Hearst Playground story in Current

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There absolutely needs to be an outdoor pool in Ward 3, and the Hearst site is centrally located, easily accessible and walkable for thousands of families.

Put it in the corner by the blacktop of the tennis courts along with the changing area/bathrooms. This shouldn't be too hard and the few people who live right there ought not be able to trump the needs and wishes of the many.

Has a survey really shown these "wishes of the many?" I live in ward 3 but am perfectly happy using one of the very close pools in Ward 2: Volta and Jelleff. My kids and I take the bus to these all summer; they are both on the very same bus route as Hearst, just 2 miles or a 10-15 min bus ride away. I would prefer to keep Hearst for the many soccer teams and tennis players who have inadequate space as it is. In fact, I would love to see some basic maintenance done on both the soccer field, which is a dust pit, and the tennis courts. Have no faith at all that the city wouldn't destroy the field in creating the pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a separate DPR aftercare, not the school aftercare.

That's strange. Why would DPR be running a separate after-care, particularly in a substandard building?

That's what DPR does.

It's free. The regular aftercare is $300/month

It's for the Maryland kids.

The ones whose nannies/grandparents/foster parents/caregivers/family friends drop them off and pick them up every day in a MD car, while the kids "really" reside in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There absolutely needs to be an outdoor pool in Ward 3, and the Hearst site is centrally located, easily accessible and walkable for thousands of families.

Put it in the corner by the blacktop of the tennis courts along with the changing area/bathrooms. This shouldn't be too hard and the few people who live right there ought not be able to trump the needs and wishes of the many.

1. You say that the site is "walkable for thousands of families." How does that square with citing "the few who live right there"?

2. DC has a system of neighborhood parks -- e.g., Palisades, Friendship/Chevy Chase, Macomb, "Turtle" Park, etc. While each is open to all and serve a broader community through use of fields by sports teams and so forth, they also serve fundamentally neighborhood-oriented needs as well. Shouldn't the views of those who regularly use the fields or the tennis courts or just enjoy sitting under a large, shady tree be given some distinct weight as well? I don't notice the frequent users of the above parks clamoring to sacrifice recreational features of their neighborhood parks for a large ward pool. It's very easy to be a YIMBY -- "Yes, in your back yard!" -- when someone else is impacted or is forced to sacrifice what is important to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There absolutely needs to be an outdoor pool in Ward 3, and the Hearst site is centrally located, easily accessible and walkable for thousands of families.

Put it in the corner by the blacktop of the tennis courts along with the changing area/bathrooms. This shouldn't be too hard and the few people who live right there ought not be able to trump the needs and wishes of the many.

1. You say that the site is "walkable for thousands of families." How does that square with citing "the few who live right there"?

2. DC has a system of neighborhood parks -- e.g., Palisades, Friendship/Chevy Chase, Macomb, "Turtle" Park, etc. While each is open to all and serve a broader community through use of fields by sports teams and so forth, they also serve fundamentally neighborhood-oriented needs as well. Shouldn't the views of those who regularly use the fields or the tennis courts or just enjoy sitting under a large, shady tree be given some distinct weight as well? I don't notice the frequent users of the above parks clamoring to sacrifice recreational features of their neighborhood parks for a large ward pool. It's very easy to be a YIMBY -- "Yes, in your back yard!" -- when someone else is impacted or is forced to sacrifice what is important to them.

YIYBY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There absolutely needs to be an outdoor pool in Ward 3, and the Hearst site is centrally located, easily accessible and walkable for thousands of families.

Put it in the corner by the blacktop of the tennis courts along with the changing area/bathrooms. This shouldn't be too hard and the few people who live right there ought not be able to trump the needs and wishes of the many.

