Hearst Playground story in Current

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

PP makes an excellent cases why Ft. Reno, Turtle Park or other and larger sites nearer the largest concentration of kids in Ward 3 should be considered, rather than itty, bitty Hearst.



Sigh - NPS land has been ruled out. I don't think it would matter to the immediate neighbors if that was repeated 100 more times or 10,000 more times but it has been ruled out. Even if you could make it happen it would take much longer and it would still remain true that Hearst is a great location for a pool.

I just looked on Google Maps and as the crow flies Turtle Park is a few hundred feet closer to TT than Hearst is but there is essentially no public transportation between the two areas and Turtle Park in general is poorly served by public transit and is also very intensely used in the summer already which is not the case at Hearst at all.

So again nice try but yet another bad idea.




DC essentially ruled out the use of NPS property for a pool in ward 3. At most, someone had a half-assed, casual conversation with someone at NPS. There certainly was no concerted approach to NPS to lease or transfer NPS land the way the mayor is trying to do (not for recreational purposes but for economic development, which seems much more of a stretch). How do we know that D.C. didn't really explore NPS alternatives, or any alternatives at all to Hearst? DC said so in response to a FOIA request.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to sacrifice mature trees for a kiddie pool that will get used 8 hours a day, 3 months a year and will be a stagnant eyesore the rest of the year. If Mary Cheh is going to push her high density agenda, she should at least preserve the little green space we have now. Pouring tons of concrete on to a field is not preserving green space. How about you sacrifice an extra five minutes for our urban environment and use one of the already constructed pools.

Our neighborhood, and your street specifically, is not lacking mature trees and those are trees that in some cases are nearing the end of their time on earth.

But since you don't like cement, seem concerned about preserving trees and just expressed a desire to see the park used more efficiently then to be consistent you surely would support taking out the lightly used tennis courts and replacing them with a more heavily used swimming pool? Surely since you are new convert to environmentalism you'd prefer the city lose the tennis courts over some mature trees to accommodate a pool?

And maybe I'm missing something but what does a swimming pool have to do with a "high density" agenda?

Not that you would understand this but part of smart growth (of which high density near transit is but one component) is siting neighborhood services like a pool in neighborhoods where people need them so they don't have to spend a lot of time and contribute to pollution and congestion by driving to things in other neighborhoods when there is demand for them locally,

A pool at Hearst wouldn't really be that accessible by public transit. Unless taking Metro to a bus to get there is your idea of accessible. Mostly it would be walkable for those in a half mile radius.

The tennis courts won't kill the trees. Excavating for a pool will. Tennis courts can be used 8-10 (and possibly more given the weather around here) months a year. A pool will be open Memorial Day to Labor Day and otherwise will just be a useless eyesore the rest of the year.

I'm interested in the person who said they saw to scale representations of how everything fits at Hearst. Those certainly weren't presented at the meetings or on the survey.

The to-scale drawings are classified as "DC-confidential." Unless you support the Hearst pool without reservations, you aren't cleared to see them.

[Anonymous]

If you take the 30 bus to get to Hearst, you can take the 30 bus to get to Volta - maybe a 15 minute difference in time.

The public transportation argument doesn't fly. What's good for you may not be for others.

Millions of dollars so you don't have to spend an extra 12 minutes on a bus doesn't make sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you take the 30 bus to get to Hearst, you can take the 30 bus to get to Volta - maybe a 15 minute difference in time.

The public transportation argument doesn't fly. What's good for you may not be for others.

Millions of dollars so you don't have to spend an extra 12 minutes on a bus doesn't make sense.

It's not 12 minutes - please go look at a schedule or try riding the bus - and its not all about public transit but in any case to the extent that that is a measure Hearst is without debate a much more convenient location to get to on public transportation in general and specifically for people who live in Ward 3.

Again it is about having a pool in the neighborhood that people who live in the neighborhood can use and get to quickly - on foot, on bike, on the bus and in their cars.

