From the Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker
Join Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker for a night out at the ballgame as the Washington Nationals take on the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 6:45 p.m. The office has a limited number of free tickets for Ward 5 residents, so reserve yours now by visiting ward5.us/gonats!
[Ed. Note: The DC Office of Planning will be present at this meeting. Please attend if you would like to see the most up-to-date presentation about the project and have questions addressed by the project team and OP.]
From ANC 5A02
SINGLE MEMBER DISTRCT 5A02 AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS
Boys Town Redevelopment Large Tract Review Neighborhood Meeting
The Urban Atlantic Development team will provide an update on the development status of the former Boys Town site on Sargent Road. Urban Atlantic has submitted a Large Tract Review application with the District’s Office of Planning for the development of 166 duplex homes, consistent with the existing R-2 zoning. The meeting will review the materials submitted with the application and offer an opportunity for community questions and comments.
Wednesday, September 10th 6:30 pm
Microsoft Teams
Link: Microsoft Teams Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 252 113 980 753 1
Passcode: MY9a5Ui2
Dial in by phone: 1 443-948-6064 Code: 682943271#
Phone conference ID: 682 943 271#
From ANC 5A
ANC 5A Special Meeting
Thursday, September 4, 2025 5:00 pm
VIRTUAL ONLY
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85768532161?pwd=UfSFnEvGzQqirhlVFgffdQzenHf19j.1
Meeting ID: 857 6853 2161
Passcode: 629755
Call in1 301 715 8592
Individuals will be called on once acknowledged by the Chair.
Commissioners will be let into the meeting room first. Once they are all present, the residents will be let in.
AGENDA
I. Call Meeting to Order 5:00 pm
II. Quorum
III. Discussion on proposed resolution Condemning Federal Overreach
VII. Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 24, 2025
VIII. Adjourn
On August 28, 2025, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker held a townhall on the Trump administration’s federal overreach in DC law enforcement and local affairs. We know that federal agent presence is heavy in Ward 5. They are hanging around federal parkland. They have detained people working as landscapers and construction workers and detained people as they take their children to school. They are showing up to MPD scenes to check people’s immigration status.
CM Parker shared that he was told that the low flying helicopters people had questions about last week were CBP helicopters.
We know that this far-reaching incursion is not limited to MPD though. Even though Trump’s “Crime Emergency in DC” executive order and the Home Rule Act speak to federal request of MPD services, Metro is “cooperating” with federal law enforcement and has permitted a mass presence of federal agents (e.g., HSI, FBI, IRS-CI, CBP) at Fort Totten station (and other stations) along with MPD and Metro Transit Police (MTPD) almost daily for the past two weeks.
CM Parker invites residents to share questions, thoughts, ideas, or concerns at ward5contact@dccouncil.gov or 202-724-8028.
Let’s continue to look out for one another.
At a community meeting on August 26, 2025, DC Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) and Department of General Services (DGS) presented an updated concept plan for the Riggs & South Dakota Park that will be located on the southwest corner of Riggs Road & South Dakota Avenue NE in Riggs Park.
Presentation: Riggs & South Dakota Park Community Meeting Presentation – August 26, 2025.
Project website: https://dgs.dc.gov/page/riggs-south-dakota-park1-0.
Instead of a straight path through the row of mature trees, there will be a plaza area on the corner of the green space at Riggs & South Dakota. The plaza will be buffered by plantings of evergreen shrubs. Two benches sit in front of the shrubbery to orient the gaze to the existing mature trees and open green space and a planting bed of native plants. The addition of two trees on the western and eastern edge of the plaza will eventually provide shade for the plaza. There will be two solar powered lights, waste/recycling receptacles, bike racks, and a park sign. Right now the design-build team is planning for brushed concrete for the plaza.
Public Art
The team requested ideas for community-driven public art. Most people seemed supportive of some type of vertical sculpture as opposed to something like a ground mural. Some ideas included having a more playable/interactive artistic element reminiscent of the LOVE sculpture in Philadelphia but perhaps spelling out “Riggs” or something to that effect.
The team suggested that the community come to a consensus about themes/inspiration for the art piece and have that incorporated into the design now because the money is available rather than waiting. Seems like something The Parks Main Street, Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association, and the ANCs can work together on.
Other Ideas
Residents requested a water fountain with bottle filler along with a spigot. The team stated they will need to determine whether there are already water pipes underneath the space. If there are not, building out infrastructure for water would be cost prohibitive.