Has a survey really shown these "wishes of the many?" I live in ward 3 but am perfectly happy using one of the very close pools in Ward 2: Volta and Jelleff. My kids and I take the bus to these all summer; they are both on the very same bus route as Hearst, just 2 miles or a 10-15 min bus ride away. I would prefer to keep Hearst for the many soccer teams and tennis players who have inadequate space as it is. In fact, I would love to see some basic maintenance done on both the soccer field, which is a dust pit, and the tennis courts. Have no faith at all that the city wouldn't destroy the field in creating the pool.

This. The whole "Ward 3 has no pool" logic makes no sense. It's not like there are border crossings we have to go through to change wards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The pool should go in the corner over by the tennis courts. They need to renovate/expand/modernize the Hearst Rec facility! That cottage is historic but it is too small and hazardous, cramped bathrooms & too small inside in winter for the 60 kids that use it for aftercare during the school year. They need to put the safety of the kids FIRST. The Rec kids go to Hearst but were not allowed to use the gym to exercise in winter because DCPS/Rec can't manage to cooperate in a timely manner.

The first priority of Hearst Park, like all other DC parks, should be to serve the needs of the immediately surrounding community. The Hearst Rec aftercare program doesn't really serve neighborhood kids, so it's unfair that heavily used local amenities like the tennis courts be sacrificed for an after care use that could easily be carried on at a different location.

What about neighborhoods that don't have parks? DC DPR doesn't have enough parks to treat them as neighborhood parks. You need to share.

[Anonymous]

If a Ward 3 pool is truly needed, why not consider the vacant land directly across Fort Drive/parking lot from Alice Deal middle school and outside Ft Reno Park? It's car and Metro accessible, walking distance from existing schools and rec facilities (including the all-weather Wilson pool), more centrally located in Ward 3 and wouldn't sacrifice any school or park facilities like sports fields, tennis courts or playgrounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The pool should go in the corner over by the tennis courts. They need to renovate/expand/modernize the Hearst Rec facility! That cottage is historic but it is too small and hazardous, cramped bathrooms & too small inside in winter for the 60 kids that use it for aftercare during the school year. They need to put the safety of the kids FIRST. The Rec kids go to Hearst but were not allowed to use the gym to exercise in winter because DCPS/Rec can't manage to cooperate in a timely manner.

The first priority of Hearst Park, like all other DC parks, should be to serve the needs of the immediately surrounding community. The Hearst Rec aftercare program doesn't really serve neighborhood kids, so it's unfair that heavily used local amenities like the tennis courts be sacrificed for an after care use that could easily be carried on at a different location.

What about neighborhoods that don't have parks? DC DPR doesn't have enough parks to treat them as neighborhood parks. You need to share.

Not really an issue in Ward 3. And Hearst Park is very shared/used: the field gets constant use on the weekends and the tennis courts are heavily used as well. Sharing is good. Sacrificing existing recreational facilities, not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a Ward 3 pool is truly needed, why not consider the vacant land directly across Fort Drive/parking lot from Alice Deal middle school and outside Ft Reno Park? It's car and Metro accessible, walking distance from existing schools and rec facilities (including the all-weather Wilson pool), more centrally located in Ward 3 and wouldn't sacrifice any school or park facilities like sports fields, tennis courts or playgrounds.

It would be a great location, but that's all National Park Service land, not DC land.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a Ward 3 pool is truly needed, why not consider the vacant land directly across Fort Drive/parking lot from Alice Deal middle school and outside Ft Reno Park? It's car and Metro accessible, walking distance from existing schools and rec facilities (including the all-weather Wilson pool), more centrally located in Ward 3 and wouldn't sacrifice any school or park facilities like sports fields, tennis courts or playgrounds.

It would be a great location, but that's all National Park Service land, not DC land.

If you look at the map, the referenced property isn't part of Fort Reno park. But there are lots and lots of DC facilities on NPS or other federally owned land: RFK stadium, parts of the UDC campus and even the Murch school playground. Using unused federal land (if it is that) may not be the most expedient course, but it's clearly possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a Ward 3 pool is truly needed, why not consider the vacant land directly across Fort Drive/parking lot from Alice Deal middle school and outside Ft Reno Park? It's car and Metro accessible, walking distance from existing schools and rec facilities (including the all-weather Wilson pool), more centrally located in Ward 3 and wouldn't sacrifice any school or park facilities like sports fields, tennis courts or playgrounds.

