Hearst Playground story in Current

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff, this is really a parks question and not a schools discussion. Should it be moved?

It seems to straddle both, because any re-do of the Hearst playground to include a pool is likely to involve some use of the school grounds -- whether that is moving the basketball court or designing accessible access from the school parking lot.

I highly doubt that it will involve any use of the school grounds. The school grounds are now mostly taken up with the school itself and the parking lot. The playground is all DPR even though it is used by the school. All that said, I think the discussion is germane to the school (and looking at the forum index, I don't see a "parks and rec" forum) so why not have it here?

In the end, having a pool will mean giving up something else -- tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball diamond, just open green space. Someone will be unhappy and some folks will be happy. My own sense is that the pool will be expensive, and the real hurdle will be the city coming up with the money to build it and then maintain it.

If that's true, that the playground is all owned by DRP not DCPS, that gives DPR more flexibility to play with in deciding to locate the pool. Alternatively, the little kids playground might be moved onto the school property, freeing up space on the upper terrace of DPR land for a pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff, this is really a parks question and not a schools discussion. Should it be moved?

It seems to straddle both, because any re-do of the Hearst playground to include a pool is likely to involve some use of the school grounds -- whether that is moving the basketball court or designing accessible access from the school parking lot.

I highly doubt that it will involve any use of the school grounds. The school grounds are now mostly taken up with the school itself and the parking lot. The playground is all DPR even though it is used by the school. All that said, I think the discussion is germane to the school (and looking at the forum index, I don't see a "parks and rec" forum) so why not have it here?

In the end, having a pool will mean giving up something else -- tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball diamond, just open green space. Someone will be unhappy and some folks will be happy. My own sense is that the pool will be expensive, and the real hurdle will be the city coming up with the money to build it and then maintain it.

If that's true, that the playground is all owned by DPR not DCPS, that gives DPR more flexibility to play with in deciding to locate the pool. Alternatively, the little kids playground might be moved onto the school property, freeing up space on the upper terrace of DPR land for a pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff, this is really a parks question and not a schools discussion. Should it be moved?

It seems to straddle both, because any re-do of the Hearst playground to include a pool is likely to involve some use of the school grounds -- whether that is moving the basketball court or designing accessible access from the school parking lot.

I highly doubt that it will involve any use of the school grounds. The school grounds are now mostly taken up with the school itself and the parking lot. The playground is all DPR even though it is used by the school. All that said, I think the discussion is germane to the school (and looking at the forum index, I don't see a "parks and rec" forum) so why not have it here?

In the end, having a pool will mean giving up something else -- tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball diamond, just open green space. Someone will be unhappy and some folks will be happy. My own sense is that the pool will be expensive, and the real hurdle will be the city coming up with the money to build it and then maintain it.

If that's true, that the playground is all owned by DRP not DCPS, that gives DPR more flexibility to play with in deciding to locate the pool. Alternatively, the little kids playground might be moved onto the school property, freeing up space on the upper terrace of DPR land for a pool.

I guess, but the DCPS land has no real space to put the little kids playground. I suspect that the only place on the upper terrace that could house the pool would be the basketball courts. The advantage of that would be that it would be close to the DPR cottage, which presumably would hold some changing rooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I highly doubt that it will involve any use of the school grounds. The school grounds are now mostly taken up with the school itself and the parking lot. The playground is all DPR even though it is used by the school. All that said, I think the discussion is germane to the school (and looking at the forum index, I don't see a "parks and rec" forum) so why not have it here?

In the end, having a pool will mean giving up something else -- tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball diamond, just open green space. Someone will be unhappy and some folks will be happy. My own sense is that the pool will be expensive, and the real hurdle will be the city coming up with the money to build it and then maintain it.

The money has already been identified and dedicated, so for the capital cost, it isn't an issue. In terms of operational, that is what our taxes cover, and for once, Ward 3 will get a little of its annual payments back in the form of the service around the pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I highly doubt that it will involve any use of the school grounds. The school grounds are now mostly taken up with the school itself and the parking lot. The playground is all DPR even though it is used by the school. All that said, I think the discussion is germane to the school (and looking at the forum index, I don't see a "parks and rec" forum) so why not have it here?

In the end, having a pool will mean giving up something else -- tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball diamond, just open green space. Someone will be unhappy and some folks will be happy. My own sense is that the pool will be expensive, and the real hurdle will be the city coming up with the money to build it and then maintain it.

The money has already been identified and dedicated, so for the capital cost, it isn't an issue. In terms of operational, that is what our taxes cover, and for once, Ward 3 will get a little of its annual payments back in the form of the service around the pool.

It's not like DPR has done a stellar job in maintaining the pool at Wilson, not to mention the number of thefts that occur there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I highly doubt that it will involve any use of the school grounds. The school grounds are now mostly taken up with the school itself and the parking lot. The playground is all DPR even though it is used by the school. All that said, I think the discussion is germane to the school (and looking at the forum index, I don't see a "parks and rec" forum) so why not have it here?

In the end, having a pool will mean giving up something else -- tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball diamond, just open green space. Someone will be unhappy and some folks will be happy. My own sense is that the pool will be expensive, and the real hurdle will be the city coming up with the money to build it and then maintain it.

The money has already been identified and dedicated, so for the capital cost, it isn't an issue. In terms of operational, that is what our taxes cover, and for once, Ward 3 will get a little of its annual payments back in the form of the service around the pool.