The team asked about interest in a community garden club for the native plants but residents pointed out that without a water source, it would be difficult for residents to maintain plantings. Residents have asked for a hose bib from the very beginning. We know that the city will not do a good job of maintaining the planting areas given that the city does not do a good job of even mowing the grass on regular basis. So we really want to make sure that anything planted will be able to be maintained.
Commissioner Bocoum asked about having a sign directing people to walk their bikes through the plaza area.
The team stressed again that this is what the budget of $337,000 will support. Residents can certainly work down the line to request more tree plantings and work with the DC Council on funding for additional elements for the space.
Timeline
The new park should be substantially completed by the end of summer 2026.
Winter/Spring 2026: Finalize design
Spring 2026: Start Construction
Spring/Summer 2026: Substantial completion
Visit https://dpr.dc.gov/stakeholder to sign up to receive updates about this project.
For questions/concerns, contact Rasheed Jibreel at rasheed.jibreel@dc.gov or (202)-341-0158.
From North Michigan Park Civic Association
North Michigan Park Civic Association Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
VIRTUAL ONLY
Virtual Meeting
Meeting ID 882 7345 2110
Pass code 930240
Call In 1-301-715-8592
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88273452110?pwd=dmZ3R1liOTRKY1FyS3hlYlBqWnBWUT09
Meeting Agenda
· Call to Order
· Opening Prayer – Silent
· Roll Call of Officers
Meeting Protocol
Community Update
GUEST SPEAKERS
McDonalds Development
Eileen Seeburger, Construction Manager
Q & A Urban Atlantic (Boys Town Development)Victoria Davis Q & A
Community Leader Reports
If you missed Councilmember Zachary Parker’s Town Hall meeting last week, you could catch the recording and slides with the following link:
– https://youtube.com/watch?v=CZg0nm3Nox0
– https://zacharyparkerward5.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Ward-5-Town-Hall-on-Federal-Overreach.pdf
Community Concerns:
Open to residents
Adjourn
Councilmember Robert White is hosting informal conversations in each Ward while the Council is on recess this summer. He will be in Ward 5 tonight August 27, 5-6pm at Metrobar, located at 640 Rhode Island Avenue NE. Register: CM Robert White Summer Office Hours.
Michigan Park Christian Church, located at 1600 Taylor Street NE, is holding a Vintage Bazaar on September 27, 2025, 9:00am-4:00pm.
From ANC 5A02
SINGLE MEMBER DISTRCT 5A02 AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS
Boys Town Redevelopment Large Tract Review Neighborhood Meeting
The Urban Atlantic Development team will provide an update on the development status of the former Boys Town site on Sargent Road. Urban Atlantic has submitted a Large Tract Review application with the District’s Office of Planning for the development of 166 duplex homes, consistent with the existing R-2 zoning. The meeting will review the materials submitted with the application and offer an opportunity for community questions and comments.
Wednesday, September 10th 6:30 pm
Microsoft Teams
Link: Microsoft Teams Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 252 113 980 753 1
Passcode: MY9a5Ui2
Dial in by phone: 1 443-948-6064 Code: 682943271#
Phone conference ID: 682 943 271#
Join the DC Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) for the Jazz in the Park series Thursday August 28, 6pm-8pm, at North Michigan Park Rec. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy live music with neighbors.
Join Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker for a townhall on situational update on National Guard troops and federal agents in the District, along with resources for neighbors and an opportunity to ask questions.
Ward 5 Townhall on Federal Overreach
August 28, 2025
7:30 pm-8:30 pm
Register at ward5.us/townhall.
DPR Ward 5 Capital Projects Community Meeting
August 28, 2025
6:00 pm
Join the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) for an update on park/rec center construction projects in Ward 5.
Register for the meeting link at dpr.dc.gov/wardmeetings.
From DC Department of Parks & Recreation
Please join the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the DC Department of General Services (DGS) for a community meeting to discuss the initial designs for improvements to the triangle park at the intersection of Riggs Road & South Dakota Avenue NE.
Your attendance is greatly appreciated!
Meeting details:
Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Lamond Riggs Neighborhood Library – 5401 South Dakota Ave NE, Washington, DC 20011
Individuals needing special accommodations, please contact Rasheed Jibreel at rasheed.jibreel@dc.gov or by telephone at (202)-341-0158.
Additional websites for the Riggs and South Dakota Triangle Park project.
