North Michigan Park Recreation Center Environmental Restoration Project
Virtual Public Meeting
January 31, 2024
7:00 pm

Event Link: bit.ly/DPRIVConceptDesign

Event number: 2303 729 1005

Event password: RETROFIT2024

Join the DC Departments of Energy & Environment and Parks & Recreation to give input on an environmental restoration project happening at the North Michigan Park Recreation Center. The project is in the beginning of the design phase.

Project website: https://doee.dc.gov/node/1699066
Project contact: Elaine Vidal, elaine.vidal@dc.gov

From the project website:

There are existing drainage problems onsite with stormwater from the adjacent properties to the south, which include Boy’s Town of Washington and St. Anslem’s Abbey School. A brick retention wall, rip rap swale, and grass swale were installed in the SE corner of the property during initial development in 2003. However, since then, a historic stream has resurfaced, and/or stormwater has developed a gully from the adjacent properties to the south, carrying silt, plant debris, and trash. The stream/stormwater empties into an inlet, which is often clogged causing erosion to the baseball field and soil by the ramp.  

Possible solutions may include evaluating the contributing drainage area(s) for potential stormwater solutions at their sources. Bioretention systems are a potential option to treat drainage coming from the playground and adjacent properties. A Bioretention is a vegetated stormwater management system that mimics the natural environment to reduce stormwater volumes and pollutants for the purpose of restoring our streams and rivers.