The meeting NCHCA held on helping the Columbia Heights Dog Park, and the subsequent work which local dog park users/activists have achieved in setting up the Friends of Columbia Heights Dog Park group and in getting the ball rolling on this issue, made it into local blogs DCist:

 

A dog lays on a grate in the unofficial Columbia Heights Dog Park. Photo by jaimetre.

While the humans of Columbia Heights gather at Meridian Pint or Red Rocks, the neighborhood’s dogs get their social fix at a small piece of land near the popular eateries at the corner of 11th and Park streets NW. But unlike the street’s restaurants, the unofficial dog park is not so pleasant to look at.

The newly created Friends of Columbia Heights Dog Park group would like to make improvements to the popular spot, but need cooperation from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to do so, since the agency owns the land.

“The park is currently a bit of an eyesore, and we want to fix that, as well as a number of safety and sanitation issues, by putting down a different ground material, building a double-entry gate, closing up areas where small dogs can escape, and creating enforceable rules and norms,” Robyn Swirling, one of the group’s organizers, wrote in an email. “We’re totally willing to do all the work, but need guidance and input from [WMATA] to ensure they still have all the access they need to do what they do.”

The group is asking parties who agree with their mission to complete a survey to show support. Swirling said dog park improvements will be discussed at the June 10 meeting of the North Columbia Heights Civic Association, held at Trolley Turnaround Park.

 

 

and also New Columbia Heights:

Arf: residents working to fix up 11th and Park dog park, but WMATA needs to say OK

The 11th and Park dog park has long been a (semi-official) place to take Spuds, Fido and Rex to do their business and run around. However, the park, which is technically WMATA property but which has been open for dogs and their people, is a bit worse for the wear.

Some local residents are getting together to form a Friends of Columbia Heights Dog Park in order to work with WMATA and get some of the issues addressed. One of the groups organizers told DCist that they’re hoping to put down some new ground material, a new gate, closing small areas and creating enforceable rules.

“We’re totally willing to do all the work, but need guidance and input from [WMATA] to ensure they still have all the access they need to do what they do.”

The group also a quick survey on their website for community input.

They’ll be discussing the group at the June 10th meeting of the North Columbia Heights Civic Association, which will meet at the Trolley Turnaround Park (11th and and Monroe.)

The NCHCA held its monthly meeting last week with the specific focus on starting dialogue between neighbors of how to improve the dog park at 11th and Monroe.  About 15 people attended, including NCHCA board members, the Ward 1 Liaison from the DC Mayor’s Office, ANC, dog owners/dog park users and concerned citizens.  The biggest issues facing the dog park include:

1. Cleanliness – dog owners not picking up waste; smell
2. Noise – early in the morning
3. Safety – owners not able to control their dogs
4. Dust/mud in dog park, spilling over into sidewalk and area
5. Holes along fence; little dogs able to escape
6. No source of water
7. No lights source for night time use
8. No list of rules posted

Ideas discussed include: putting in shrubs and soil along the fence line to keep in dust/mud and keep little dogs from escaping; putting mulch, sand, or pebbles down on top of dirt ground; installing solar lights; having NCHCA host one of its bi-monthly clean-ups in the dog park; installing a list of dog park rules; and applying to make it an official DPW dog park.  However, the biggest obstacle first and foremost in our ability to move forward on this issue is that WMATA technically owns the land.  To this end, NCHCA is helping to form the Friends of Columbia Heights Dog Park, which is currently looking for people to get involved as board members and for people to sign a petition on their website.  NCHCA is also working with the DC Mayor’s Office to start dialogue with WMATA on this issue, they are meeting with Ward 1 Councilman Jim Graham on May 24 to discuss the issue, and NCHCA is using its next meeting (Monday June 10th, 7th at the Trolley Turnaround Park) to advance this cause.  Please add your signature to their cause and attend our next meeting to support helping the Columbia Heights Dog Park!

The North Columbia Heights Civic Association (NCHCA) has organized a forum to host the candidates running for the At-Large DC Council position. This candidates forum will occur this Wednesday, March 20th from 6:30pm-7:30pm on the second floor of The Getaway (1400 Meridian PL NW).

All of the candidates were invited and the NCHCA is proud to announce that Anita Bonds, Elissa Silverman, Matthew Frumin, and Perry Redd will be participating in this forum. Although unable to make the forum, Patrick Mara will be the guest speaker of the next NCHCA meeting in April to discuss his issues and ideas.  Come hear what these At-Large candidates have to say about why they are running for the DC Council and what their plans are for improving our community before the election (April 23)!

All,

Chck out goDCgo, the new sustainable transportation program of the District Department of Transportation: www.goDCgo.com

Their mission is to get people around DC efficiently and easily while reducing single-occupancy in order to reduce traffic and address environmental concerns. goDCgo promotes all forms of public transit, including Metrorail, Metrobus, DC Circulator, Capital Bikeshare, car sharing, bicycling, walking and carpooling; and they also provide free consulting services to local businesses and organizations on commuting benefits for their employees.

They also have a new tool called the Getting Around Guide that was just launched this week to help people see all of their options: http://godcgo.com/home/get-me-there/tools-to-get-around/getting-around-guide.aspx. We plan on having a goDCgo guest speaker at one of our upcoming NCHCA meetings to tell us more about this program and how Columbia Heights residents can take advantage of its use.