News Archive

NOMA PARKS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES “SWAMPOODLE TERRACE” AS NAME SELECTED BY COMMUNITY FOR NEW PARK AT NORTHWEST CORNER OF 3RD & L STREETS NE

March 14, 2022

For Immediate Release
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NOMA PARKS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES “SWAMPOODLE TERRACE” AS NAME SELECTED BY COMMUNITY FOR NEW PARK AT NORTHWEST CORNER OF 3RD & L STREETS NE

Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen to introduce legislation to make Swampoodle Terrace the official name. Construction is currently underway.

March 14, 2022 (Washington, DC) — After seeking community input on what should be the permanent name for the new park coming to the northwest corner of 3rd & L Streets NE in NoMa and then putting the top three naming options to a public vote, the NoMa Parks Foundation (NPF) announced today that the winning name is “Swampoodle Terrace.”

Nearly 900 votes were cast online during the six-week community naming process which included the community suggestion round and the community voting round. “Swampoodle Terrace” received the most votes, surpassing the other two options by a more than 20% margin.

“The community’s choice of ‘Swampoodle Terrace” is completely fitting for our new park. The park’s design repeats many elements of its companion, Swampoodle Park, but it also includes a beautiful, terraced garden”, said Sandy Wilkes, Board Chair of the NoMa Parks Foundation. “We thank the community for its tremendous enthusiasm and active engagement in the naming process, and we want to extend our deep appreciation to Mayor Bowser and our DC government partners for their continuing support of the NoMa Parks initiative.”

The land for Swampoodle Terrace was purchased on behalf of the District and developed by NPF using grant funds provided by the city. Like other parks built by NPF, Swampoodle Terrace is owned by the District and is part of the inventory of public spaces managed by the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR).

“We thank the NoMa Parks Foundation for leading this community naming process and delivering another park for the benefit of all DC residents,” says Delano Hunter, DPR Director. “Improving community well-being by increasing access to public green spaces has been a high priority for Mayor Bowser since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Swampoodle Terrace will provide a great place for community members to gather and enjoy time outdoors with neighbors.”

Now that the community voting process is complete, Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen will introduce legislation to officially recognize the name “Swampoodle Terrace”.

“I’m thrilled to welcome this much-needed park to NoMa and Ward 6 and thank all of the Ward 6 neighbors who took time to suggest names and vote,” said Councilmember Charles Allen. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Council and Mayor Bowser to get formal approval of this fitting new name and to the opening of Swampoodle Terrace this fall.”

NPF first focused on acquiring the 5,800 square foot parcel at the northwest corner of 3rd and L streets NE immediately after acquiring the site for Swampoodle Park at the southwest corner of 3rd and L streets NE. It wasn’t until 2020 that Douglas Development became willing to sell the property. The acquisition was the fourth such land acquisition by the NPF. This and other projects of NPF are the product of the public-private partnership established in 2014 between NPF and the District government to identify opportunities, acquire land, design, and create parks for the formerly park- deficient NoMa neighborhood.

Swampoodle Terrace is being designed by District landscape architecture firm Lee and Associates. With construction currently underway, Swampoodle Terrace is expected to be open to the public in late 2022. NPF will share updates on Swampoodle Terrace construction and opportunities for continuing community involvement with NoMa parks at www.nomaparks.org.

For more information about the NoMa Parks Foundation, visit nomaparks.org and sign up for our newsletter. Follow the NoMa Parks Foundation on Twitter (@NoMaParksDC) and Facebook.

“Swampoodle II” Naming News: ROUND TWO ON “TWOSDAY” – THE VOTE TO NAME NOMA’S NEW PARK

February 22, 2022

For Immediate Release
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“Swampoodle II” Naming News

ROUND TWO ON “TWOSDAY” – THE VOTE TO NAME NOMA’S NEW PARK

Public Encouraged to Visit ImagineNoMaParks.org to Vote for Favorite Name by March 8th Deadline

February 22, 2022  (Washington, DC) – In the spirit of Twosday, 2/22/22, the NoMa Parks Foundation (NPF) is excited to kickoff Round Two of the community voting process for a permanent name for “Swampoodle II”,  NoMa’s newest park.

Since fall 2020 when the NPF acquired the vacant lot at 3rd & L Streets NE, this park project has been referred to as “Swampoodle II,” given its twin-like size and location directly across L Street NE from Swampoodle Park, which the NPF delivered to the community in 2018.

