Hains Point

[Anonymous]

We visited at the weekend. The concrete boardwalks are cracked and falling into the river. The picnic tables are rotting and falling apart. Are there any plans for repairs, does anyone know?

[Anonymous]

That's the case with a few other Park Service parks in DC... Funding issues?

[Anonymous]

Funding and staffing issues. The National Capital area has a huge variety of parks and historic sites to maintain, so the ones that are essentially for locals get neglected. If you have limited resources, are you going to fix the boat ramp at Hains Point or are you going to repair Arlington House?

The Park Service is very open to working with “Friends of” groups, so that could be a place to start. Friends of the Mt Vernon Trail would probably know if there is something in the works for that area.

[Anonymous]

Hains Point needs millions of dollars to just to address backlog of issues, including the sea wall which probably needs to be rebuilt in a lot of places. But the park is off the beaten path (ie not the Mall) so its not a priority for NPS.

[Anonymous]

All those republicans in congress refuse to fund the Natural Parks. It’s why the mall and surrounding area looks so run down.

[Anonymous]

I like how “gritty” it is.

[Anonymous]

East Potomac Park is made from mud dredged from the Potomac so it is always sinking. The sidewalks have been unusable for decades even when not literally underwater. So people walk in the road. Now they will follow the peoples lead and restripe part of the road into a shared walk and bike path.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/bicycle-lane-redesign-around-hains-point-to-come-sometime-this-summer/ar-AA1a8LaP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funding and staffing issues. The National Capital area has a huge variety of parks and historic sites to maintain, so the ones that are essentially for locals get neglected. If you have limited resources, are you going to fix the boat ramp at Hains Point or are you going to repair Arlington House?

The Park Service is very open to working with “Friends of” groups, so that could be a place to start. Friends of the Mt Vernon Trail would probably know if there is something in the works for that area.

OP, if you start a friends of group, please post it here! I would love it if Hains point could become more useable.

[Anonymous]

Hains Point is a DC treasure and should be cleaned up, repaired, and upgraded in multiple ways. Perhaps, DC Govt should offer some financial support as the main users of Hains Point are DC residents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All those republicans in congress refuse to fund the Natural Parks. It’s why the mall and surrounding area looks so run down.

Yes, “all those republicans” who have been in the majority for about four months now are the reason why the mall and surrounding area looks so run down!

[Anonymous]

I just wish that so much of East Potomac Park wasn't given over to golf. 36 holes in such a prime location is ridiculous, especially when there are two other full courses inside the city. It means that only a tiny fraction of residents get anything out of the park other than picnicing at the point.

What if we took back 18 holes and converted it into something like an outdoor concert venue? Could also be used for an improved DC State Fair, night markets, and other events that need open space but aren't well suited for the Mall. The park would have many more users than it does now, and it would also mean more tax revenue for the city. Plus, with more and better funded partner organizations, they'd be more likely to find money to fix up the seawall issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just wish that so much of East Potomac Park wasn't given over to golf. 36 holes in such a prime location is ridiculous, especially when there are two other full courses inside the city. It means that only a tiny fraction of residents get anything out of the park other than picnicing at the point.

What if we took back 18 holes and converted it into something like an outdoor concert venue? Could also be used for an improved DC State Fair, night markets, and other events that need open space but aren't well suited for the Mall. The park would have many more users than it does now, and it would also mean more tax revenue for the city. Plus, with more and better funded partner organizations, they'd be more likely to find money to fix up the seawall issues.

DC already has places to hold these other events, including the National Mall which has held a few reasonably well known over the decades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just wish that so much of East Potomac Park wasn't given over to golf. 36 holes in such a prime location is ridiculous, especially when there are two other full courses inside the city. It means that only a tiny fraction of residents get anything out of the park other than picnicing at the point.

What if we took back 18 holes and converted it into something like an outdoor concert venue? Could also be used for an improved DC State Fair, night markets, and other events that need open space but aren't well suited for the Mall. The park would have many more users than it does now, and it would also mean more tax revenue for the city. Plus, with more and better funded partner organizations, they'd be more likely to find money to fix up the seawall issues.

How about Texas ship 500,000 asylum seekers to Hains Point and they build their own sanctuary city.

[Anonymous]

As a federal facility East Potomac (like the mall) does not allow corporate sponsorship/signage etc.. The events you mention are driven by the kind of sponsorship support that is forbidden on the mall and in the parks. That's the very reason they shut down PA Avenue for events, because that space is owned by the city and you only hav etc deal with DC fire and police, instead of wholly separate police forces that get paid for events. Eleanor Holmes Norton has tried for years to get both Langston and East Potomac to be turned over to the city for renovation and upgrading, though her plan was to turn both courses into world class (ie expensive) golf designed to attract visitors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All those republicans in congress refuse to fund the Natural Parks. It’s why the mall and surrounding area looks so run down.

Yes, “all those republicans” who have been in the majority for about four months now are the reason why the mall and surrounding area looks so run down!

If it’s this bad after just four months I can’t even imagine how bad it will be in another year. There might not even BE a Haines Point by next year.