Metro Station Capital Bikeshare Station Bus Stop Cycle Track Bike Lane Shared Lane/Signed Route Circulator Bus Bus Route National Park Service Lands BND_Boundaries_NPS_py Other RecPlyPark Lands National Zoo

30

Recreation acilities Map Title HFere Old DPR HQ/ Powell Park Columbia Hts Ed. Complex

Tubman Elem.

1

Outdoor Recreation Facilities: Key

National Zoo

2

Rd

NW

Harvard St.

Ad am

sM

ill

14th and Girard St. Park

15

Kalorama Park

W

a

am lor

N Rd

Ka

3

Adams Elementary

9

hir eA ve N m ps Ha w Ne

250

500

Feet 1,000

Ross Elementary

14th St NW

15th St NW

11th St NW

10

W

11

17th St NW

Fl

eN Av

U St. NW

16th St NW

Marie Reed Elementary

18th St NW

da ori

Harrison Rec Ctr

V St. NW

W

12

5

Parking Lot/ Basketball Court

13th St NW

4 14

0

Cardozo Ed. Complex

Marie Reed Rec Ctr

13

Tennis Court

Full Access

Baseball Diamond

Limited Access Children’s Field

Euclid St. NW

16th St NW

5 minute (1/4 mile) walk

16

Football Field

Girard St. NW

Girard St. Park

H.D. Cooke Elementary

17

10 minute (1/2 mile) walk

bia

m

lu Co

Basketball Court

N Rd

14th St NW

Walter Pierce Park

Soccer Field

20

19

W

18

Playground Irving St. NW

6 R St. NW

7

1

Washington Sports Clubs

Private

2

Levelup PT Gym/Weightloss

Private

3

Rita Bright Community Center

DC DPR

4

Ride DC and Praxis Crossfit

Private

5

YMCA Anthony Bowden

Private

6

Crossfit DC

Private

7

Bodysmith Gym

Private

8

Custom Fitness Concepts

Private

9

Fitness Workshop

Private

10

Vida Fitness U St.

Private

11

Washington Sports Clubs

Private

12

Livingwell Health Club

Private

13

Mint Fitness Club

Private

14

Marie Reed Aquatic Center

DC DPR

15

Solidcore

Private

16

BND_Boundaries_NPS_py Stroga

Private

17

RecPly Centerpointe

Private

18

Lilia’s Pilates School Grounds

Private

19

Embrace DC Grounds Yoga University

Private

20

Columbia Community Center NationalHts Zoo

DC DPR

Legend

Garrison Elementary

S St. NW

8

T St. NW

Indoor and/or Private Recreation Facilities

Nearby Recreation Title Here Facilities Many Small Courts, Few Large Fields As seen on the map to the left and the chart to the right, there are 19 playgrounds and 16 basketball courts within half a mile of the park. They are fairly evenly distributed throughout the area. There is a marked difference between the number of these facilities and other recreation facilities. Size likely plays into this, as soccer, baseball, and football fields require much more space.

31

Number of Outdoor Recreation Facilities Within 1/2 Mile of the Park d

oun ygr a l P

as Are

)

(19

6)

s (1

ba

ket

Bas

t our ll C

There are six fields where soccer could be played within half a mile of the park but five of them are on school property and one requires a permit. Only one, at Marie Reed Elementary School, is within a quarter mile of the park. These fields are evenly distributed throughout the area. There is a nightly pick-up soccer game in the park that could possibly be shifted to one of these fields.

There are four full-access tennis courts within half a mile, two to the west at the Marie Reed Rec Center and two to the north in Powell Park. It is unclear whether there is more demand for tennis facilities. People were rarely seen playing tennis at Meridian Hill because there are no nets in the park.

There are four fields where baseball could be played within half a mile, three to the south and southeast of the park and one in Powell Park to the north. Two of these were limited-access and only one was within a 1/4 mile of the park.

