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Friends of Rose Park, Inc.

Friends of Rose Park, Inc. (FRP) is a volunteer non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to Rose Park in Georgetown, Washington D.C. FRP works with the neighborhood, the D.C. Department of Parks & Recreation, and the National Park Service to make Rose Park a valued community resource. Using private donations, mostly from the neighborhood, FRP maintains and improves the grounds, hosts events in the Park, and undertakes major capital improvement projects. our visionThe vision for Rose Park reflects a clean, safe and attractive natural open space where families gather and play, neighbors walk their dogs, commuters pass through, and sports activities are organized. It is an inviting open landscape of shade trees, green grass, benches, generous walkways, ornamental lighting, and upgraded fencing. More importantly, the image for Rose Park also preserves the generosity of spirit associated with the Park’s social and recreational history, as exemplified by its open character and pleasant coexistence of a diverse community of people and activities. locationRose Park is located between P Street N.W. and M Street N.W. bounded on the West side by 26th and 27th Streets and on the East side by Rock Creek Parkway. Its facilities include three tennis courts, a basketball court, a baseball diamond, two playground areas, and subtantial open space.See you in the park!

About Us

History

Rose Park History

Rose Park was originally established in 1918 by the Ancient Order of the Sons and Daughters of Moses when a plot of land was donated by the Order for African American children in the neighborhood to use for recreation purposes. Rose Park, known at various earlier times as Pattersons Park, Jacobs Park, and Winships Lot, was remodeled by the Department of Recreation in the late 1930s and by the early 1940s was frequented by both the black and white Georgetown community. Around 1945 the D.C. Recreation Department, in an attempt to segregate the playground, posted a "For Coloreds Only" sign, which was widely protested by black and white members of the community. The sign was removed, never to reappear again, and the city finally acknowledged that Rose Park was one of the first integrated parks in the District. The park was frequented by tennis greats, and sisters, Roumania and Margaret Peters, who lived just around the corner at 2710 O Street, N.W., and who played tennis with Gene Kelly on the Rose Park tennis court in the 1940s. Recreational activities continued in the park, including boy scout troop meetings (sponsored by Mt. Zion Church and other local churches) and summer camps in the Community House. The Rose Park Warriors, a baseball team famous throughout the city, played in the park in the 1940s and 1950s as did other neighborhood teams from P Street, 27th and Olive Streets, 32nd Street, 37th Street, Cherry Hill, Herring Hill, and Grace and K Streets south of M Street. Park use lapsed in the 1960s and 1970s but rebounded in the 1990s and the 2000s, especially in the late 2000s with the tremendous birth rate and influx of families with small children into the neighborhood.(Primary source: Black Georgetown Remembered, Kathleen M. Lesko, Valerie Babb and Carroll R. Gibbs, Georgetown University Press, 1991)

Board of Directors

David Abrams

Russell Bridges (Treasurer since 1998; Past President in 1997)

Toni Brody

John Donvan

David Dunning (President since 2010)

Anna Fuhrman

Carol Harman

Marjorie Heiss

Rob Hetem

Severina Mladenova

Pamla Moore (Past President 1998-2004)

Mary Carroll Platt

Vicky Rigby

Dave Salwen (Past President 2005-2009)

