September 2010 - Parks & Recreation - 47

" The Tree "

Even though there are bad things in the community, this photo represents
the beauty that is also here. This photo affects me because there are many
beautiful places in the world, and this can be one of them. I like the friends
I have in my community, but I don't like the drug activity that is also here.
I can help my community by getting people involved in activities that can
make it safer. When I look at this photo, I feel peace and quiet.

-Max Bryant

" The Picnic of Hope "

This picture is great because two people, a mom and a daughter, are coming back to the park and picnicking like it used to be. There were changes
that day because someone was brave enough to have a picnic in the park.

-Erin Bryant

" Rise and Shine "

This photo is expressing growth. This photo relates to my community because there are many green spaces. When I look at this picture, I think of
growing plants. I like that there are trash cans in my community, I don't
like when I see litter around. I can help my community by telling people
not to litter.

-Pooka Morton

" Untitled "

As an artist, I am trying to express that there are a lot of wrong things in
the world, but I want people to understand that there is no excuse to do
drugs. This photo relates to my community because drugs are rampant in
my neighborhood. This photo is an example of something that makes being active/eating healthy hard because drug addicts do not live a healthy
lifestyle. This picture affects me because I have to avoid those that use
drugs on a regular basis. I don't like the drug addicts and violence in my
community. My favorite part of the community is the Rec Center and my
house. I can help my community by picking up trash and starting an antidrug class. When I look at my photo I feel pain and sadness.

-Max Bryant

" Fun Times "

This picture is expressing that kids like to have fun. Spirit is at the park.
Lots of kids utilize the park. I like my community because we live close to
the park. I feel that my sister is having a fun time in the photo. I love her
and I also go on those swings sometimes.

-Daquan Tolen

" The Playground "

I am trying to express the camera view through my photo. He doesn't
know I am taking the picture. I am sneaking up on him. The picture is also
showing the clouds and how it's about to rain. Being active is easy in the
playground because he is being athletic and balancing. This picture affects me because it shows that I can do it and take good pictures. I feel
happy when I look at this photo. I like the park because you can ride your
bike. I don't like how trash is on the ground everywhere. I can help pick
up trash. I also want more alarms for cars cause people steal them. I can
help my community by not littering and not loitering.

-Juany Morton

" Parks are not just an agency of the government,
they are the center of public life, " Coleman says.
" A park can be the center of helping to move the
concerns of a community forward, such as crime,
health, obesity, and illiteracy. "

" Parks Build Community "
In 2009, NRPA and its Parks Build Community
partners set out to continue the ongoing revitalization of Marvin Gaye Park in a way that would make
it a national model for urban community redevelopment. The initiative commenced with overarching goals of strengthening the connections
between the park and the local neighborhoods
and schools, celebrating the park's unique communities, and improving the health of the park and
the local residents.
" The Parks Build Community program is
founded on the understanding that the health
and well-being of communities are directly connected to the health and vitality of their
parks and open space, " says NRPA CEO Barbara Tulipane. " We wanted to develop a model
of park revitalization and sustainable community development, which could be shared and
replicated in other communities across the U.S. "
First up on the parks Build Community
agenda was the installation of a state-of-the-art
playground-the first public playground in the
neighborhood in 30 years. Made possible by
$400,000 in donations from Playworld Systems,
Kompan, Playcore, and Surface America, the
playground included swings, climbing structures, spin apparatuses, and 5,600 square feet
of new surfacing. In creating the playground,
the partners focused on demonstrating the
positive effects of a built environment on the
physical activity and health of urban minority youth and providing the community a safe
and inclusive place for both disabled and ablebodied people of all ages to recreate.
The location for the playground-at the intersection of Division Avenue and Marvin Gaye
Way-was chosen after years of testing and input from the children of the community. It was
a risk, due to the fact that the location was what
Coleman describes as " the most desperate
spot in the entire corridor. "
In August 2009, with support from the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority, and
student volunteers from American University, a
special ribbon cutting launched the playground,

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SEPTEMBER 2010

Parks & Recreation 45

September 2010 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2010 - Parks & Recreation