People were often seen playing catch in Meridian Hill but rarely played fullfledged baseball or kickball games because there is no baseball diamond.

There are four fields where football could be played within half a mile of the park, although they are all limited-access. None are within a quarter mile. They are located southeast, east, north, and west of the park and are fairly evenly distributed. Visitors were seen throwing a football but no football scrimmages were observed.

There are no skate parks within half a mile of Meridian Hill Park. The few skateboarders observed were merely skating along a path. The park is reportedly more of a skateboarding destination in the winter when the fountains are dry.

PRIVATE GYMS Private gyms are clustered in the quarter mile around the park and to the southwest. Group classes and personal trainers from these gyms frequently make use of the park. Presumably most classes cost money but some are free.

)

s (6

eld r Fi e c Soc

(4) (4) 4) ts ( lds lds r e e i i u F ll ll F Co tba nis eba Ten Bas Foo )

s (0

ark eP t a Sk

One symbol= two of each facility type Grey= Limited Access (permit only or not during school hours) Each two basketball hoops is considered a “court”.

Two children’s basketball courts, one children’s artificial turf soccer field, and one children’s artificial turf football field were not included in this chart because they were tiny.

Large unstriped fields were counted as both soccer and football fields.

32

The Value of Unprogrammed Space

Unprogrammed Space: A Rare Community Resource Meridian Hill Park fills a unique niche in its urban neighborhood. Along with nearby Kalorama Park (which has a steep hill), it is one of the very few unprogrammed green areas in the community. It is public, visible, accessible during daytime hours, and large and flat enough for ball sports. Trees provide shade during hot summer days. Benches provide a place to rest and for spectators to observe activities. As a result of this flexibility, an area that is a soccer field on a Monday night can be a picnic ground or a space for poi-spinners and acroyoga practitioners on a Sunday night. People who are participating in picnics or doing homework can get up and play catch.

Most sports activities in Meridian Hill are not regular, organized activities (with the exception of the nightly soccer game and fitness classes). Frisbee and soccer are popular activities for small groups of adults and children. Many others toss footballs and baseballs or play lawn games such as croquet, bocce, or kubb. Most of these visitors do not require full fields, and in fact might be intimidated by a full-size, striped field– certainly unnecessary if you’re kicking a ball with a toddler, flying a kite, or throwing a Frisbee with a friend! Meridian Hill Park provides incredible value for kids, parents, and anyone who is looking for a well-designed, flexible open space.

Unprogrammed Recreation Space

Kalorama Park

Mitchell Park

There are only two options for free-form recreation around Meridian Hill, both to the west of the park.

Kalorama Park is within half a mile of Meridian Hill but is not as large.

A flat area contains big trees, rendering it unfit for serious sports, and elsewhere the park is sloped but good for picnics and hammocks.

The other option is a field at Mitchell Park which is signed as being permit use only. The park also has one picnic table under some trees.

The National Park Service should consider encouraging the DC Parks and Rec Department to provide quality unprogrammed park spaces throughout the city in addition to meeting the demand for recreational fields, particularly soccer fields, around Meridian Hill.

Questions: • • •

Should the patterns and types of visitor use result in new approaches to the management of Meridian Hill Park?

How can ROCR work more effectively with the DC Parks and Recreation Department to identify appropriate locations for activities that may be inappropriate at Meridian Hill Park?

What additional research should be done so that ROCR can make the best management decisions for Meridian Hill Park?

Croquet has been played on the mall since early in the park’s history. (Pre-1936 photo)

Other Venues for Recreation Activities

33

Recreation Opportunities Further Afield

Hammocks & Slacklines

Zooming out, are there other venues for activities that Rock Creek Park staff consider to be problem activities in Meridian Hill? Can park staff direct people to these facilities? The inside dashed line on these maps is a half-mile from Meridian Hill Park. The outside dashed line is a mile from the park.

