At the October 27 CCCA meeting, Gayle Hazelwood, National Park Service Superintendent -- National Capital Parks East, gave an update about plans for the Carter G Woodson Historic site. The development of the current properties, and the purchase of a third property to incorporate with the eventual plan, is still some time off. There was no date specified on the beginning of the reconstruction of the properties since studies are still being done on the historical details and structural integrity of the current properties.

But Ms Hazelwood did share a description of the current draft of plans for what might be the sculpture that will be installed at the triangle park on the 1600 block of 9th Street. The park was formerly owned by the National Park Service, but it has been transferred over to the District Department of Parks and Recreation and been renamed in honor of Mr Woodson. We might have someone from DPR come to a future CCCA meeting to discuss this park. Mr Hazelwood did state that there will be appropriate public meetings about the property before any plans are implemented. These images photos we submitted to CFA by DDOT and they were approved in concept.

On October 29, 2009 it was DDOT and District Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) announced that landscaping of Carter G. Woodson Park and creation/installation of public art has been approved to receive between $50k-$579k in the form of a grant from DDOT's Transportation Enhancement Projects in FY2010.

The current images look interesting, but some neighbors have already expressed concerns that any structure at the site should not be a magnet for vagrants or crime given the triangle park's not so distant history and other recent problems in the neighborhood. Given those concerns, the current overall structure looks a bit too tall, providing a shield for nefarious behavior. It's difficult to tell, but the steps around the structure should not be too inviting for vagrants to camp out on them; they might still be made narrow enough so that the would not be too comfortable for sleeping. I'm also a fan of putting at least one bike rack/post in such areas. And since it's now taken two years and counting to fix the iron fence at the Kennedy Recreation Center, at 7th & P Streets, that was smashed in by a motorist, DPR might also consider putting in one or more of those iron barrier posts, like those around some buildings on Capitol Hill, to prevent a motorists who might lose control of his/her vehicle from potentially damaging this site structures.

Triangle park as it looks today.

Ms Hazelwood also mentioned that the National Park Service is giving strong consideration to having an annual street festival at the site as a way of giving back to the neighborhood for having to deal with the blighted properties for so long. The Shakespeare birthday festival on Capitol Hill at the Folger Theatre was a great event at that site this year and there's no reason Shaw shouldn't have something similar to celebrate African American history and it's broader cultural significance at the Carter G Woodson site. Such an event would be perfectly in line with the legacy of Mr Woodson and his efforts to promote African American history by educating youth and the general public, possibly featuring artists, poets and jazz, gospel, and other forms of music that has roots in African American culture. The food options for such an event are almost limitless given modern and authentic takes on regional cuisine around the U.S. and the Caribbean. After the successful "Heart of DC Picnic" a few months ago, Shaw might soon enjoy something like an annual "Soul of African American History Festival" in honor of Mr Woodson.