Hearst Playground story in Current

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No I don't d-bag.

Hearst is half a mile (a 7-8 minute walk in case you don't ever walk) from two Metro stations but on several major bus routes - now I'm sure you are one of those Ward 3 residents who thinks public transit begins and ends with Metrorail but as many DC residents ride the bus every day as take Metro, including in Ward 3, so I can assure you the bus is public transit.

I'm walking distance to Wilson but it is an indoor pool so that is an irrelevant reference but perhaps you've never been there as well - if you are Hearst neighbor that would hardly be a surprise.

And no way can I get to Volta in 15 minutes and I know because my sons had years of Little League games there and we always left 30 minutes before the games - 20 minutes of driving and an extra 10 minutes to find parking and that is on the weekend and Volta is far less accessible to public transportation as it is several blocks from Wisconsin.

And your other attempts at shrinking the Ward are also inaccurate and irrelevant - what relevance is the trip time from one corner of Ward 3 to the other? The relevant measure is how convenient is the proposed pool to as many DC residents as possible and Hearst is a great location for the Ward and even residents from other parts of the city.

But the more important point is I want an outdoor pool in my neighborhood that my now older kids can get to on their own relatively quickly and where they can meet up with their friends from the neighborhood. The private school crowd from CP that is fighting this probably has zero sense of that because their kids gather by social class and not neighborhood but lots of us in Ward 3 would like to have some outdoor spaces in our neighborhood where our kids can conveniently congregate in the summer.

I should have realized your m.o., with the first line of your line of your invective, but trying to dismiss those who want to save Hearst as the "private school crowd from CP" is not only divisive, it's inaccurate. (Admittedly a naked resort to "class" resentment is perhaps the best one can do, as it's hard to play the DC race card when the appeal is for a Ward 3 pool!) In fact, because no one has come forward with even preliminary a site plan, Hearst school parents, as much if not more than the "private school crowd," are concerned that a pool might be built too close to the school yard or that the upper playground will be lost.

I have yet to hear a single Hearst school parent express concern that they might get an outdoor pool. Some would like a portion of the money to provide some shade for the upper playground, and some to help fix up the historic DPR cottage. But if there are folks railing against the pool, they are pretty quiet.

Hearst parent here. The school parents as a group are focusing on safety and upper playground issues b/c the pool is divisive and not relevant to the school community. but there are many parents that are anti-pool and many that are pro-pool and part of other groups. I'm happy to advocate for shade and other issues as part of my school community. But I'm 100 percent opposed to the pool and losing the field and tennis courts. Our family uses them most weekends. For us, it makes sense not to have a pool. For others, it makes sense to have it. It would be great if Mary Cheh and DPR and DGS could finally show documentation and move one way or the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's also indoor.

But it's also available year-round. It seems boneheaded to lose a playing field that is used 7 0r 8 months out of the year, as well as tennis courts that are used almost as long, for a facility that will be open (assuming adequate operating funding year to year) at most 3 months out of the year.

I don't live near Hearst so I don't really have a dog in the fight, but as a rational person I am annoyed by the argument that there has to be a pool at Hearst because there is no "outdoor pool" in "Ward 3." Indoor pools are adequate substitutes for outdoor pools. Ward boundaries are imaginary lines. It's the kind of argument you come up with if you start with the conclusion and then work backwards developing reasons.

Not to mention that with the relatively large population growth in Ward 2 over the past several years, the next ward realignment could well result in Ward 3's boundary being moved slightly south. So Jelleff might shift from Ward 2 to Ward 3, and Ward 3 will wind up with its own swimming pool after all. And basically cost free!

"Wow this is maybe the dumbest argument against a pool yet in this thread - maybe DC will be retroceeded to MD too. The point isn't to have an outdoor pool in each ward - the point is to have a pool that everyone can easily get to. Sure if you live in the southern part of Ward 3 you are sort of close to Volta today but most of Ward 3 is nowhere close to Volta or any other public swimming pools. If you live in Ward 3 you should not have to spend 50 minutes on public transportation or 25 minutes in a car getting to a DC Public swimming pool - you should have one in your neighborhood like most other DC residents have.

"


Hey "wow" you suck at math, map reading and logic. If the point isn't about getting an outdoor pool in each ward...then let's stop the discussion now. Where in Ward 3 do you live that is more than 15 minutes from Wilson and not less than 10 minutes from Volta or Jelleff. I just checked Google maps and you can drive - during rush hour - from the GDS lower school campus at the bottom of Ward 3 to Broad Branch and Western at the top of Ward 3 in 21 minutes. It's impossible to argue that Hearst is more assessable to public transportation than Wilson since it is almost a mile from any Metro stop including Cleveland Park, T-Town and Van Ness. The front door to the Wilson Pool is literally three minutes from the T-Town metro. The 30 and H buses which serve Hearst also serve Wilson.

No I don't d-bag.

Hearst is half a mile (a 7-8 minute walk in case you don't ever walk) from two Metro stations but on several major bus routes - now I'm sure you are one of those Ward 3 residents who thinks public transit begins and ends with Metrorail but as many DC residents ride the bus every day as take Metro, including in Ward 3, so I can assure you the bus is public transit.

I'm walking distance to Wilson but it is an indoor pool so that is an irrelevant reference but perhaps you've never been there as well - if you are Hearst neighbor that would hardly be a surprise.

And no way can I get to Volta in 15 minutes and I know because my sons had years of Little League games there and we always left 30 minutes before the games - 20 minutes of driving and an extra 10 minutes to find parking and that is on the weekend and Volta is far less accessible to public transportation as it is several blocks from Wisconsin.

