2012 PARK(ing) Day & Barrack Row Recap

 


This past weekend was a flurry of Casey Trees’ activity – on Friday (September 21st), we took to the streets (literally)! With our spot on the corner of 12th & G Streets NW right outside of the Metro Center station, we put together our second annual PARK(ing) Day event with great success. We’re very proud of how the space turned out visually, and the Planning & Design/ Tree Planting departments’ design really utilized the full three parking spots. We tried to maximize the green effect of the pop-up park with several live trees (some oaks and honeylocusts), as well as a variety of small trees, plants, shrubbery, flowers, and grass. We also used some hay bales and re-purposed tree stumps to accent the green feeling, and highlighted the social and psychological impact of green public space with fresh-brewed sun tea and lemonade, a picnic table and re-purposed park bench, and our very own bean-bag toss game! (Of course, repurposed.)

We couldn’t have been happier with the response – people were awestruck to see so much unfamiliar greenery in the middle of the city, and dozens and dozens of people came up to ask who we were, what we were up to, and how we put the pop-up park together. Countless business and office-dwellers shared the news (and our information) with their coworkers, and we managed to rouse up quite a few games of bean-bag toss (and plenty of conversations about DC trees, too). Amongst all the fun we had, the purpose was never lost: to visually remind people of the importance public green space and its place everywhere, specifically in the heart of the city.


After taking extra care of all that greenery when packing up, we started early the very next day, spreading the word at the Barracks Row Fall Festival! We pitched our tent right at the center of the event (next to Zipcar!), on the corner of 8th & G St. SE. We were in the center of the event, and were greeted by a steady stream of not only those unsure of who we were or what we did, but also people who knew us well and couldn’t help but (actually) scream their appreciation! It was refreshing to hear from a multitude of young people how much they enjoyed their school plantings and wanted to do it again (as well as spin the prize wheel). Thanks for all those that came out, and we can’t wait to see you next weekend.. for our Brooks Mansion Grounds tree tour in honor of Brookland’s 125th anniversary!


To follow up with these events, check out these articles on them:

September 24, 2012 | Comments Off | Categories: Blog, Community Event, Outreach

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