I think the immediate neighbors still don't understand this - you don't own Hearst Park or even have any extra say or veto power with what is done there and you need to get over yourselves and your exaggerated sense of self importance and apparent victimhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you take the 30 bus to get to Hearst, you can take the 30 bus to get to Volta - maybe a 15 minute difference in time.

The public transportation argument doesn't fly. What's good for you may not be for others.

Millions of dollars so you don't have to spend an extra 12 minutes on a bus doesn't make sense.

It's not 12 minutes - please go look at a schedule or try riding the bus - and its not all about public transit but in any case to the extent that that is a measure Hearst is without debate a much more convenient location to get to on public transportation in general and specifically for people who live in Ward 3.

Again it is about having a pool in the neighborhood that people who live in the neighborhood can use and get to quickly - on foot, on bike, on the bus and in their cars.

I think the immediate neighbors still don't understand this - you don't own Hearst Park or even have any extra say or veto power with what is done there and you need to get over yourselves and your exaggerated sense of self importance and apparent victimhood.

The most convenient -- and public transport-accessible location -- in Ward 3 would be at Tenleytown, specifically at Ft Reno and environs. There's plenty of parking, and it's convenient to the largest concentration of schools in the ward. If one mapped the geographic center of Ward 3, Tenleytown would be it. Wilson pool is heavily used and a summer outdoor pool would be a good complement to the indoor facility. If the DC government made a Fort Reno pool a priority with the National Park Service -- at least as much as the mayor's stated goal to build condos and stores on national parkland elsewhere in DC -- then a pool would get done at its most logical location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you take the 30 bus to get to Hearst, you can take the 30 bus to get to Volta - maybe a 15 minute difference in time.

The public transportation argument doesn't fly. What's good for you may not be for others.

Millions of dollars so you don't have to spend an extra 12 minutes on a bus doesn't make sense.

It's not 12 minutes - please go look at a schedule or try riding the bus - and its not all about public transit but in any case to the extent that that is a measure Hearst is without debate a much more convenient location to get to on public transportation in general and specifically for people who live in Ward 3.

Again it is about having a pool in the neighborhood that people who live in the neighborhood can use and get to quickly - on foot, on bike, on the bus and in their cars.

I think the immediate neighbors still don't understand this - you don't own Hearst Park or even have any extra say or veto power with what is done there and you need to get over yourselves and your exaggerated sense of self importance and apparent victimhood.

The most convenient -- and public transport-accessible location -- in Ward 3 would be at Tenleytown, specifically at Ft Reno and environs. There's plenty of parking, and it's convenient to the largest concentration of schools in the ward. If one mapped the geographic center of Ward 3, Tenleytown would be it. Wilson pool is heavily used and a summer outdoor pool would be a good complement to the indoor facility. If the DC government made a Fort Reno pool a priority with the National Park Service -- at least as much as the mayor's stated goal to build condos and stores on national parkland elsewhere in DC -- then a pool would get done at its most logical location.

Yes Fort Reno would be the most convenient location but again NPS has said no.

Let me repeat that - NPS has said no.

It doesn't matter that you haven't uncovered a satisfactory paper trail via your FOIA requests - NPS has said no.

Even if you could somehow get them to yes (and getting them to shovel their sidewalks is difficult) it would likely delay the pool by several years when we have a perfectly good and central site that DPR owns within walking distance.

And what are you talking about with this craziness about building condos and stores on national parkland elsewhere in DC? Are the aggrieved and disadvantaged residents of Cleveland Park now getting their talking points from the DC for Reasonable Development nutjobs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you take the 30 bus to get to Hearst, you can take the 30 bus to get to Volta - maybe a 15 minute difference in time.

The public transportation argument doesn't fly. What's good for you may not be for others.

Millions of dollars so you don't have to spend an extra 12 minutes on a bus doesn't make sense.

It's not 12 minutes - please go look at a schedule or try riding the bus - and its not all about public transit but in any case to the extent that that is a measure Hearst is without debate a much more convenient location to get to on public transportation in general and specifically for people who live in Ward 3.

