Hearst Playground story in Current

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Im a neighbor in the immediate vicinity. I'd prefer they don'tI build a pool but not sure it's that big a deal based on the current plan. I don't support taking down a single additional tree for the pool. If the tree was diseased, the tree was diseased. But don't cut it down for the pool.
It makes me crazy that some people think its a good idea to destroy an urban green space by pouring cement on it. I don't want a pool for two reasons. First, it will be an eyesore for nine months a year. Second. DC is flush now, but we all know what that building and facility will look like in five or ten years.

Isn't DC planning to build an elevator shaft structure to take people down the slope to the bowl where the pool will sit? Anyone who observes the condition of Metro elevators (that at least are inspected and maintained year round) can predict how that will turn out -- a porta-potty on cables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A pool would have been nice during the recent heat wave.

They need to take down a number of trees for the pool. Construction will necessarily destabilize some, especially on the slopes. And who wants a pool that is perpetually in shade?!

Shady pools are awesome. Ours is half in the shade by 2pm. It's so nice to be able to stand in the pool and chat without broiling. It's too hot even in a sunny pool at midday.

[Anonymous]

Mary Cheh is horrible, unresponsive and arrogant. I saw her at the Palisades Parade and it almost ruined my morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Im a neighbor in the immediate vicinity. I'd prefer they don'tI build a pool but not sure it's that big a deal based on the current plan. I don't support taking down a single additional tree for the pool. If the tree was diseased, the tree was diseased. But don't cut it down for the pool.
It makes me crazy that some people think its a good idea to destroy an urban green space by pouring cement on it. I don't want a pool for two reasons. First, it will be an eyesore for nine months a year. Second. DC is flush now, but we all know what that building and facility will look like in five or ten years.

There are no trees being cut down for the pool. Certainly none of the stately ones that line the park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im a neighbor in the immediate vicinity. I'd prefer they don'tI build a pool but not sure it's that big a deal based on the current plan. I don't support taking down a single additional tree for the pool. If the tree was diseased, the tree was diseased. But don't cut it down for the pool.
It makes me crazy that some people think its a good idea to destroy an urban green space by pouring cement on it. I don't want a pool for two reasons. First, it will be an eyesore for nine months a year. Second. DC is flush now, but we all know what that building and facility will look like in five or ten years.

Isn't DC planning to build an elevator shaft structure to take people down the slope to the bowl where the pool will sit? Anyone who observes the condition of Metro elevators (that at least are inspected and maintained year round) can predict how that will turn out -- a porta-potty on cables.

Metro isn't DC Government. Nice try, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mary Cheh is horrible, unresponsive and arrogant. I saw her at the Palisades Parade and it almost ruined my morning.

I appreciate that Mary Cheh listened to her constituents and has obtained the resources necessary to get an outdoor public pool into the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mary Cheh is horrible, unresponsive and arrogant. I saw her at the Palisades Parade and it almost ruined my morning.

I appreciate that Mary Cheh listened to her constituents and has obtained the resources necessary to get an outdoor public pool into the neighborhood.

It will be a glorified kiddie pool at the bottom of two steep slopes and perpetually in the shade. The only way to make it bigger in this suboptimal location would be to take all of the tennis courts and part of the field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im a neighbor in the immediate vicinity. I'd prefer they don'tI build a pool but not sure it's that big a deal based on the current plan. I don't support taking down a single additional tree for the pool. If the tree was diseased, the tree was diseased. But don't cut it down for the pool.
It makes me crazy that some people think its a good idea to destroy an urban green space by pouring cement on it. I don't want a pool for two reasons. First, it will be an eyesore for nine months a year. Second. DC is flush now, but we all know what that building and facility will look like in five or ten years.

Isn't DC planning to build an elevator shaft structure to take people down the slope to the bowl where the pool will sit? Anyone who observes the condition of Metro elevators (that at least are inspected and maintained year round) can predict how that will turn out -- a porta-potty on cables.

Metro isn't DC Government. Nice try, though.

True. When it comes to basic management and maintenance, the “Dee Cee” government is worse.

[Anonymous]

Does everyone know if they are going to have bright lights on the pool complex? Let’s hope not. Nothing would be worse than lighting up the concrete all night with ultra-bright flood lights. The last thing anyone wants is a year-round light polluter illuminated like a prison site in SE. if security is needed, surely a fence and motion sensors will do.

[Anonymous]

Mary cheh is a corrupt incumbent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mary cheh is a corrupt incumbent.

We've contacted her office a couple of times this spring with constituent service stuff. Nada. Crickets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't DPR promise that none of the mature oak trees would be cut for a swimming pool? Yet this week, workers have cut down at least one healthy willow oak. DC's tree canopy is shrinking. Is this just DC government ineptitude or dissembling?

The tree that was taken down was diseased. Please don't spread false information.

But that's what obstructionists do. I'll bet $100 the poster hates Trump (again, for good reason). And, yet, here we see him/her making up authoritative sounding statistics like the tree canopy decreasing by 2% in the last four years and complaining about a tree being cut down as part of a grand conspiracy on pool pushers.

I think that you have your potential political alignments off. It's Trump who doesn't give a damn about trees or land conservation. In DC, it's the so-called "smart growth" development lobby that has de-prioritized green space protection. Indeed, one of the smart growth lobby's social media consultants is a partner in the firm that advised Trump on media and polling in 2016.

WTH are you talking about?

One of the main components of smart growth is building in areas that are already developed to preserve areas that are not.

Can you provide examples of actual green space in DC that has been converted to new housing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does everyone know if they are going to have bright lights on the pool complex? Let’s hope not. Nothing would be worse than lighting up the concrete all night with ultra-bright flood lights. The last thing anyone wants is a year-round light polluter illuminated like a prison site in SE. if security is needed, surely a fence and motion sensors will do.

The oft repeated this pool will look and feel like a prison argument has reared its ugly head again as if anyone leaving in Cleveland Park has the faintest notion what a prison looks like or has set foot in SE DC except to attend a Nats game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mary Cheh is horrible, unresponsive and arrogant. I saw her at the Palisades Parade and it almost ruined my morning.

I appreciate that Mary Cheh listened to her constituents and has obtained the resources necessary to get an outdoor public pool into the neighborhood.

It will be a glorified kiddie pool at the bottom of two steep slopes and perpetually in the shade. The only way to make it bigger in this suboptimal location would be to take all of the tennis courts and part of the field.

Why do you pool opponents keep repeating the same stupid talking points???

The pool going into Hearst park is the same size as all of the other outdoor pools in DC, all of which are quite well used and none of which resemble a "glorified kiddie pool" whatever that even is.

And shade at the pool is a good thing - it is always the first space claimed around the Bethesda pool because people usually go to the pool when it is hot.

I wish DPR had taken out all the tennis courts and put in a bigger pool though - the tennis courts are barely used.

[Anonymous]

The pools in DC look pretty 1950s to me... I hope they come up with an attractive design. FWIW I dont mind of it looks 50s if it was built in the 50s, but would like something built today to have some really attractive aesthetics that take the setting into account . It is a pretty shaded park