Kalorama Park is the only public park within a mile that is suitable for the type of slacklining and hammock use seen at Meridian Hill. Most recreation fields and rec centers are treeless.

Kalorama Park

It would be possible but unappealing for people to set up hammocks in Dupont or Logan Circle or to find a few trees in a less welcoming park or green area. Visitors are drawn to the good design and atmosphere of Meridian Hill Park.

Kalorama Park contains a flat area with big trees and some sloped areas, also treed. This type of unprogrammed space is rare in the area surrounding Meridian Hill Park.

Soccer Fields Columbia Hts. Tubman Ed. Complex Elem. (artificial turf ) (artificial turf ) Walter Pierce Park (grass) Marie Reed Elem. (artificial turf ) Mitchell Park (grass) Stead Park (grass)

Cardozo Ed. Complex (artificial turf ) Garrison Elem. (grass)

Shaw Park (grass)

Skate Parks

There are six soccer fields within half a mile of the park and three more within a mile.

However, all but one of these fields are either on school property, with limited hours, or on permit-only fields. Five of these fields are simply open grassy spaces and four are striped with artificial turf. One field was not mowed when I visited.

The nightly soccer game could possibly be shifted to one of these fields, although they may all be in evening use already.

Banneker Park

There are only two skate parks within a mile of Meridian Hill. The more northerly one is very small and may not be challenging. Visitors to the north, west, and southwest of the park have few options for skateboarding.

There may be a need for more skate park facilities (and more challenging facilities) run by the DC DPR near Meridian Hill Park.

Shaw Skate Park

Title Here

Part III: Infrastructure

35

36

Vehicles in the Park

I was in the park on 14 separate days for a total of 72 hours. During this time, I observed 11 separate vehicles in the park.

Of these, 6 were Park Police, 4 were contractor vehicles (usually of people cleaning the bathroom), and 1 was a NPS maintenance truck moving a large amount of brush. This vehicle use is at least partially due to the fact that parking is tight in the neighborhood and there is often nowhere for contractors or park police to leave their vehicles.

Two parking spots near the northern 15th St. entrance are reserved for the NPS but not signed. ROCR staff may want to work with DDOT to appropriately label this spot and require staff and park police to park there unless absolutely necessary.

It was not unusual for vehicles to drive through the grass, although this park police vehicle was the only one I saw driving through the dust bowl.

I only noted a Park Police officer leaving a vehicle to walk around once. Officers usually sat in their vehicles with the vehicle running and lights on.

NPS Vehicles Contractor Vehicles Park Police Vehicles

2 2

2

Fountain Maintenance

37 I was in the park on 14 separate days from June 26 to September 7. During this time, I noted that the fountain was “green and stinky” on 10 days. I did not note the fountain’s condition the first two days I observed, and on one Sunday I was too busy to note its condition.

On only one day ( July 18) did I note that the fountain was “better, not green, still a little stinky.”

Many people come to have their photographs taken in front of the fountain, and a green fountain is much less of an asset to the park, particularly if the surface of the water is scummy, as seen in the left photo. Water quality may also be a health and safety issue.

38

Bicycle Infrastructure

Lack of Bicycle Infrastructure Many people today bring their bikes to the park, either for exercise or as a means of transportation, and most need a place to lock their bike while they participate in other activities. People who are sitting along the mall frequently lean their bikes on benches. People also lean and lock their bikes to posts, trees, historic walls, other infrastructure, and drop their bikes in the grass. All of these may cause damage to park infrastructure and natural resources.

In 1917-1936, when the park was being planned and constructed, cars were rising to prominence. While there was a bicycling craze in the 1890s, bicycling dropped off after 1900, and over the following decades, while the park was being designed, bicycles were primarily used as children’s’ toys.

Bikes locked to trees

In 2012, Washington DC’s bicycle-commuting rates were 445% greater than in 1990. According to the League of American Bicyclists, in 2012 4.1% of Washington, DC commuters commuted by bicycle, as opposed to 1.2% in 2000.