Again it is about having a pool in the neighborhood that people who live in the neighborhood can use and get to quickly - on foot, on bike, on the bus and in their cars.

I think the immediate neighbors still don't understand this - you don't own Hearst Park or even have any extra say or veto power with what is done there and you need to get over yourselves and your exaggerated sense of self importance and apparent victimhood.

I thought Hearst was put forward as a location for the Ward 3 pool. But what this really seems to be about is having another pool in your neighborhood, presumably Cleveland Park. Cleveland Park and McLean Gardens already have multiple pool options. While these serve swim clubs and associations, there are also several public pools that are pretty close.

And now you demand another yet pool option for your neighborhood that you "can get to quickly"? "An exaggerated sense of self importance" -- exactly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you take the 30 bus to get to Hearst, you can take the 30 bus to get to Volta - maybe a 15 minute difference in time.

The public transportation argument doesn't fly. What's good for you may not be for others.

Millions of dollars so you don't have to spend an extra 12 minutes on a bus doesn't make sense.

It's not 12 minutes - please go look at a schedule or try riding the bus - and its not all about public transit but in any case to the extent that that is a measure Hearst is without debate a much more convenient location to get to on public transportation in general and specifically for people who live in Ward 3.

Again it is about having a pool in the neighborhood that people who live in the neighborhood can use and get to quickly - on foot, on bike, on the bus and in their cars.

I think the immediate neighbors still don't understand this - you don't own Hearst Park or even have any extra say or veto power with what is done there and you need to get over yourselves and your exaggerated sense of self importance and apparent victimhood.

The most convenient -- and public transport-accessible location -- in Ward 3 would be at Tenleytown, specifically at Ft Reno and environs. There's plenty of parking, and it's convenient to the largest concentration of schools in the ward. If one mapped the geographic center of Ward 3, Tenleytown would be it. Wilson pool is heavily used and a summer outdoor pool would be a good complement to the indoor facility. If the DC government made a Fort Reno pool a priority with the National Park Service -- at least as much as the mayor's stated goal to build condos and stores on national parkland elsewhere in DC -- then a pool would get done at its most logical location.

Yes Fort Reno would be the most convenient location but again NPS has said no.

Let me repeat that - NPS has said no.

It doesn't matter that you haven't uncovered a satisfactory paper trail via your FOIA requests - NPS has said no.

Even if you could somehow get them to yes (and getting them to shovel their sidewalks is difficult) it would likely delay the pool by several years when we have a perfectly good and central site that DPR owns within walking distance.

And what are you talking about with this craziness about building condos and stores on national parkland elsewhere in DC? Are the aggrieved and disadvantaged residents of Cleveland Park now getting their talking points from the DC for Reasonable Development nutjobs?

In fact the "talking points" come from our esteemed Mayor herself. See the letter to the White House in which she asks for transfer of NPS land at the RFK site (including unbuilt portions) for "housing and retail" development and the transfer of several NPS golf courses, in which some of the open space would be developed into a "family entertainment facility."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2017/03/White-House-re-Land-Transfers-1.pdf

So where is the Mayor's letter asking for use of a portion of the NPS' Fort Reno holdings for recreational purposes, namely an outdoor pool?!

Apparently, there isn't one.

[Anonymous]

Blah Blah Blah

Even if you live on Idaho or Quebec, you do not own Hearst. You do not get to dictate how it is used to your fellow taxpayers who live around and near you.

Get it?

The politicians have heard from the community. The community wants the pool.

If you don't like it, you can move. There are plenty of people who will be more than happy to buy your house and have a wonderful community amenity to walk to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you take the 30 bus to get to Hearst, you can take the 30 bus to get to Volta - maybe a 15 minute difference in time.

The public transportation argument doesn't fly. What's good for you may not be for others.

Millions of dollars so you don't have to spend an extra 12 minutes on a bus doesn't make sense.

