The latest information directly from the National Park Service: 

This serves to inform you that the contractor made the last pour of concrete this morning and, other than a few small clean up items, is complete. The contractor will be cleaning the walks tomorrow and once theyare done, will open the side walk sections of chain link fence for visitor use of that section of the park, including the lawn areas. The chain link fence will be removed in its entirety Friday morning. There will be sections of snow fence that will remain for a few weeks to protect freshly seeded areas. There is a project review meeting scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, but we don't anticipate much if any changes to this update.

Please understand that with the removal of the chain link fence, we will be moving forward with the seeding and closure of the center panel, likely early next week.

If you have any questions regarding these matters, please do not hesitate to contact me and thank you so much for your patience.

thanks,

Frank Young
Facility Manager
National Capital Parks-East

This just released by the Department of Parks and Recreation on improvements being made to Rumsey Aquatic Center and closing dates:

The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) continues to make major improvements at the William H. Rumsey Aquatic Center located at 635 North Carolina Avenue, SE.  DPR is currently performing significant work to the systems that serve both of the pools at the Rumsey Aquatic Center which will improve the overall swimming experience.  This work is in addition to the recently completed project which saw the renovation of the men’s and women’s locker rooms, interior painting, and other general repairs.

“DPR is actively working to protect our investments across the District,” said Clark E. Ray, DPR director.  “To support this goal, we have taken a much more aggressive approach in our repairs, service, and preventive maintenance work.  I look forward to the successful completion of another round of major improvements and preventive maintenance work at Rumsey Aquatic Center.”

During the months of April and May, significant work is being done to improve the systems that service both the large swimming pool and the smaller baby pool.  Work now underway includes:

- Installation of new pool pumps for both pools
- Installation of new pool filters for both pools
- Installation of new pool heaters for both pools
- Installation of new automatic chemical treatment systems for both pools
- Installation of new backwash piping for both pools
- Installation of new pool and pump piping for both pools
- Installation of new sump pump
- Installation of new pool ultraviolet (UV) sanitation system which will assist in the destruction of microorganisms and reduces the impact of chlorine smell and eye irritation
- Diagnostic tests on the HVAC and boiler systems

To accommodate the installation of the new systems for both pools, the Rumsey Aquatic Center will temporarily close on Monday, May 19, 2008, and the facility will re-open on Tuesday, May 27.

During the temporary closure of the Rumsey Aquatic Center, DPR will offer expanded hours at the Turkey Thicket Aquatic Facility, 1100 Michigan Avenue, NE, (202) 576-9236.  Expanded hours will be Monday – Friday, 6:30 am to 9 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm.

Programs and classes that were to be held at Rumsey Aquatic Center during the temporary closure will be rescheduled at other nearby DPR aquatic centers.  Registrants that would prefer to opt out of rescheduled classes or would like additional information about the closure can contact DPR at (202) 673-7647.

For More Information: DPR Aquatics, (202) 673-7647.

Reminder of Community Meeting: The Future of Hine Junior High Site 

Please join Councilmember Wells and neighbors on Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 7:00 – 8:30 pm at  Hine Junior High School, 335 8th Street, SE. Tommy is hosting a community meeting to develop a shared vision for the future of the Hine Jr. High site.

New condo owners and long-time residents are invited to help clean-up the parks in Mount Vernon Triangle on Saturday, April 26 from 9:00-12:00 noon.  Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District is sponsoring the clean-up beginning at the pocket parks at 5th and Massachusetts Avenue NW and working east to the large DC park at 2nd and Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

Residents are asked to wear work clothes, bring their work gloves and strong backs to help rake the grass, pick up trash, shovel muck, and prune low-hanging branches.  Rakes, brooms, pruners, and trash bags will be provided.

After the clean-up, a free walking tour of the neighborhood will begin at 1:00 p.m. starting from Mount Vernon Square as part of Walking Town DC, lead by Bill McLeod, executive director of Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District.

For more information, go to www.mountvernontriangle.org or call (202) 661-7590.