Gage-Eckington School Re-use

LeDroit Park Civic Association

Gage-Eckington School Re-use

View the announcement about the park groundbreaking

Park schematic presented at 4/14/10 meeting

Park material options presented at 4/14/10 meeting

Park groundbreaking on Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Park completion scheduled for September/October, 2010 REVISED 4/14/10: new completion date is November 2010.
April 14, 2010: Design Meeting held with Community to review design details.
March 2, 2010: CM Thomas withdraws motion of “disapproval” and partners with CM Graham for a motion of “Approval” of funding allocation for the park. Funds were restored. CM Thomas stated he and council would have “another bite at the apple” (a chance to review, approve or alter) funding for the park in the upcoming budget review process (April 2010). Other CMs speaking in support of the park include CM Brown and CM Mendelson.
March 1, 2010 the community learned that CM Thomas planned to introduce a “disapproval motion” that would reject the park funding allocation. Community members responded inundating (over 230 emails/calls) CM Thomas’ office, and those of other CMs.
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development reported at the January, 2010 Civic Association meeting that new park design would be completed by April and that the park would be constructed and open by September, 2010. See the January, 2010 meeting minutes for complete details.
The Washington Post reported on October 30, 2009 that the DC Council considered reviewing and re-bidding all park contracts including the construction contract for the park at the former Gage-Eckington School. The Civic Association leadership worked closely with ANC Commissioners Myla Moss and John Salatti and Councilmembers Harry Thomas and Jim Graham to ensure the park's construction. Park demolition and site prep continued.
The Civic Association submitted written testimony and ANC 1B11 Myla Moss testified before the Committee on Parks & Recreation on October 30, 2009 requesting prompt Council action to avert any delays. The Civic Association and ANC Moss worked closely with Councilman Jim Graham to resolve the issue.
Mayor Fenty and Councilman Graham officially kicked off the building demolition on August 4, 2009. Building demolition and site preparation work will continue through October, 2009 and then park construction will begin. Meetings on park details will be announced and held this fall.
The final schematic drawings for a park at the former Gage-Eckington School site were approved by a straw poll vote of community members at the LeDroit Park Civic Association meeting on May 26, 2009.
Meetings had been held throughout the community in April and May, 2009 (4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/28, 5/6 and 5/20) to enable community members to brainstorm desired park features. The District and its landscape architects, Lee + Papa and Associates presented preliminary designs throughout the process for feedback (see below).
Inside demolition of the former Gage-Eckington School started approximately June 1-15, 2009. Exterior demo is expected to begin by August 1, 2009. Construction of the park is slated to begin on or about October 15, 2009.