Most bicycle trips to the park are non-commute trips and not counted in these numbers.

Are bicycles causing significant damage to natural or cultural resources?

Would it be possible to install bicycle racks under Meridian Hill’s National Historic Landmark status?

Could bike racks look like hitching posts or otherwise tie in with park design?

Bikes locked to or leaning on posts, benches, walls, and trash cans

Bikes on grass

Sunday 9/7/2014

Sunday 9/7/2014

Thursday 7/26/2014

Friday 9/5/2014

Sunday 9/7/2014

Thursday 7/31/2014

Thursday 7/31/2014

Monday 8/18/2014

Tuesday 7/12/2014

Tuesday 7/12/2014

Sunday 9/7/2014

Friday 8/29/2014

Sunday 7/27/2014

Saturday 7/12/2014

Friday 8/29/2014

Friday 7/27/2014

Tuesday 7/12/2014

Tuesday 7/12/2014

Mall Lawn, Recycling, Golf Cart Storage

39

Turf Maintenance

Recycling Receptacles

Rock Creek Park staff has an incredible challenge maintaining grass in the park given its intense use. Park staff have voiced their concern about this problem and solutions are being considered by staff and management.

In keeping with the Park Service’s environmental goals, recycling receptacles could be added next to trash cans in the park. I observed that a significant portion of the trash was made up of recyclable glass bottles and cans, and if some waste was diverted to recycling receptacles the trash cans would likely overflow less often.

Areas on the mall, underneath trees in the upper park, and on the slopes in the lower park have been used to the point where grass is no longer surviving. The dirt area in the mall is avoided when possible by picnickers and people sitting (see photo on left), but is still used by people playing sports. The areas under the trees are used by picnickers standing or sitting on blankets. On windy days, the dust gathers and blows across the mall.

The grass was always neatly mowed. Regular watering of the grass (possibly through automatic pop-up sprinklers on weekday mornings between 8 and 9 a.m.) and increased lawn care activities could be part of a larger solution to the problems of turf maintenance. This larger solution could include shifting regular, team-based sports use elsewhere and moving to a high-tech grass and cistern system like the one found on the National Mall.

Golf Cart Storage In the initial meeting with ROCR staff and management it came up that the Park owned a golf cart for maintenance use but it would not fit through a narrow door and thus there was no place to store it. The park should consider working with partners on storage and easy access for equipment like this.

Title Here

Part IV: Appendices

41

42

Jon Jarvis’ Forward TitletoHthe ereUrban Agenda; Notes

Foreword to the National Park Service Urban Agenda The father of American landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted, and a key contributor to the establishment of the National Park System, said of urban parks: It is one great purpose of the Park to supply to the hundreds of thousands of tired workers, who have no opportunity to spend their summers in the country, a specimen of God’s handiwork that shall be to them, inexpensively, what a month or two in the White Mountains or the Adirondacks is, at great cost, to those in easier circumstances.

Olmsted understood the relevance of urban parks to all city residents, especially those who may not be able to access the more distant park lands like Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon, the kind of places for which the National Park Service (NPS) is well known. We are less known for our work in the urban space and therefore are less relevant to the lives of an increasingly urban America.

The arch at the entrance of Yellowstone states, “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the people,” and those who visit certainly benefit and enjoy this natural wonder. But those who live near Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco benefit and enjoy that national park every day, as it is an integral part of their urban life.

Urban environments present a higher density and more diverse population, lands that often have past industrial or disturbance legacies, and a complex set of overlapping jurisdictions. These challenge the NPS to look for new models, policies and approaches beyond the traditional experiences born of the large western landscapes. As the NPS looks to its second century of stewardship and public engagement, some of the greatest innovations are now occurring in urban spaces. The NPS, through its many programs and parks, has much to offer the urban dweller: a sense of place, an escape from cubicle confines, recognition that everyone’s history is important, a restored and accessible waterfront, and a threshold experience to a greater outdoors.