National Park Service owns/controls that space. Non-starter for a DC pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There absolutely needs to be an outdoor pool in Ward 3, and the Hearst site is centrally located, easily accessible and walkable for thousands of families.

Put it in the corner by the blacktop of the tennis courts along with the changing area/bathrooms. This shouldn't be too hard and the few people who live right there ought not be able to trump the needs and wishes of the many.

Has a survey really shown these "wishes of the many?" I live in ward 3 but am perfectly happy using one of the very close pools in Ward 2: Volta and Jelleff. My kids and I take the bus to these all summer; they are both on the very same bus route as Hearst, just 2 miles or a 10-15 min bus ride away. I would prefer to keep Hearst for the many soccer teams and tennis players who have inadequate space as it is. In fact, I would love to see some basic maintenance done on both the soccer field, which is a dust pit, and the tennis courts. Have no faith at all that the city wouldn't destroy the field in creating the pool.

This. The whole "Ward 3 has no pool" logic makes no sense. It's not like there are border crossings we have to go through to change wards.

Why should every other neighborhood and ward in the city have multiple outdoor pool options while Ward 3 has non? We pay taxes too and should have the same convenient amenities as other residents city wide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a Ward 3 pool is truly needed, why not consider the vacant land directly across Fort Drive/parking lot from Alice Deal middle school and outside Ft Reno Park? It's car and Metro accessible, walking distance from existing schools and rec facilities (including the all-weather Wilson pool), more centrally located in Ward 3 and wouldn't sacrifice any school or park facilities like sports fields, tennis courts or playgrounds.

National Park Service owns/controls that space. Non-starter for a DC pool.

But see the posting above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Has a survey really shown these "wishes of the many?" I live in ward 3 but am perfectly happy using one of the very close pools in Ward 2: Volta and Jelleff. My kids and I take the bus to these all summer; they are both on the very same bus route as Hearst, just 2 miles or a 10-15 min bus ride away. I would prefer to keep Hearst for the many soccer teams and tennis players who have inadequate space as it is. In fact, I would love to see some basic maintenance done on both the soccer field, which is a dust pit, and the tennis courts. Have no faith at all that the city wouldn't destroy the field in creating the pool.

The Friends of Hearst Park conducted a survey more than a year ago that I think showed an 80% approval/favoring an outdoor pool on the site.

I don't think anyone is suggesting chopping up the big field. The field has seen numerous renovations and re-sodding over the years, but the over use has rendered it a dust bowl. That is why it should be turfed and maybe lighted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There absolutely needs to be an outdoor pool in Ward 3, and the Hearst site is centrally located, easily accessible and walkable for thousands of families.

Put it in the corner by the blacktop of the tennis courts along with the changing area/bathrooms. This shouldn't be too hard and the few people who live right there ought not be able to trump the needs and wishes of the many.

Has a survey really shown these "wishes of the many?" I live in ward 3 but am perfectly happy using one of the very close pools in Ward 2: Volta and Jelleff. My kids and I take the bus to these all summer; they are both on the very same bus route as Hearst, just 2 miles or a 10-15 min bus ride away. I would prefer to keep Hearst for the many soccer teams and tennis players who have inadequate space as it is. In fact, I would love to see some basic maintenance done on both the soccer field, which is a dust pit, and the tennis courts. Have no faith at all that the city wouldn't destroy the field in creating the pool.

This. The whole "Ward 3 has no pool" logic makes no sense. It's not like there are border crossings we have to go through to change wards.

Why should every other neighborhood and ward in the city have multiple outdoor pool options while Ward 3 has non? We pay taxes too and should have the same convenient amenities as other residents city wide.

There are wards without middle schools too (W4).

Life isn't fair.