It's not 12 minutes - please go look at a schedule or try riding the bus - and its not all about public transit but in any case to the extent that that is a measure Hearst is without debate a much more convenient location to get to on public transportation in general and specifically for people who live in Ward 3.

Again it is about having a pool in the neighborhood that people who live in the neighborhood can use and get to quickly - on foot, on bike, on the bus and in their cars.

I think the immediate neighbors still don't understand this - you don't own Hearst Park or even have any extra say or veto power with what is done there and you need to get over yourselves and your exaggerated sense of self importance and apparent victimhood.

I thought Hearst was put forward as a location for the Ward 3 pool. But what this really seems to be about is having another pool in your neighborhood, presumably Cleveland Park. Cleveland Park and McLean Gardens already have multiple pool options. While these serve swim clubs and associations, there are also several public pools that are pretty close.

And now you demand another yet pool option for your neighborhood that you "can get to quickly"? "An exaggerated sense of self importance" -- exactly!

Jelleff and Volta are not in the neighborhood.

Jelleff and Volta are not as easily reachable on public transit for Ward 3 residents as a Hearst Pool would be.

Jelleff and Volta are definitely not in walking distance for any Ward 3 residents.

Jelleff and Volta are really not bikeable too either.

Jelleff and Volta are further to drive to than a pool at Hearst would be and parking at both pools is very difficult.

The CP crew who wants everyone to go there doesn't think it is such a big deal because they are relatively closer to Jeleff and Volta but if you live further afield in Chevy Chase or Friendship Heights those pools are even further away.

The precious snowflakes from CP seem to think that everyone else should be inconvenienced so that they don't have to be - typical elitist NIMBYism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blah Blah Blah

Even if you live on Idaho or Quebec, you do not own Hearst. You do not get to dictate how it is used to your fellow taxpayers who live around and near you.

Get it?

The politicians have heard from the community. The community wants the pool.

If you don't like it, you can move. There are plenty of people who will be more than happy to buy your house and have a wonderful community amenity to walk to.

Wow. Angry much? You need to chill out -- guess you really do need that pool to chill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you take the 30 bus to get to Hearst, you can take the 30 bus to get to Volta - maybe a 15 minute difference in time.

The public transportation argument doesn't fly. What's good for you may not be for others.

Millions of dollars so you don't have to spend an extra 12 minutes on a bus doesn't make sense.

It's not 12 minutes - please go look at a schedule or try riding the bus - and its not all about public transit but in any case to the extent that that is a measure Hearst is without debate a much more convenient location to get to on public transportation in general and specifically for people who live in Ward 3.

Again it is about having a pool in the neighborhood that people who live in the neighborhood can use and get to quickly - on foot, on bike, on the bus and in their cars.

I think the immediate neighbors still don't understand this - you don't own Hearst Park or even have any extra say or veto power with what is done there and you need to get over yourselves and your exaggerated sense of self importance and apparent victimhood.

I thought Hearst was put forward as a location for the Ward 3 pool. But what this really seems to be about is having another pool in your neighborhood, presumably Cleveland Park. Cleveland Park and McLean Gardens already have multiple pool options. While these serve swim clubs and associations, there are also several public pools that are pretty close.

And now you demand another yet pool option for your neighborhood that you "can get to quickly"? "An exaggerated sense of self importance" -- exactly!

Jelleff and Volta are not in the neighborhood.

Jelleff and Volta are not as easily reachable on public transit for Ward 3 residents as a Hearst Pool would be.

Jelleff and Volta are definitely not in walking distance for any Ward 3 residents.

Jelleff and Volta are really not bikeable too either.

Jelleff and Volta are further to drive to than a pool at Hearst would be and parking at both pools is very difficult.

The CP crew who wants everyone to go there doesn't think it is such a big deal because they are relatively closer to Jeleff and Volta but if you live further afield in Chevy Chase or Friendship Heights those pools are even further away.

The precious snowflakes from CP seem to think that everyone else should be inconvenienced so that they don't have to be - typical elitist NIMBYism.

