On November 1, 2016, Congresswoman Eleanore Holmes Norton hosted a town hall with the National Park Service (NPS) on improving and maintaining NPS land in the District. Nine-year old Riggs Park resident Lucas Uriartecuellar testified at the town hall to support constructing a trail and building a playground at Fort Circle Park, located on South Dakota Avenue between Gallatin and Galloway Street NE.

Back in March 2016, Lucas met then Council candidate Robert White and told him about his desire for a playground. Councilmember White put Lucas in touch with Congresswoman Norton’s office. Lucas and his family walked the neighborhood with a petition* and collected approximately 230 signatures from residents close to Fort Circle Park to support his effort. At the town hall, Lucas presented to NPS and Congresswoman Norton the petition as well as a blueprint of some his ideas for transforming the park. For his efforts, Lucas received a big round of applause from those in attendance. We applaud him too.

Two other residents testified about the need for trails in Fort Totten Park. NPS stated that design of a trail to connect Gallatin to Galloway Street NE near Fort Totten metro station will be completed in 2017 and the agency is seeking funding sources to actually construct the trail.

Generally, the tone of the town hall meeting was positive. The leadership of NPS is very open to partnering with communities to make NPS parkland flexible, sustainable, and active. For example, in recent months, NPS has partnered with the Golden Triangle business improvement district (BID) and the Capitol Hill BID so that those BIDs can fund the upkeep of NPS parks in the downtown and Capitol Hill areas. However, in neighborhoods like this one, where there is not a BID or a significant number of businesses willing or able to take on activating and maintaining the parks, funding for park amenities and activities remain a challenge. NPS Superintendent of the Fort Circle Parks Tara Morrison noted that there is certainly work to be done with these parks. They hold great historical significance and they should be places of interest and use for the community and the greater public. In August 2016, NPS completed a Paved Trail Study. The agency expects to complete its Small Parks Master Planning effort in the near future. Any change to NPS parks in the neighborhood will have to start with a planning effort with NPS. It may take some time, but at least we know NPS is amenable to working with residents to make the parks fun, interesting places.

*The petition reads:

Dear Council at Large Robert White

I’m writing to Request that the Fort Circle Park be redeveloped and improved to include a paved trail. This park is located on South Dakota Ave NE, across from the future Children’s Museum. An enhanced trail would complement the Children’s Museum.

A safe, well-maintained trail away from the street and traffic would allow the children and adults a safe place to walk, jog, or bike ride. My family has lived in this area since I have memories (seven years) and have seen the neighborhood grow with many new young families. At this time, the parents find it difficult, walking with strollers and tricycles. The elderly are at risk of falling due to the poor condition of the sidewalks.

I know that you have been responsive to resident issues in the past and I hope that you will support this request. With your leadership and support for a park with a trail, our neighborhood will have the appropriate place to get together, exercise, and for us to play and ride. Thank you for your help and we hope that the effort, yours and ours, to have a park in the neighborhood will have effective action to become reality. Signatures of neighbors supporting the improvement of Fort Circle Park are list[ed] below.