It is time that the NPS strategically organize its many urban parks and programs toward building relevancy for all Americans, to connect with their lives where they live, rather than only where some may spend their vacation. Extraordinary innovation is already out there, with mayors and city leaders, businesses and NGOs all investing in new parks, new park designs, and new ways to engage communities in creating healthy and livable cities. This is an exciting time for the NPS to join in this national movement, to offer our assistance and active participation, to listen to new perspectives and help build communities across the urban landscape. There are pioneers within the National Park Service and many partners pushing us forward to embrace our urban mission as a critical component of our second century. I invite you to engage in this agenda for the benefit of the National Park Service and especially for the benefit of the people.

Jonathan B. Jarvis, Director

Notes Demographics: For more information on NeighborhoodInfo DC’s data sources and notes, see: http://www.neighborhoodinfodc.org/sources_ notes.html#population_demo Education: Schools focusing on adult education and vocational education/career training programs ages 16+ that seemed to have many adult classes were not included in the numbers of students. Alternative high school programs serving youth and teens were included in the count.

Public charter schools that only provided child care were categorized as child care locations for mapping purposes. The label “Public Charter School” was used to mean a location with a primary focus on providing education to school-aged pupils, although child care may also be provided.

14th and Girard St. Park

DC DPR 1/2 mile 1

Adams Elementary

DCPS

1/2 mile 3 hoops

Cardozo Education Complex

DCPS

1/2 mile

1 full-size, striped artificial turf, stadium

1

Columbia Hts Ed. Complex

DCPS

1/2 mile 1

1

1

Garrison Elementary

DCPS

1/2 mile 6 hoops

1

1

Girard St. Park

DC DPR 1/2 mile 1

2

H.D. Cooke Elementary

DCPS

2

Harrison Rec Center

DC DPR 1/2 mile 2 (1 youth) 2

Kalorama Park

DC DPR 1/2 mile 1

Marie Reed Elementary

DCPS

Marie Reed Rec Center

DC DPR 1/2 mile 2

2

Old DPR HQ/Powell Park

DC DPR 1/2 mile 1

2

Ross Elementary

DCPS

Walter Pierce Park

DC DPR 1/2 mile 1

Parking Lot/Basketball Court

?

Banneker Park

DC DPR 1 mile

2

1

Bancroft Elementary

DCPS

1 mile

1 hoop

2

Bruce Monroe Community Park

1 mile

2

1

Bundy Park

1 mile

2

1

1

1

1

Mitchell Park

1 mile

?

?

1

?

1

1 mile

1

small artificial turf

Raymond Playground

1/2 mile 1

1

2

Other

Skate Park

large field- baseball backdrop but in a fenced “under construction” area

1 60’ grass Community Garden 1 artificial turf, lighting, seating 2 1 60’ grass

2

1/2 mile 2 tiny hoops1 2

1 permit only

TINY artificial turf

“Ross students only 8 am-3:45 pm Mon-Fri. YMCA students only 3:45-6:15 pm Mon-Fri

1 permit only

Dog park

1/2 mile 1

1

2

1 mile

2

2

Shaw Dog/Skate Park

DC DPR 1 mile

2

1 mile

1

DCPS

1

1 artificial turf

1/2 mile

DCPS

Tubman Elementary

kid-sized artificial turf

2

Seaton Elementary Stead Park

43

Football

Soccer

Tennis

Baseball

Playground

Basketball Courts

Distance

Owner

Park Name

Nearby Recreation Facilities List

1 mile

2

8

1 small

dog park

kid-sized artificial turf 1

1

1

“Field use by permit only”- field with baseball backdrop, other areas of park closed until July 31

1

Large field for soccer/football

1 2

1

1

1 full size artificial turf with goals/nets

1 1

dog park large field- permit use only- no baseball/softballcurrently overgrown with bulldozer in field open 4 pm-dusk during school