Stoddert soccer moms and dads whose kids use Hearst field and don't want the larger field reduced because of the pool to another mini-turf carpet -- "typical elitist NIMBYs"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you take the 30 bus to get to Hearst, you can take the 30 bus to get to Volta - maybe a 15 minute difference in time.

The public transportation argument doesn't fly. What's good for you may not be for others.

Millions of dollars so you don't have to spend an extra 12 minutes on a bus doesn't make sense.

It's not 12 minutes - please go look at a schedule or try riding the bus - and its not all about public transit but in any case to the extent that that is a measure Hearst is without debate a much more convenient location to get to on public transportation in general and specifically for people who live in Ward 3.

Again it is about having a pool in the neighborhood that people who live in the neighborhood can use and get to quickly - on foot, on bike, on the bus and in their cars.

I think the immediate neighbors still don't understand this - you don't own Hearst Park or even have any extra say or veto power with what is done there and you need to get over yourselves and your exaggerated sense of self importance and apparent victimhood.

I thought Hearst was put forward as a location for the Ward 3 pool. But what this really seems to be about is having another pool in your neighborhood, presumably Cleveland Park. Cleveland Park and McLean Gardens already have multiple pool options. While these serve swim clubs and associations, there are also several public pools that are pretty close.

And now you demand another yet pool option for your neighborhood that you "can get to quickly"? "An exaggerated sense of self importance" -- exactly!

Jelleff and Volta are not in the neighborhood.

Jelleff and Volta are not as easily reachable on public transit for Ward 3 residents as a Hearst Pool would be.

Jelleff and Volta are definitely not in walking distance for any Ward 3 residents.

Jelleff and Volta are really not bikeable too either.

Jelleff and Volta are further to drive to than a pool at Hearst would be and parking at both pools is very difficult.

The CP crew who wants everyone to go there doesn't think it is such a big deal because they are relatively closer to Jeleff and Volta but if you live further afield in Chevy Chase or Friendship Heights those pools are even further away.

The precious snowflakes from CP seem to think that everyone else should be inconvenienced so that they don't have to be - typical elitist NIMBYism.

Stoddert soccer moms and dads whose kids use Hearst field and don't want the larger field reduced because of the pool to another mini-turf carpet -- "typical elitist NIMBYs"

And I bet you are an immediate neighbor and not a Stoddert mom or dad - relative to its other fields Stoddert barely uses Hearst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you take the 30 bus to get to Hearst, you can take the 30 bus to get to Volta - maybe a 15 minute difference in time.

The public transportation argument doesn't fly. What's good for you may not be for others.

Millions of dollars so you don't have to spend an extra 12 minutes on a bus doesn't make sense.

It's not 12 minutes - please go look at a schedule or try riding the bus - and its not all about public transit but in any case to the extent that that is a measure Hearst is without debate a much more convenient location to get to on public transportation in general and specifically for people who live in Ward 3.

Again it is about having a pool in the neighborhood that people who live in the neighborhood can use and get to quickly - on foot, on bike, on the bus and in their cars.

I think the immediate neighbors still don't understand this - you don't own Hearst Park or even have any extra say or veto power with what is done there and you need to get over yourselves and your exaggerated sense of self importance and apparent victimhood.

I thought Hearst was put forward as a location for the Ward 3 pool. But what this really seems to be about is having another pool in your neighborhood, presumably Cleveland Park. Cleveland Park and McLean Gardens already have multiple pool options. While these serve swim clubs and associations, there are also several public pools that are pretty close.

And now you demand another yet pool option for your neighborhood that you "can get to quickly"? "An exaggerated sense of self importance" -- exactly!

Jelleff and Volta are not in the neighborhood.

Jelleff and Volta are not as easily reachable on public transit for Ward 3 residents as a Hearst Pool would be.

Jelleff and Volta are definitely not in walking distance for any Ward 3 residents.

Jelleff and Volta are really not bikeable too either.

