DC-NPS Parks, Open Space and Recreation Roundtable
April 19, 2004 Draft Meeting Summary
Prepared by Glenn Eugster, NPS-NCR
October 25, 2004
Goals:
Improve efficiency and quality of management of our operations through interagency collaboration, cooperative projects, and joint ventures.
Improve quality of services to the residents/ visitors we serve.
Improve communication.
Demonstrate the seamless system approach to parks, open space and recreation areas through experimental sharing of personnel, programs, facilities, and public parklands through the city wherever proximity, similarity of function, or achieving efficiencies or economies of scale make sense.
Identifying and implementing opportunities around the city for the active engagement of public involvement in park operations and maintenance through cooperative agreements, public-private partnerships, public-private cost-sharing, community-based shared management, and operational partnerships between the two public agencies and community-based organizations such as Washington Parks & People.
Meeting Attendees:
Barry Goodinson, Green Spaces for DC
John Parsons, NPS-Regional Office
Glenn Eugster, NPS-Regional Office/ NPS Roundtable Liaison
Terry Carlstrom, NPS-Regional Office
Don Briggs, NPS, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
Carl Cole, Many affiliations of note
Kate Herrod, Community Greens
Destry Jarvis, Washington Parks & People
Michael Lucy, DC Parks & Recreation
Ted Pochter, DC Parks & Recreation/ DC P&R Roundtable Liaison
Lou Aronica, Washington DC Chapter of the Maryland Native Plant Society
Gayle Hazelwood, NPS-East
Adrienne Applewhaite-Coleman, NPS-Rock Creek Park
Steve Coleman, Washington Parks & People
Dale Medearis, Potomac American Heritage River Initiative
Darwina Neal, NPS-Regional Office
Sally Blumenthal, NPS-Regional Office
Kathy Cox, Ft. DuPont Ice Arena
Leslie Feazell Schill, DC Parks & Recreation
Anisha Gade, DC Parks & Recreation
Destry Jarvis, Washington Parks & People
Cherry Blossom Festival: Terry Carlstrom praised the National Cherry Blossom Festival. He noted that 75,000 people, over 10 days had passed through the information trailer that the National Cherry Blossom Festival and NPS put up.
Don Briggs noted that a place to answer people's questions helps to give people a better sense of the City. Using handouts and information specialists helps visitors experience the place rather than the park.
Steve Coleman mentioned that there was an informal program on the plaza that helped to engage the crowd.
Ted Pochter noted that he has received interest from people about tree plantings. Abbie Kaufman, a consultant with the festival. wants more time in advance to plant trees. Ted also noted that DC has a new arborist on staff.
Meredian Hill National Park: Steve Coleman indicated that he would submit a proposal to NPS for Meridian Hill. Michael Lucy noted that there were opportunities for programs to happen at Meridian Hill and that Washington Parks & People could help. Steve noted that he was trying to integrate a partnership between NPS, Washington Parks & People and DC. He said that he strives for a lasting partnership to make the park sustainable. He noted that there was a need for "house-keeping" money in the park and that he had a proposal with DC Parks & Recreation.
Destry Jarvis noted that there is an opportunity found in other places but rarely as neat a package. He stated that backlog is not the biggest problem. Operations are the biggest problem facing NPS. Congress often funds success--when NPS brings partnerships they often receive funding. For NPS to succeed partnerships have to be successful. He said Meridian Hill lends itself to an operating partnership.
Terry Carlstrom said that the group should plan on presenting the proposal and they should work out a date and time with Adrienne Applewaithe-Coleman. Steve said he was targeting the beginning of June and that work being done at 15th and Girard was to be finished on June 30.
Steve Coleman followed by saying that we should showcase partnership initiatives to the NPS Director. He noted that the City Parks Alliance Board would be in the City on May 16- 17 and they will do a tour around the District. They are a 120-member organization with multiple members and cities. They have an advocacy bent for UPARR, LWCF. Destry is on the Board and they will lobby the Hill. Terry said to work with Glenn Eugster to set up a meeting and assist.
Trust for Public Lands: John Parsons noted the Trust for Public Lands "City Parks" book. He said there was a section in the introduction on Washington, DC and Milwaukee. He said he decided to participate and submitted materials. DC was # 2 in every category. He noted that we do not break down our costs within the Monumental Core and that the entire USPP operation and National Mall interpretation costs are included in the calculations. He talked to Neil Albert and he feels that we shouldn't participate.
Destry countered by saying that we should include DC in the book and describe why it is unique.
Sally Blumenthal noted that NY and SF include the Gateway Parks.