And your other attempts at shrinking the Ward are also inaccurate and irrelevant - what relevance is the trip time from one corner of Ward 3 to the other? The relevant measure is how convenient is the proposed pool to as many DC residents as possible and Hearst is a great location for the Ward and even residents from other parts of the city.

But the more important point is I want an outdoor pool in my neighborhood that my now older kids can get to on their own relatively quickly and where they can meet up with their friends from the neighborhood. The private school crowd from CP that is fighting this probably has zero sense of that because their kids gather by social class and not neighborhood but lots of us in Ward 3 would like to have some outdoor spaces in our neighborhood where our kids can conveniently congregate in the summer.

1. Hearst is actually .8 miles from nearby CP and TT Metros
2. Do you really walk a mile in 14/15 minutes - that's a pretty brisk pace
3. I mentioned both the H and 30 buses in my post - repeating here, both bus lines serve Hearst AND Wilson. I know because I have taken them my entire life.
4. The relevance of the time to drive across Ward 3 is that it shows the false premise that Ward 3 is this vast expanse that is difficult to traverse. Francis Pool is a 20 minute drive from Chevy Chase circle. Banneker pools is also about 20 minutes from CC circle.
5. You are just flat out exaggerating/lying about the "20 minute drive" to Volta. You live near Hearst - you stated that in your post.
6. "But the more important point is I want an outdoor pool in my neighborhood" At least you are honest about your selfish outlook (You actually don't care about the rest of Ward 3.)
7. "The private school crowd from CP that is fighting this probably has zero sense of that because their kids gather by social class and not neighborhood" In addition to being selfish, you are also bitter and have a huge chip on your shoulder.

[Anonymous]

There is no time, except maybe an early Sunday morning, when one could drive from Chevy Chase Circle to Frances in 20 minutes. Total BS.

It informs the rest of your so-called facts and opinions.

[Anonymous]

There is no time, except maybe an early Sunday morning, when one could drive from Chevy Chase Circle to Frances in 20 minutes. Total BS.

It informs the rest of your so-called facts and opinions.

My guestimate is backed up by Google maps, the 5-mile trip from Chevy Chase Circle to Francis via Reno Road would take 21 minutes leaving now.

[Anonymous]

MapQuest also says 20 minutes cc to Francis

[Anonymous]

Waze says the drive, leaving now, from CC Circle to Francis pool would take 17 minutes

[Anonymous]

Whatever. There's been no compelling rationale put forward to justify cementing over half of a lovely, shady park and losing some combination of well-utilized facilities like the soccer field, the tennis courts and the playground.

[Anonymous]

2.2 mile drive from Hearst School to Volta would is 10 minutes according to Google maps

Waze says 9 minutes

MapQuest says ten minutes in current "Heavy" traffic.

You said it takes you 20 minutes? And I'm the "d-bag?"

Liar, liar pants on fire.

[Anonymous]

DC Parks and Rec posted on Twitter today:

#Ward3 #Hearst community, join us & @dcdgs on Thurs., Sept 8 for a park & pool design community meeting.

7-9pm Chevy Chase Community Center

See for more info:

https://twitter.com/DCDPR/status/768496250723377152

If no one who has posted on this thread attends, it should be a civil and productive community meeting!

--Tennis- and soccer-loving ward 3 resident who would prefer no pool at Hearst but who is nonetheless open to hearing about potential designs since not everyone agrees with my own personal preferences.

[Anonymous]

LOL at the Chevy Chase Center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL at the Chevy Chase Center.

Yes, Hearst School would have been better. It seems like a pretty transparent ploy by DPR to shape its audience -- hold it in an neighborhood where most people are not regular users of the park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC Parks and Rec posted on Twitter today:

#Ward3 #Hearst community, join us & @dcdgs on Thurs., Sept 8 for a park & pool design community meeting.

7-9pm Chevy Chase Community Center

See for more info:

https://twitter.com/DCDPR/status/768496250723377152

If no one who has posted on this thread attends, it should be a civil and productive community meeting!

--Tennis- and soccer-loving ward 3 resident who would prefer no pool at Hearst but who is nonetheless open to hearing about potential designs since not everyone agrees with my own personal preferences.

why on earth is this at the CCH community center?

[Anonymous]

Because there are going to be A LOT of people there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL at the Chevy Chase Center.

Yes, Hearst School would have been better. It seems like a pretty transparent ploy by DPR to shape its audience -- hold it in an neighborhood where most people are not regular users of the park.

Or maybe they want to put it in a neighborhood where no one has access to a public outdoor pool - this is after all a DPR facility that is supposed to serve the entire city - I realize the immediate neighbors don't get that and probably never will.

Anyone who has ever dealt with DPR would not give them credit for having the capability to conspire to do anything - DPR does have an Office in the CCCC so I presume that is why they chose this location but FWIW I think it would have been better to schedule this meeting somewhere more central like Wilson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL at the Chevy Chase Center.

Yes, Hearst School would have been better. It seems like a pretty transparent ploy by DPR to shape its audience -- hold it in an neighborhood where most people are not regular users of the park.

Or maybe they want to put it in a neighborhood where no one has access to a public outdoor pool - this is after all a DPR facility that is supposed to serve the entire city - I realize the immediate neighbors don't get that and probably never will.

Anyone who has ever dealt with DPR would not give them credit for having the capability to conspire to do anything - DPR does have an Office in the CCCC so I presume that is why they chose this location but FWIW I think it would have been better to schedule this meeting somewhere more central like Wilson.

True. But if Cheh proposed to build the pool at the Chevy Chase playground or in Forest Hills (ok, which is unlikely, as that's Cheh's neighborhood), neighbors would have been showing up with pitchforks.