Jelleff and Volta are further to drive to than a pool at Hearst would be and parking at both pools is very difficult.

The CP crew who wants everyone to go there doesn't think it is such a big deal because they are relatively closer to Jeleff and Volta but if you live further afield in Chevy Chase or Friendship Heights those pools are even further away.

The precious snowflakes from CP seem to think that everyone else should be inconvenienced so that they don't have to be - typical elitist NIMBYism.

Stoddert soccer moms and dads whose kids use Hearst field and don't want the larger field reduced because of the pool to another mini-turf carpet -- "typical elitist NIMBYs"

And I bet you are an immediate neighbor and not a Stoddert mom or dad - relative to its other fields Stoddert barely uses Hearst.

Clearly, you've missed the elaborate choreography as teams leave and take the field throughout the day on Saturdays. Hearst is a green oasis, but it's a very used park for its small size. Please don't mess Hearst's recreational facilities and shady lawns. Surely you can find another location for your neighborhood bathtub.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you take the 30 bus to get to Hearst, you can take the 30 bus to get to Volta - maybe a 15 minute difference in time.

The public transportation argument doesn't fly. What's good for you may not be for others.

Millions of dollars so you don't have to spend an extra 12 minutes on a bus doesn't make sense.

It's not 12 minutes - please go look at a schedule or try riding the bus - and its not all about public transit but in any case to the extent that that is a measure Hearst is without debate a much more convenient location to get to on public transportation in general and specifically for people who live in Ward 3.

Again it is about having a pool in the neighborhood that people who live in the neighborhood can use and get to quickly - on foot, on bike, on the bus and in their cars.

I think the immediate neighbors still don't understand this - you don't own Hearst Park or even have any extra say or veto power with what is done there and you need to get over yourselves and your exaggerated sense of self importance and apparent victimhood.

I thought Hearst was put forward as a location for the Ward 3 pool. But what this really seems to be about is having another pool in your neighborhood, presumably Cleveland Park. Cleveland Park and McLean Gardens already have multiple pool options. While these serve swim clubs and associations, there are also several public pools that are pretty close.

And now you demand another yet pool option for your neighborhood that you "can get to quickly"? "An exaggerated sense of self importance" -- exactly!

Jelleff and Volta are not in the neighborhood.

Jelleff and Volta are not as easily reachable on public transit for Ward 3 residents as a Hearst Pool would be.

Jelleff and Volta are definitely not in walking distance for any Ward 3 residents.

Jelleff and Volta are really not bikeable too either.

Jelleff and Volta are further to drive to than a pool at Hearst would be and parking at both pools is very difficult.

The CP crew who wants everyone to go there doesn't think it is such a big deal because they are relatively closer to Jeleff and Volta but if you live further afield in Chevy Chase or Friendship Heights those pools are even further away.

The precious snowflakes from CP seem to think that everyone else should be inconvenienced so that they don't have to be - typical elitist NIMBYism.

Stoddert soccer moms and dads whose kids use Hearst field and don't want the larger field reduced because of the pool to another mini-turf carpet -- "typical elitist NIMBYs"

And I bet you are an immediate neighbor and not a Stoddert mom or dad - relative to its other fields Stoddert barely uses Hearst.

Clearly, you've missed the elaborate choreography as teams leave and take the field throughout the day on Saturdays. Hearst is a green oasis, but it's a very used park for its small size. Please don't mess Hearst's recreational facilities and shady lawns. Surely you can find another location for your neighborhood bathtub.

So to re-confirm you are not a Stoddert parent or even someone who cares about Stoddert - you are a neighbor grasping at whatever straws you can to buttress your unpopular and selfish position.

FWIW I've got two kinds in Stoddert and am well aware of the logistical dance that goes on around soccer games, particularly since I've also coached and been involved in setting up fields and scheduling.

Nonetheless there are many more places for soccer in DC and in Ward 3 than there are outdoor pools and to the extent that it matters there are many more green oasis as you say in DC and in the area immediately around Hearst.