Redevelopment of Rock Creek Tennis Courts- how to destroy a community resource

[Anonymous]

Agreed. It seems crazy to prioritize the needs of a one week annual tennis tournament over the needs of DMV residents. Yes, the picnic spaces, bathrooms and tennis courts need to be renovated but the park is a community asset that needs to be preserved. Having a forest in the middle of the city is really unique and special. Developing it into a privately run sports complex could ruin this. And, it's a slippery slope.

Other parts of the park are risk, too, if we accept this style of business. A surprise 12 day hearing right before Christmas? A land transfer by March 1st? This kind of time line is unheard off and makes me feel very worried for the parks future.

Please, please sign the petition and spread the word to friends and family!!!

[Anonymous]

Made some clarifications the petition which I hope will help address some some concerns and questions that have been raised. Check it out and consider signing.

https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-destruction-of-a-national-public-park-rock-creek-park-tennis-center

[Anonymous]

Also check out NBC news tonight. There should be a segment covering the site visit today. Will try and find the link and post it.

[Anonymous]

Here is video from the site visit. The first 2 minutes are just introductions so feel free to skip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v660EBQ9_LI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is video from the site visit. The first 2 minutes are just introductions so feel free to skip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v660EBQ9_LI

Another incredibly diverse protest. Jeesh. It’s like the same 20 aging hippies and DSAs at all of these manufactered protests.

[Anonymous]

My son used to play there. Sometimes the coach would take them to the stadium court and they had so much fun playing there.

[Anonymous]

First, it wasn't a protest. The NPS was required to hold the meeting. Second, the group was diverse. Third, there is nothing wrong with asking questions.

Nobody believes that the tennis courts don't need upgrading. They look awful. I think some people are questioning how the process is being done and are asking questions.

It is VERY unusual for a transfer to occur in less than three months. By law, the federal government is required to do an environmental assessment before issuing a lease. Does a 30 year assessment count? I don't know, but I'd like to have time to find out.

What role. has the DC government played? They wanted to be a partner, now maybe they don't, even though reports suggest DC dropped out of negotiations. Why? I would love more answers.

This isn't a binary issue. Development of the park or no development. What is at take is the right kind of development. How about preserving the picnic areas but making them nice and incorporating them into the tennis tournament. Space to eat is probably needed. You could have a cool barbecue and bar station with a band after the tournament. A splash park for kids could be great for hot spectators who just need to cool down. You could create a dog park (surrounded by the tress and with real grass) that could double as something else.

Many of us in DC don't want the federal government to disregard DC yet again!

If you care about this issue and want to have a voice, please consider signing the petition. I am not sure it will help but I feel better knowing that I tried.

https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-destruction-of-a-national-public-park-rock-creek-park-tennis-center

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First, it wasn't a protest. The NPS was required to hold the meeting. Second, the group was diverse. Third, there is nothing wrong with asking questions.

Nobody believes that the tennis courts don't need upgrading. They look awful. I think some people are questioning how the process is being done and are asking questions.

It is VERY unusual for a transfer to occur in less than three months. By law, the federal government is required to do an environmental assessment before issuing a lease. Does a 30 year assessment count? I don't know, but I'd like to have time to find out.

What role. has the DC government played? They wanted to be a partner, now maybe they don't, even though reports suggest DC dropped out of negotiations. Why? I would love more answers.

This isn't a binary issue. Development of the park or no development. What is at take is the right kind of development. How about preserving the picnic areas but making them nice and incorporating them into the tennis tournament. Space to eat is probably needed. You could have a cool barbecue and bar station with a band after the tournament. A splash park for kids could be great for hot spectators who just need to cool down. You could create a dog park (surrounded by the tress and with real grass) that could double as something else.

Many of us in DC don't want the federal government to disregard DC yet again!

If you care about this issue and want to have a voice, please consider signing the petition. I am not sure it will help but I feel better knowing that I tried.

https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-destruction-of-a-national-public-park-rock-creek-park-tennis-center

I agree that it is very unusual for the government to act quickly and decisively. It’s incredibly refreshing.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you should move to China or Russia. Xipin and Putin are very efficient leaders. No discussions or dissent allowed. Just orders and decrees.

Democracy is messy and inefficient. But in this country we think that the benefits of letting everyone participate in decision making is a good thing thing- a core AMERICAN value

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I agree that it is very unusual for the government to act quickly and decisively. It’s incredibly refreshing.

Anytime government acts "quickly and decisively" laws are being broken and corruption running rampant. You need your head examined.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I agree that it is very unusual for the government to act quickly and decisively. It’s incredibly refreshing.

Anytime government acts "quickly and decisively" laws are being broken and corruption running rampant. You need your head examined.

So Trump is clearly breaking the law to rig the process to ensure that an Obama appointee and major Democrat donor gets his hands on the crown jewel of the picnicking world. You good?

[Anonymous]

I don’t care if the developer is a Republican or a Democrat. The process of transferring the land is incredibly short and the bidding process is taking place over the holidays ensuring no other bidsThat is a problem ( giving the appearance of a rigged system)The fact that the land will be transferred without an updated environmental study is a problem. Not having a process for DC government and / residents to have input is a problem ( any other private developer would be required to get approval from DC) is problem.

If this is such a good plan, why the lack of transparency? Why not send out information and let people know? Why are people having to file FOIA requests to get information?

This is not the way democracy works. A democrat is just as likely to ignore rules as is a Republican if it leads to financial gain.

Please sign the petition to get answers and make sure DC residents have a voice!

https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-destruction-of-a-national-public-park-rock-creek-park-carter-barron

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t care if the developer is a Republican or a Democrat. The process of transferring the land is incredibly short and the bidding process is taking place over the holidays ensuring no other bidsThat is a problem ( giving the appearance of a rigged system)The fact that the land will be transferred without an updated environmental study is a problem. Not having a process for DC government and / residents to have input is a problem ( any other private developer would be required to get approval from DC) is problem.

If this is such a good plan, why the lack of transparency? Why not send out information and let people know? Why are people having to file FOIA requests to get information?

This is not the way democracy works. A democrat is just as likely to ignore rules as is a Republican if it leads to financial gain.

Please sign the petition to get answers and make sure DC residents have a voice!

https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-destruction-of-a-national-public-park-rock-creek-park-carter-barron

You must care. A lot. Because you’ve mentioned “Trump” in the four separate threads you’ve created.

[Anonymous]

I mentioned Trump because this process seems straight out of his playbook. Ignore rules, strick fast and get what you want. Demo the White House, dismantle USAID, ignore the rules of warfare. It’s a trickle down mentality that ‘s being accepted or at least not challenged. In This case it’s just 40 acres of a national park but it matters. Or at least it should and ore trump it probably would have.

[Anonymous]

I also want to add that the developer who will most likely win the development bid was responsible for dumping enough blue paint down the sewer that it turned parts of Rock Creek Park blue. Unclear if there any consequences but certainly nobody knew anything about this incident. It was only discovered after a FOIA was flied. Concerning that given this incident (I am sure there are probably others) that there won't be a requirement for an updated environmental study.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ybb236n8yXY