Hearst Playground story in Current

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just walked by the other day. A ton of trees came down. Dont minimize at least be honest. I can see why the neighbors are upset - changes the view and will impact parking and noise.

The trees that came down were essentially 40 year old weeds. The were all scrub and brush. I am sorry if the neighbors got used to a shabby display from city neglect.

[Anonymous]

They looked hardy. I saw the stumps. Lots got chopped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They looked hardy. I saw the stumps. Lots got chopped.

I talked to someone with a DC vest on who was supervising. He said that they need to clear trees to open up the pool area for more sunlight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just walked by the other day. A ton of trees came down. Dont minimize at least be honest. I can see why the neighbors are upset - changes the view and will impact parking and noise.

And then what will be the result? The pool will be open from June to mid-August. For over 10 months out of the year, it will be a concrete canyon, boarded up and drained, and brightly illuminated at night like the DC lockup. That will be a pleasant sight for those who live adjacent to the formerly green park, particularly during the months when the leaves come off the fewer remaining trees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yuck, no thanks. Not everyone is a dog person or wants to play soccer in your dog's fecal matter.

DC needs a real dog park. It's one of the few cities its size that doesn't have a proper place for dogs to run freely. Hopefully, they will let dogs swim in the pool once a week.

There is a publicly-maintained, free DC dog park less than three blocks from Hearst Park, next to McLean Gardens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just walked by the other day. A ton of trees came down. Dont minimize at least be honest. I can see why the neighbors are upset - changes the view and will impact parking and noise.

And then what will be the result? The pool will be open from June to mid-August. For over 10 months out of the year, it will be a concrete canyon, boarded up and drained, and brightly illuminated at night like the DC lockup. That will be a pleasant sight for those who live adjacent to the formerly green park, particularly during the months when the leaves come off the fewer remaining trees.

It was overgrown and not this nice, green space you all want everyone to believe it was. I'm stoked we are getting a neighborhood pool. I'm assuming you will never use it, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yuck, no thanks. Not everyone is a dog person or wants to play soccer in your dog's fecal matter.

DC needs a real dog park. It's one of the few cities its size that doesn't have a proper place for dogs to run freely. Hopefully, they will let dogs swim in the pool once a week.

There is a publicly-maintained, free DC dog park less than three blocks from Hearst Park, next to McLean Gardens.

Also, I'd rather my kid have access to the pool rather than your pooch a place to sh*t. Sorry. I also seriously doubt they would let dogs swim in the pool for health reasons. Get real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yuck, no thanks. Not everyone is a dog person or wants to play soccer in your dog's fecal matter.

DC needs a real dog park. It's one of the few cities its size that doesn't have a proper place for dogs to run freely. Hopefully, they will let dogs swim in the pool once a week.

Take your dog to soapstone valley, Rock Creek or the Potomac River if you want them to swim somewhere and run free. There are plenty of holes all through Rock Creek where tons of people take their dogs.

And then I hope the US Park Police cite you, as dogs are not allowed to run off leash in national parks. The US Park Police won't f--- around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just walked by the other day. A ton of trees came down. Dont minimize at least be honest. I can see why the neighbors are upset - changes the view and will impact parking and noise.

And then what will be the result? The pool will be open from June to mid-August. For over 10 months out of the year, it will be a concrete canyon, boarded up and drained, and brightly illuminated at night like the DC lockup. That will be a pleasant sight for those who live adjacent to the formerly green park, particularly during the months when the leaves come off the fewer remaining trees.

It was overgrown and not this nice, green space you all want everyone to believe it was. I'm stoked we are getting a neighborhood pool. I'm assuming you will never use it, right?

I've put on 10 pounds. I might not fit in the itty-bitty kiddie sized pool that Mary Cheh decreed to her subjects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just walked by the other day. A ton of trees came down. Dont minimize at least be honest. I can see why the neighbors are upset - changes the view and will impact parking and noise.

And then what will be the result? The pool will be open from June to mid-August. For over 10 months out of the year, it will be a concrete canyon, boarded up and drained, and brightly illuminated at night like the DC lockup. That will be a pleasant sight for those who live adjacent to the formerly green park, particularly during the months when the leaves come off the fewer remaining trees.

It was overgrown and not this nice, green space you all want everyone to believe it was. I'm stoked we are getting a neighborhood pool. I'm assuming you will never use it, right?

I've put on 10 pounds. I might not fit in the itty-bitty kiddie sized pool that Mary Cheh decreed to her subjects.

I think you're hoping a little too much that it will be a failure. Also, there is still plenty of time for next year swimsuit season. Get on it, girl. You can lose those pesky 10 lbs and more.

[Anonymous]

I walked by Hearst park today. It’s a friggin crime that they’ve taken down so many trees. Somebody should have to pay for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I walked by Hearst park today. It’s a friggin crime that they’ve taken down so many trees. Somebody should have to pay for this.

I’m legitimately shocked by how awful it looks.

Congrats pool boosters.

I’ll never understand why it had to be shoehorned into that space by a school in a residential neighborhood. I know you won’t miss my family, but I live a block away and won’t ever set foot in the pool. I did, however play tennis on the regular in the nice shade that used to be there.

[Anonymous]

If they build it, they should make it as functional and aesthetically pleasing as possible. Personally, I think the location is odd. It seems sort of random to have it in that corner. That's the part that "looks funny" to me. I could see if it were closer to the school/playground and other big works. Wherever they are placing it I hope it has the design, functionality and maintenance plan to make this all have been worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they build it, they should make it as functional and aesthetically pleasing as possible. Personally, I think the location is odd. It seems sort of random to have it in that corner. That's the part that "looks funny" to me. I could see if it were closer to the school/playground and other big works. Wherever they are placing it I hope it has the design, functionality and maintenance plan to make this all have been worth it.

Exactly - they should have placed the pool just west of the Hearst shelter, where it would have been accessible via a gradual ramp from the Hearst school parking lot (largely unused during summer and weekends). That would also have moved the pool and infrastructure to a location distant from most surrounding homes, and would not have required disturbing the tennis courts. It also would have put the fenced pool area closer to the playground, which would be more convenient for families with kids.

Instead they are sandwiching the pool in at the corner of two steep slopes, which requires building (and maintaining) and elevator tower to the street. The site is constrained and is largely in shade -- or at least it was until DC began cutting down a lot of trees. The pool is in the location that is closest to the most number of nearby homes and most distant from any off-street parking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I walked by Hearst park today. It’s a friggin crime that they’ve taken down so many trees. Somebody should have to pay for this.

I’m legitimately shocked by how awful it looks.

Congrats pool boosters.

I’ll never understand why it had to be shoehorned into that space by a school in a residential neighborhood. I know you won’t miss my family, but I live a block away and won’t ever set foot in the pool. I did, however play tennis on the regular in the nice shade that used to be there.

It will be so pretty with all of the concrete, block pool house and chain link fencing -- minus the screening and shade provided by the trees. Thanks, DC, for striving to make making green space feel more "urban."