Steve said that we need to be in this. DC is off the map to Congress. We need to be able to stress our qualities--advocacy, public appreciation.
Ted said he would talk to Neil Albert.
John countered by saying that they have given up trying to change our budget analysis.
Sally said that we should ask Peter Harnick to describe what SF, NY is giving him.
Ted said he is planning to meet with Peter and Steve to help.
Gayle Hazelwood said that we need to document uniqueness--it's to our advantage and there has got to be a way. She said that she is willing to help Ted and Steve.
Steve said that we had to expect to put labor into this.
National Capital Planning Commission Parks & Open Space Plan: John Parsons mentioned the 1984 Parks and Open Space Plan. He said that it was the 1st comprehensive plan and that it included federal and local elements. He noted that a Parks and Open Space Policy Report is available for review and he urged people to provide comments to NCPC. He told the group that there was a public meeting that night at 5:30 pm and that comments on the report, which is available on the NCPC website, are due May 6, 2004.
Steve asked if John and Ted could meet to talk about the comments you will submit? Ted said the report deals with federal land primarily.
John said they would get together.
Georgetown Waterfront: Sally Blumenthal said there was a complicated land exchange process underway. She said this was a partnership park--no appropriated funds will go into this. She noted that there was a $15m capital campaign, 1/2 of which is in pocket. She said the designers were working on the next level of detail and that they are hoping to go to construction in April 2005.
Sally noted that there is a fundraising brochure available and NPS will maintain the park. She said that there were different donor levels--$500k for a major partner, $250 k for construction and $250k for a maintenance endowment.
Georgetown Waterfront Boathouse: John Parsons said that he was working with Arlington County, Georgetown and GWU on a proposal for a joint boathouse. He said that GWU would do a land exchange with NPS for the boathouse. He noted that opposition to the effort is due to the proximity of the existing boathouse. John said that the closing of K Street, for this purpose, has been approved. He told the group to see him or Sally if they wanted more information.
John also mentioned that Rock Creek Park gets Georgetown Parking fees.
The issue of the size of the boathouse came up and Carl Cole said that he started a rowing house. He said there is a big misimpression about the size of the facility and that it is 5 boat racks rather than 5 stories. He said that the design strives for low structures that are not visible.
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST): Don Briggs gave the group background information on trail work in DC. He said opportunity is knocking. Don elaborated by asking, What is a network of trails in the District? How do trails help to tell a story? Carl Cole noted that he was involved in the concept of the National Scenic Trail. It was suggested that it might be useful to do a master plan of trails in the City. Don said he has spent three years looking at what local governments are doing with trails in the region and he reinforced the question, What would the network look like?
Sally indicated that the legislative concept for PHNST didn't seem to work and there was, and is, a need for consensus on how the trail links together. Don followed by indicating that the American Hiking Society is doing a guide and that he is working with Adventure Cycling for a bicycling route and Tidewater Bicycling Guide.
John Parsons said that NPS cannot designate the trail--it has to come from the local governments.
Lou Aronica asked about the status of the Fort Circle plan and if there was time for input. John Parson replied that the Ft. Circle Parks could be linked by a hiking trail and that a final version of the report is being done.
Lou said that he was interested in getting the reports. He also noted that he was concerned about biking trails being too steep.
Don Briggs said that his intent was to build a partnership overlay of national significance. Steve Coleman responded by saying that it was very exciting and will help partner to achieve an integrated system of parks into one braided system.
Ted Pochter added that the Anacostia Marina had great potential for rowing. Gayle Hazelwood added that another concession operator would manage the marina for boat repair. Carl Cole noted that existing groups are involved.
Langston Golf Course: Gayle Hazelwood said that NPS has been practicing Band-Aid management on Langston and there is now a comprehensive face-lift planned. She noted that the Clubhouse Museum facility will be used to interpret the culture of Langston and the effort is gaining momentum. She added that NPS and their partners would finalize conceptual plans for what it will look like. She said the plans envision a public-private partnership between NPS, DC and concessions. She added that the timeline for completing the project is 2008 and that a strategic plan is underway. Construction is proposed to start in 2006.
Gayle went further to indicate that NPS has submitted a Project Management Information Statement (PMIS) for tee to green improvements and NPS is using a "Park Stewards Program" model. She added that a capital fundraising campaign is being developed with Langston in the 21st Century. Gayle noted that there would be a Youth Golf Development Program.
Gayle said that she is working to get a federal appropriation, plus funds from DC and corporations. She said that it has the potential to be a true win-win partnership model with a potential for an endowment. Gayle said, We have an opportunity to make the Langston Golf Course a world class site.