Katie Sexton

Leslie Wheelock

Jill White

Accomplishments

Below is a brief chronological history of Friends of Rose Park, Inc.'s (FRP) involvement with Rose Park.2011Received unanimous recognition from our ANC2E that FRP is the "oficial" neighborhood representative for Rose Park.Hugely attended and wonderfully celebrated the 9th Annual Spring Celebration at Rose Park.Upgrded Friends of Rose Park website with up to date park information and the ability to accept donations via PayPal.Identified key elements to be included in Phase II of the Rose Park's Master Plan. Worked with landscape architect to develop Phase II of our Master Plan. Met with neighbors and local organizations, including the Georgetown Garden Club, regarding roll-out of Phase II. Started work on capital campaign to raise funds for Phase II.Continued with efforts to keep the pedestrian path width in its current location. Testified before DC DDOT-National Park Service public hearing on the path rehabilitation project. Met with ANC2E and CAG members, with DC DDOT personnel and their consulting firm regarding their proposed plan. 2010Wrapped up another successful year for the Farmers' Market.Wonderful Fall fundraising event at author and Rose Park neighbor's Kitty Kelley's home. Funds will provide maintenance and improvements in the park during 2011.Successful Annual Sunday in the Park event.Wonderful halloween celebration in the park for the little ones.Re-planted garden beds to replace plants taken by summer drought.Arranged for NPS to install two new picnic tables.Continued to give high priority to Park maintenance, because of the heavy use of the Park by the community.2009Planted 10,000 crocus bulbs in the Rose Park south lawn.Worked with DC DPR to install three water fountains in the park.Worked with DC DPR to keep the Rec Hut bathrooms open to the public.Arranged to have six Yoshino Cherry Trees planted from the Neighborhood Tree Planting Program of the National Cherry Blossom Festival (3 in 2009 and 3 in 2010).2008Completed a $24,000 landscape renovation to the Recreation Center banks, including trees, rose bushes, scrubs, butterfly bushes and ornamental grasses with an irrigation system.Worked with Cultural Tourism of DC to designate Rose Park as part of the DC African American Heritage Trail.Installed additional trees and benches.2007Planted additional trees in the south portion of the park.Installed additional benches.Continued maintenance of soft-and-hard-space continued.2006Continued contract with Gregor Gardening for general plant and turf maintenance throughout the Park; continued to use Care of Trees for tree maintenance (FRP Funded).Convinced DCPR to undertake and then monitor the resurfacing of tennis court and basketball court areas and installation of new fence around tennis courts.Engaged in debate over DDOT plans for the path through the park.Completed FRP web-site.2005Planted three flowering trees in the southerm end the Park (FRP Funded).NPS planted six Honey Locust trees and installed two trash cans and two doggie bag dispensers (Hard-scape FRP funded).Fall bulb planting throughout the Park (via gift from Georgetown Garden Club).Renovated landing at Dumbarton Street entrance to the Park, with brickwork, two benches and two Red Bud trees (FRP Funded).Initiated two new events in the Park, Spring Egg Hunt and Fall Pumpkin Festival (FRP Funded).2004Contracted for extensive tree care and pruning by Care of Trees and planted ten new trees (FRP Funded plus matching grant for tree planting from DDOT).Planted Rose bushes along wrought iron fence at 26th and O Streets (via a gift from the Georgetown Garden Club).2003Completed tot-lot renovation with new play equipment, safe play surfaces, and wrought iron fence (FRP and DCPR Funded).Installed wrought iron fencing around basketball court and tennis backboard area (FRP Funded).Conviced NPS and DC Department of Parks & Recreation to install 8 lights to illuminate path.Organized and got approval for weekly (in season) Farmers' Market in the Park.Hosted two concerts of the 1st annual CAG Summer Concert Series.Planted bushes and bulbs along tennis court fence along 27th and O Street (via gift from Georgetown Garden Club).2002Installed many hard-scape items (flagpole, hexagonal bench, trash cans, bulletin board) throughout the Park (FRP Funded).Placed donor-purchased engraved bricks arround the flagpole.DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) installed brick sidewalks along the west side of the Park.Began tot-lot renovation.ANC, Old Georgetown Board, and Commission of Fine Arts approved all "design" plans.2001Planted three large trees near new play equipment for summer shade (via gift from Georgetown Garden Club).Neighbors and dogs marched in the Georgetown 250th Anniversary Parade - with large pink and white ballons to introduce more folks to Rose Park.Added four benches to the park - two near new play equipment and two at the tennis courts (FRP Funded).After being absent for many years, structured summer children's programs and basketball leagues return to the Park.Held first annual Sunday-in-the-Park on September 30 (FRP Funded).2000Hired the landscape architecture firm of Rhodeside & Harwell to develop a Landscape Master Plan for the Park (FRP Funded).Purchased new play equipment for play area near ball field and basketball court (FRP and DCPR Funded).Organized ANC resolution against widening of the path in the Park to 10 feet (November).1999Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) and adopted by-laws.Convinced NPS to seed and fertilize land owned by them.Removed dead trees, planted new trees, removed overgrown bushes for more open space (FRP Funded).Created FRP logo.1998Held the first FRP Phon-a-thon and first fundraiser, raising over $14,000.00.Established monthly "clean-up" Saturdays - mowing, collecting garbage, clipping bushes, painting and sweeping.Contracted to annually aerate, fertilize, and seed park land owned by District (FRP Funded).Purchased five decorative trash cans; placed by NPS throughout the park (FRP Funded).Late 1997Conducted a neighborhood survey to prioritize park improvements and maintenance.Built a good working relationship with the District and the National Park Service (NPS).Created FRP's approach for raising funds.

