Capitol Hill Area to Host Several Pop-Up Parks Tomorrow

Several pop-up parks are slated to take over Capitol Hill parking spots tomorrow.

Businesses, organizations and residents throughout the District will celebrate the annual PARK(ing) Day by turning parking spaces into pop-up parks, or “parklets.” They will be open from about 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Nine parks are expected to go up in the Capitol Hill area. Each will have a different theme, purpose and activities for locals.

The locations and sponsors for the parks are:

• 1222 1st St. NE (NoMa BID, The JBG Companies and Washington Animal Rescue League)
• 1200 1st St. NE (NoMa BID and Do Tank DC)
• 1511 1st St. NE (NoMa BID and Carpe Librum)
• 1511 1st St. NW (NoMa BID and REI)
• 200 I St. NE (Senate Square)
• 810 First St. NE (Office of the State Superintendent of Education)
• 204 3rd St. SE (The Trust for Public Land and Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition)
• 1100 4th St. SW (Office of Planning)
• 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE (The JBG Companies and Ruppert Landscaping)

The Trust for Public Land was one of the original sponsors for the national PARK(ing) Day movement, which began in San Francisco in 2005 as a way to rethink the way city streets are used. On Capitol Hill, the organization worked with the Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition to build a parklet that raises awareness with a photo booth, tables for food and materials from both nonprofits.

“It’s a great opportunity to showcase our involvement to provide more open spaces for the American people,” said Ryan Lemier, campaign associate for the LWCF. “We’re really exited D.C. has decided this is a valuable thing to keep doing.”

Neighborhoods also have coordinated efforts for the event. NoMa this year will have a pet lovers park, Vision Zero survey for bicyclists, a lending library, an urban camp and a dog beach.

This year will be the first PARK(ing) Day for Senate Square, the apartment building that will have the dog beach. The pop-up park will include a small pool, grass, free treat bags and toys for dogs.

“This idea made perfect sense because this area is so heavily populated by dogs,” said Erica Krauss, leasing manager for Senate Square. “We love our dogs, and we want to help bring more green space to the city.”

This year there will be approximately 30 pop-up parks throughout D.C. on Friday, more than double the amount from last year.

Photo via NoMa BID