For more information and to RSVP, please visit:
https://riggsandsouthdakota.splashthat.com/.
To sign up for updates about this project, please visit
http://dpr.dc.gov/stakeholder.
For more information about the project, please visit:
From ANC Commissioner Danielle Geong (4B09):
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will begin alley paving on Monday, August 25, 2025, weather permitting, for the alley bounded by Nicholson St NE, Kensington Pl NE, Madison St NE and 6th St NE (Square 3740). Work will take approximately one week to complete, weather permitting.
Workdays are Monday through Saturday between the hours of 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Once the work begins, the areas under construction will be closed and parking will not be permitted. Pedestrians and vehicles will not have access to private property with entrances along the alley.
For questions or concerns contact DDOT at 301-634-4435 or by email at adil.rizvi@dc.gov.
See DDOT’s Notice for more information: DDOT Notice Alley Paving Nicholson-Kensington-Madison-6th NE.
Cafritz Foundation Children’s Festival – Back to School Bash & Pizza Party
Time: 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
Location: The Modern, 400 Galloway Street NE
Free and open to the community! The festival series is always a good time for the kids.
August 23rd – “Minecraft” Back to School Bash & Pizza Party
Enjoy some summer fun for the whole family! Join DC Fray & The Cafritz Foundation for an afternoon of inspiration + prizes as part of our community-centered Children’s Festival Event Series to provide supplies and get students and their families enthused about the upcoming schoolyear!
September 13th – Fall Carnival Experience
Ready to experience an amazing Carnival right in your own backyard? Come out and enjoy games, food, a live DJ, and loads of fun! There will even be a face painter on site! All as part of our community-centered Children’s Festival Event Series.
A local coffee pop up will offer hot and iced coffee and fresh roasted coffee beans for sale on Saturdays & Sundays, 8am-1pm, in front of One Life Fitness, 5198 South Dakota Avenue NE.
Every Friday from 4pm to 8pm, UDC CAUSES hosts a farmers market at UDC’s Lamond-Riggs campus, 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE. Enter parking lot off Galloway Street NE.
UDC is still accepting vendors for the market. If you are interested in vending, complete UDC’s Farmers Market Vendor Interest Form. For more info, contact the Farmers Market Manager Andy Blunk at andrew.blunk@udc.edu or call 202-274-7124.
For the first market on August 15, UDC had three food vendors along with a small produce stand. There was a nice turnout for the first market. I arrived at the market around 5:30ish. Some of the produce like tomatoes had already sold out. Chauna Price, the soil manager at UDC’s Lamond-Riggs urban food hub who oversees the stand, said that they hope to increase the produce offerings in the coming weeks.
The food vendors were pretty good, selling a variety of food like Peruvian dumplings and fried rice by Misky Wasy, empanadas and pastries by Sweet & Salty Bakery, and Colombian fruity treats by Fruity Side. It is nice to be able to pick up some eats and then walk across the street for the weekly Fridays at Fort Totten concert series at 6 pm.
Join your neighbors and support the new neighborhood farmers market at UDC Lamond-Riggs campus every Friday 4pm-8pm through December.
The Main Street Jazz Series continues on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM with a special performance by Christopher Prince.
Hosted by The Parks Main Street and presented by the Greater Washington Urban League.
Date: Thursday, August 21, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Neighborhood Library, 5401 South Dakota Avenue, NE
DPR Ward 4 Capital Projects Community Meeting
August 21, 2025
6:00 pm
Join the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) for an update on park/rec center construction projects in Ward 4.
Register for the meeting link at dpr.dc.gov/wardmeetings.
Yesterday, the office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George shared a recap of her town hall meeting providing resources for dealing with recent federal actions in DC.
—
From Office of CM Janeese Lewis George
Dear Neighbors,
On Friday evening, we held a Ward 4 town hall to discuss recent federal actions impacting District residents. Thank you to every neighbor who attended, asked questions, and joined us in learning how we can come together to support our community during this challenging time. For neighbors who weren’t able to make it, you can view the slide presentation and watch the full recording.
Over the last week, we’ve continued to hear concerns from neighbors about federal law enforcement activity in the District. As this presence continues in our communities, we have created an online form where neighbors can report and document any concerning incidents involving federal agents. Reports can be submitted anonymously and will be reviewed by our team.
As always, we remain a resource for neighbors’ questions and concerns.
Yours in service and solidarity,
—Team Janeese
Next Stop...Riggs Park 