Current Projects

ROSE PARK MASTER PLANPHASE IIDuring 1997, the community surrounding Rose Park in the East Village of Georgetown came together and agreed to work to improve a park with playground equipment in disrepair, with a group of homeless people living on the porch of the recreation hut, with few benches and crumbling walkways and with a “greenscape” of unkempt trees, shrubs, and deteriorating turf.A small group formed the 501(c)(3) organization – Friends of Rose Park, Inc. (FRP) - to take the lead in rallying the neighbors, the District of Columbia and the National Park Service to make the park safe and enjoyable, to improve the ball field and to repair and replace the equipment needed on the tennis courts, the basketball court, the tot lot and the older children’s play area. The goal was to make Rose Park a welcoming green space for young and old who wanted a friendly “backyard.” By 1998, the FRP board realized two things: 1. A Master Plan developed by a professional park planner, with input from the users of the park, was needed for the long-term benefit of the park users and 2. Every year in a heavily used park, maintenance and replacement of swings, tennis nets, trees and shrubs, and play surfaces would be necessary. In addition to the funds the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the National Park Service (NPS) allocate for Rose Park upkeep, annual maintenance (in the range of $40,000 in private funds) has become the responsibility of FRP. Each year the FRP Fall Fundraiser strives to raise the funds for this key annual maintenance.During 1998-2002 FRP, along with the DPR, undertook Phase I of the Master Plan. Improvements included:Planting and caring for trees, rose bushes, shrubs, groundcover and flowersRe-grading and re-establishing the ball field;Adding play equipment in the tot lot and the older children’s play area;Installing historically appropriate fencing for improved safety;Replacing brick walkways;Adding benches, trash cans and lighting;Installed the flag pole and park signs;Repairing the basketball court and the three tennis courts; andGeneral clean up.Now in 2011, it is time to initiate Phase II. As the park has grown to be a destination location for hundreds of children and adults on a daily basis, Phase II is designed to improve the flow of foot traffic, to offer more seating areas for watching children at play, to improve the older children’s play area, to increase safety throughout this park “entrance” at 26th and O Streets and to create a “plaza” of beautiful flowers/shrubs and shade trees. In order to create this setting, our landscape architect has determined that substantial re-grading and soil enhancement needs to be undertaken to correct drainage problems prior to the installation of new walkways, seating areas and plantings.The preliminary cost of Phase II is projected to be $100,000. Until actual demolition begins, this remains an estimate. FRP has asked the DPR, through the DC Council, to provide $50,000 in matching funds. At this time, we do not have a sense that the DPR will grant our request. The Friends of Rose Park, Inc. board of directors 2011-2012 goal is to secure multi-year contributions and pledges totaling $100,000 to complete Phase II within two to three years. We are pulling together a fundraising committee, approaching local foundations and businesses and will seek funds from our long time supporters, as well as new neighborhood families. our goals Create an attractive, safe and peaceful neighborhood park that is responsive to the needs of area residents and the surrounding urban community.Create a program for the enhancement of all areas of Rose Park that incorporates elements that contribute to the creation of an attractive, safe, comfortable pedestrian place (such as canopy trees, seasonal color, benches, and elements of discovery).Introduce appropriate lighting, park benches and trash receptacles, additional shade trees, and ornamental landscape plantings. Upgrade and repair existing fencing, play areas, lawns and plantings. Integrate the existing park elements with proposed improvements. Create a program for overall improved landscape maintenance and trash collection. Cooperate with the National Park Service and with the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation for implementation and maintenance of Rose Park improvements.