GAO Study of NPS Lands: Ted Pochter said that GAO had asked DC to provide an inventory. He noted that there were two sentences in the FY04 DC Appropriations Act that called for a study of all NPS lands in DC for additional recreational opportunities.
John Parsons added that Senator Landreaux was interested in this. John stated that our policy isn't to manage parklands for a single use. He mentioned that $5 million has been provided to NPS for soccer fields at Kenilworth and that NPS is looking at options for converting fields for multi-purpose use. Ted added that $500,000 has been earmarked for studies for this effort.
Gayle Hazelwood said that Senator Landreaux's office was tied to the soccer field idea. She said, They want soccer fields, polo, and baseball. She added that this effort is tied to the General Management Plan process for the Anacostia and NPS is trying to be collaborative. She noted that the plan is due in March but June is the more likely date it will be delivered.
Kingman Nature Center: Gayle Hazelwood reported that Biohabitats is doing drawings for Kingman Island. She noted that she feels that putting a building on Kingman Island isn't appropriate. She said that NPS wants to place the building on the shoreline of the lake and noted that the first 200' of the shoreline is NPS property.
Gayle said that NPS is looking for a concept that is smaller than Rock Creek Nature Center. The building would be used for interpretation of Kingman Island and the Anacostia River itself.
She noted that the Request for Proposals is scheduled to go out soon. The program, design, and management concept plan for the Island was done. Gayle said, It shows the location for the Center but NPS thought it was a bad idea to have the building on the island. She would like to see a link between the building and the Anacostia Trail.
Sally Blumenthal said that we should jointly evaluate site alternatives in a way similar to the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative. Ted Pochter and Gayle Hazelwood agreed to coordinate this effort.
Sally said this approach ties to the environmental education work that the Earth Conservation Corps is doing. Ted said that he wants Sally to serve on an evaluation committee. Sally said that the proposal needs to be reviewed and approved by the Fine Arts Committee and the National Capital Planning Commission.
Washington Ridge Crossing: Steve Coleman said his organization is looking to find ways to link communities--parks and people. He said that DC Tourism began an exploration to walk across the City. Part of the opportunity is knocking. The next walk is June 4-5, 2004. Steve asked the group, What are the larger possibilities to connect parks together?
Carl Cole added that green space and a parkway is the key to the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative. Carl said that anytime big business looks at DC they look at recreation space and quality of life. He said that the development community thinks that bricks and mortar are easy but finding green space and parks is hard.
Steve went further to say, in the view of getting out the eraser he has been talking with NPS, DC, and schools about a intermodal trail system.
He noted that the Washington Ridge Crossing is June 4 starting at dawn at Fletcher's Boathouse and June 5 at Lady Byrd Johnson Park. He said this is a chance for everyone to bike, boat and boot and that the walk will highlight the potential of the Ft. Circle Parks. He believes that this effort illustrates the poetry and power of place.
Sally said the effort will continue the Justice Douglas hike through DC and it illustrates the importance of Washington as a flat city.
Watts Branch: Steve Coleman noted that his group is working with the Friends of the Potomac, the NPS Potomac AHRI River Navigator Dale Medearis and community leaders on a Green Infrastructure Workshop for Watts Branch. He said that on June 23 they would bring in leaders from the South Bronx to discuss the work of Watts Branch.
Steve said that a Master Plan for Watts Branch has been developed and it includes a concept plan for a Native Plants Nursery. Michael Lucy noted that the Assistant Attorney General was coming to Watts Branch this Thursday at 11:30 am to help work on stream stabilization.
Other Business:
Park, Open Space and Recreation Area Conference: Steve Coleman asked if there would be a parks workshop in the fall? NPS, COG, Casey Trees, and NCPC have been discussing the idea of a green infrastructure conference. He said Washington Parks & People were willing to host and help and encouraged the group to come to a park if a conference was held.
Sally Blumenthal said that a conference could feature a story on trees in Anacostia. Michael Lucy added that if a conference is held there needs to be internal and external communication for the next planning meeting.
Amistad Arrives April 30, 2004: Carl Cole noted that the Amistad arrives in DC on April 30 at 12 noon. He said that its visit was a joint venture with NPS, Smithsonian Folklife Festival and the Mid-Atlantic Maritime Heritage.
Collaboration Between Meetings: Steve Coleman suggested that the group needs to enhance communication between Roundtable Meetings. He said we need to find ways to find common ground everyday.
Next Meeting:
The next DC-NPS Roundtable Meeting is set for Thursday October 28, 2004 from 10:00 am until 12 noon. The meeting will be held in the 2nd Floor Conference Room of the NPS, National Capital Region at 1100 Ohio Drive, SW, Washington, DC.