My understanding is that the money that has been earmarked is for mostly planning and design. Additional money would have to be found to actually do the work. I could be wrong though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff, this is really a parks question and not a schools discussion. Should it be moved?

It seems to straddle both, because any re-do of the Hearst playground to include a pool is likely to involve some use of the school grounds -- whether that is moving the basketball court or designing accessible access from the school parking lot.

I highly doubt that it will involve any use of the school grounds. The school grounds are now mostly taken up with the school itself and the parking lot. The playground is all DPR even though it is used by the school. All that said, I think the discussion is germane to the school (and looking at the forum index, I don't see a "parks and rec" forum) so why not have it here?

In the end, having a pool will mean giving up something else -- tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball diamond, just open green space. Someone will be unhappy and some folks will be happy. My own sense is that the pool will be expensive, and the real hurdle will be the city coming up with the money to build it and then maintain it.

If that's true, that the playground is all owned by DRP not DCPS, that gives DPR more flexibility to play with in deciding to locate the pool. Alternatively, the little kids playground might be moved onto the school property, freeing up space on the upper terrace of DPR land for a pool.

I guess, but the DCPS land has no real space to put the little kids playground. I suspect that the only place on the upper terrace that could house the pool would be the basketball courts. The advantage of that would be that it would be close to the DPR cottage, which presumably would hold some changing rooms.

This makes the most sense. The basketball courts are the easiest thing to relocate and are more easily fungible.

[Anonymous]

There have been some recent public meetings on this. DPR states that they plan to re-do the large playing field, reconstruct the tennis courts, and add a pool with a pool house. This sounds great, but it's hard to figure out how they will make it all fit on the existing site. Does anyone know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There have been some recent public meetings on this. DPR states that they plan to re-do the large playing field, reconstruct the tennis courts, and add a pool with a pool house. This sounds great, but it's hard to figure out how they will make it all fit on the existing site. Does anyone know?

Hopefully more people in favor of the pool will go to the coming meetings. I imagine many families with children are not able to go to an evening meeting. Will there be more survey opportunities online?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There have been some recent public meetings on this. DPR states that they plan to re-do the large playing field, reconstruct the tennis courts, and add a pool with a pool house. This sounds great, but it's hard to figure out how they will make it all fit on the existing site. Does anyone know?

Hopefully more people in favor of the pool will go to the coming meetings. I imagine many families with children are not able to go to an evening meeting. Will there be more survey opportunities online?

It's amazing how Mary Cheh continues to push this despite the intense opposition from the neighbors and the area around the field. This is her sword to fall on. Where exactly will all of these items go? If DPR could just keep the Wilson facilities actually working, families could swim there and still play tennis and soccer and ultimate frisbee and T-ball and little league at the Hearst Park. Keep our green space exactly that - green. And given all of the oversight issues with DGS, it seems no plans should be going forward until hard budget vs. needs questions are asked and answered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There have been some recent public meetings on this. DPR states that they plan to re-do the large playing field, reconstruct the tennis courts, and add a pool with a pool house. This sounds great, but it's hard to figure out how they will make it all fit on the existing site. Does anyone know?

Hopefully more people in favor of the pool will go to the coming meetings. I imagine many families with children are not able to go to an evening meeting. Will there be more survey opportunities online?

It's amazing how Mary Cheh continues to push this despite the intense opposition from the neighbors and the area around the field. This is her sword to fall on. Where exactly will all of these items go? If DPR could just keep the Wilson facilities actually working, families could swim there and still play tennis and soccer and ultimate frisbee and T-ball and little league at the Hearst Park. Keep our green space exactly that - green. And given all of the oversight issues with DGS, it seems no plans should be going forward until hard budget vs. needs questions are asked and answered.

Not all neighbors are opposed. The people who came out to the meeting were the ones who felt strongly about it but just about everyone I talk to in the neighborhood likes the idea, they just aren't passionate enough about it to attend an evening meeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There have been some recent public meetings on this. DPR states that they plan to re-do the large playing field, reconstruct the tennis courts, and add a pool with a pool house. This sounds great, but it's hard to figure out how they will make it all fit on the existing site. Does anyone know?

Hopefully more people in favor of the pool will go to the coming meetings. I imagine many families with children are not able to go to an evening meeting. Will there be more survey opportunities online?

It's amazing how Mary Cheh continues to push this despite the intense opposition from the neighbors and the area around the field. This is her sword to fall on. Where exactly will all of these items go? If DPR could just keep the Wilson facilities actually working, families could swim there and still play tennis and soccer and ultimate frisbee and T-ball and little league at the Hearst Park. Keep our green space exactly that - green. And given all of the oversight issues with DGS, it seems no plans should be going forward until hard budget vs. needs questions are asked and answered.

Plenty of green space in Ward 3, but no outdoor pool. I can understand the NIMBY feelings though - I wouldn't want to live across the street from it either.

[Anonymous]

Many Ward 3 residents would be very happy to get a pool. Yes, Wilson has a pool but it is an INDOOR pool. Having an outdoor pool nearby would be fantastic for everyone. DC is HOT in the summer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many Ward 3 residents would be very happy to get a pool. Yes, Wilson has a pool but it is an INDOOR pool. Having an outdoor pool nearby would be fantastic for everyone. DC is HOT in the summer!

+1,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many Ward 3 residents would be very happy to get a pool. Yes, Wilson has a pool but it is an INDOOR pool. Having an outdoor pool nearby would be fantastic for everyone. DC is HOT in the summer!

We could all stop shlepping to the pools in MD. Yea!