Path Issues

The DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) , in conjunction with other agencies, has begun a design study involving the path through Rose Park. One approach under consideration is widening the Rose Park path to accomodate "multi-use", i.e. bicyclists. Friends of Rose Park opposes this option.03-23-09 CAG response to NPS03-12-09 FRP response to NPS02-25-09 NPS letter to FRP04-2008 DDOT response to FRP02-13-08 NPS against widening the path01-16-08 FRP letter to NPS01-10-08 ANC resolution against widening the path01-08-08 CAG letter regarding path01-02-08 Article from the Georgetown Current04-08-07 Article from the Washington Post12-13-06 Article from the Georgetown Current12-07-06 ANC resolution against widening the path (2006)10-16-06 Meeting minutes from an introductory discussion with Chris Holben of DCDOT10-21-05 FRP letter to NPS2-10-00 ANC resolution against widening the path (2000)11-15-00 Article from the Georgetown Current11-08-00 Article from the Georgetown Current

News

"Dear Casey, thank you for our new trees" the georgetown dish, november 2011"Another great season comes to an end at Rose Park" the georgetown dish, october 2011"Rose Park friends bat it out of the park" the georgetown dish, october 2011"Rose Park and Frida Burling, Neighborhood Jewels" the georgetown patch, september 2011"Meat market Wednesday at Rose Park" the georgetown dish, august 2011"Colonial bread-maker joins Rose Park farmers" the georgetown dish, june 2011"Open for business: roseparkdc.org" the georgetown dish, april 2011"Join the Friends of Rose Park for the 6th Annual Fall Pumpkin Festival." the georgetown patch, october 2010"Friends of Rose Park feature a recipe for corn chowder, provided by Mary Carroll Platt ... " the georgetowner, september 2010

Rose Park Landscape Phasing Plan

History
Board of Directors
Accomplishments
Current Projects
Path Issues

Events at the Park

Rose Park Events

Calendar for 2011

9th Annual Spring CelebrationSaturday, April 30 from 10:30 - 12:30 p.m. The Friends of Rose Park, Inc., Proper Topper, and Georgetown Patch invite you to join us for fun activities for all ages! Children will enjoy pony rides, bonnet trimming, baby farm animals, face painting, and live rock & roll music.The Annual Spring Celebration is free to all, with donations to Friends of Rose Park, Inc. gratefullly accepted. Georgetown Farmers' Market May 4 to October 26, Every Wednesday from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m.Find fresh produce, cheeses, and other delicacies provided directly from the farmers.9th Annual Citizen Association of Georgetown Summer Concert Series Sunday, June 19 and Monday, July 4 at 5:00 p.m.Organized by the Citizens Association of Georgetown (CAG).Rain dates are the following Sunday.Sunday in the Park Next event will be held in 2012. (Date TBA)A great family event featuring the Rose Park Dog Show (open to all breeds), a doubles tennis tournament, moon bounce, face painting, and much more.Friends of Rose Park, Inc. Benefit Thursday, October 6, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. graciously hosted by Dr. Jim D'OrtaThis annual cocktail party is held to raise funds for maintenance and capital improvement projects for Rose Park.7th Annual Fall Pumpkin FestivalWednesday, October 26, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.Fun activities for all ages including hot cider, ghosts and goblins, and a costume parade.
david dunning 1

Contribute

Donate

Friends of Rose Park, Inc. (FRP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization made up of volunteers. It raises funds throughout the year to support an improvement and maintenance budget of approximately $50,000.00 annually. Your donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Tax ID# 52-1951376.Your financial support enables FRP to continue to provide the community with a special welcoming green space. You may contribute via check or online. Please download and complete the donation form and mail to:Friends of Rose Park, Inc.c/o 2453 P Street NWWashington, DC 20007For additional Information, please email us at: donate_roseparkdc.org

donation form.pdf

Donate

Buy a Brick

Check out the engraved bricks installed around the flag pole. If you would like to purchase a custom engraved brick, please download and complete the order form and mail it to:Friends of Rose Park, Inc.c/o 2505 P Street NWWashington, DC 20007 For additional information email us at: buyabrick_roseparkdc.org

buy a brick.pdf

Volunteer

Friends of Rose Park hosts many events throughout the year and needs your help.*See The List of EventsIf you would like to volunteer, please email us at:volunteer_roseparkdc.org

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Buy a Brick
Volunteer

Contact Us

Contact

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Reserve the Park

Rosepark is located between P Street NW and M Street NW, bounded on the West side by 26th and 27th Streets on the East side by Rock Creek Parkway.Reservations for the ball field, picnic areas, etc. are handled by the DC Government's Parks & Recreation Department dpr.dc.gov. Links to the permit request form can be found on their web site. Their phone number is (202) 673-7647.The Permit Process is as follows:1. Send in the permit request form2. Receive back cost information3. Send in payment4. Receive back a permit.

Map

Gallery

Photo Gallery

Spring Cellebration

Spring Celebration

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cherry trees 2010

CAG Summer Concert

CAG Summer Concerts

Sunday in the Park

Tennis Tournament 2011 Winners
Tennis 2011
Tennis 2011- 1st place winner
Tennis Tournament 2011

Tennis Tournament 2011

Tennis 2010
Tennis 2010
Tennis 2010
Tennis 2010
Tennis 2010
Tennis 2010

Tennis Tournament 2010

FRP Bennefit

FRP Benefit

FRP Fall Party 2011
FRP Fall Party 2011
FRP Fall Party 2011
FRP 2011 Fall Party
FRP Fall Party 2011
FRP Fall Party 2011
FRP Fall Party 2011
FRP Fall Party 2011
FRP Fall Party 2011
FRP Fall Party 2011
FRP Fall 2011
FRP Fall 2011

FRP Fall Party 2011 - hosted by Dr. James D'Orta

FRP Fall Party 2010
FRP Fall Party 2010
FRP Fall Party 2010
FRP Fall Party 2010
FRP Fall Party 2010
FRP Fall Party 2010
FRP Fall Party 2010
FRP Fall Party 2010

FRP Fall Party 2010 - hosted by Kitty Kelley

Fall Pumpkin Festival

Fall Pumpkin Fest.

Pumpkin Festival2011
Pumpkin Festival 2011
Pumpkin Festiva 2011
Pumpkin Festival 2011

Farmers Market

Farmers' Market

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Rose Park Board Members 2011

Spring Cellebration
CAG Summer Concert
Sunday in the Park
FRP Bennefit
Fall Pumpkin Festival
Farmers Market

Links

Links of Interest

Area Neighborhood Commission 2E (ANC 2E)www.anc2e.comCitizen Association of Georgetown (CAG)www.cagtown.orgGeorgetown Farmers' Marketwww.roseparkmarket.comDumbarton Oaks, Museum and Gardenwww.doaks.orgGreen Spaces for DCwww.greenspacesfordc.orgGeorgetown Garden Club, Garden Tourwww.georgetowngardentour.comGeorgetown House Tourwww.georgetownhousetour.comTudor Place, Georgetownwww.tudorplace.orgDumbarton Housewww.dumbartonhouse.org
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