Round One of the community naming process yielded more than 200 nominations, with strong consensus emerging around the following three potential, permanent names for “Swampoodle II”:

  • Swampoodle Terrace– Dozens of people submitted this nomination and commented that the continuity with the name “Swampoodle Park” would be a positive feature, especially given the complementary nature and adjacency of the two properties which bookend each other. And many were fond of the word Swampoodle.
  • Union Garden —Supporters of this nomination liked the implicit reference to nearby important places like Union Station and Union Market, as well as the fact that this park would be a geographic link between those places. Additionally, several nominations appreciated that the definition of “union” means “coming together” and how this future new park will serve as a community gathering spot.
  • Tiber Creek Park– This was a popular nomination by many people who want the name of the new park to acknowledge the existence of Tiber Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River which was channeled into the Washington City Canal in 1815, and continues to flow underground, mostly in tunnels in NoMa and beyond. Many building projects in NoMa have had to contend with the unchanneled flows of Tiber Creek during construction.

Now it’s time for the Round Two voting process. The public is encouraged to visit the website, ImagineNoMaParks.org by 11:59 p.m. on March 8, 2022, to cast their vote for one of the top three finalist naming options. Those without Internet access can call (202) 289-0111 to request a ballot be sent in the mail.

“Once again, the community showed its thoughtfulness and enthusiasm for NoMa Parks and provided great input,” said Robin-Eve Jasper, NoMa Parks Foundation President. “Since good things come in twos, we look forward to another strong turnout in Round Two of the Swampoodle II community naming process!”

Round Two voting results will be announced on March 14, and, shortly thereafter, Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, a veteran and staunch supporter of the NoMa parks community naming process, will introduce formal legislation to name this new park to the DC Council.

For more information about the NoMa Parks Foundation, visit nomaparks.org and sign up for our newsletter. Follow the NoMa Parks Foundation on Twitter (@NoMaParksDC) and Facebook.

HELP NAME NOMA’S NEWEST PARK: Finalists for Swampoodle II Community Naming Process to be Announced on Twosday, February 22, 2022

January 28, 2022

For Immediate Release
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HELP NAME NOMA’S NEWEST PARK

Finalists for Swampoodle II Community Naming Process to be Announced on Twosday, February 22, 2022

January 28, 2022 (Washington, DC) – The NoMa Parks Foundation (NPF), an affiliate of the NoMa Business Improvement District (BID), is seeking community input to help officially name NoMa’s newest park, which has been going by the working name “Swampoodle II.”

Located at the northwest corner of 3rd and L Streets NE, the 5,800 square foot parcel of land was purchased in September 2020 by NPF with funds from the grant provided by the DC Government in 2014 to address the absence of parks and green spaces in the NoMa neighborhood.

“This new park, together with the other parks and public spaces that the NoMa Parks Foundation has delivered while working with our DC government partners and the community is proof positive of the effectiveness of strong public-private partnerships,” said Sandy Wilkes, Board Chair, NoMa Parks Foundation. “Now, once again, we are turning to the community to help us identify a compelling name that is meaningful and connects this important new public space to its current, former, and future neighbors.”

Community members are encouraged to propose permanent names for “Swampoodle II” by visiting the website, ImagineNoMaParks.org, where neighborhood background and design renderings can be reviewed. Those without Internet access can also call (202) 289-0111 to request a form be sent in the mail. Proposed names are subject to DC Government review and approval.

Round One of the “Swampoodle II” community naming process will be open until February 14, 2022 at 11:59 PM for the public to submit their first-round suggestions, which will be reviewed and narrowed down for a round of community voting.

Round Two of the “Swampoodle II” community naming process begins on February 22, 2022, which just happens to be a “Twosday” and closes on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 11:59 PM. Shortly thereafter, the final Round Two selections will be recommended to the DC Council and Mayor Muriel Bowser, who will make the final decision on the name for this delightful new park that will serve all District residents and visitors.

Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen has graciously agreed to sponsor the legislation to establish the official name for the park.

“Our Ward 6 community has been actively involved in advocating and caring for our treasured parks and welcoming public spaces in NoMa,” said Charles Allen, Ward 6 Councilmember. “As we build a community for the future, it is absolutely critical we are creating outdoor spaces that are welcoming and beautiful as an essential part of great quality of life. I thank the NoMa Parks Foundation for bringing another beautiful new park to the neighborhood and look forward to seeing the creative naming ideas our Ward 6 community will come up with again this time.”

The community’s enthusiasm and work in providing suggestions to the NoMa Parks Foundation for public park names led directly to the adoption of the name “Swampoodle Park” for the park on the southwest corner of 3rd and L NE, as well as the selection of “Alethia Tanner Park” for the large park that incorporates the Metropolitan Branch Trail further north in Ward 5.

“Naming NoMa parks has become a fun tradition, and community engagement in park naming has produced great results,“ said Robin-Eve Jasper, NoMa Parks Foundation President. “We are delighted that the DC Government has seen the benefit of this process. Get your creative juices flowing again and help us identify a name that will be just right and stand the test of time!”

The NoMa Parks Foundation looks forward to working with the community and the DC Government to activate and maintain this future park, as it has with all its previous projects, and will share updates and opportunities for continuing community engagement at www.nomaparks.org.

For more information about the NoMa Parks Foundation, visit nomaparks.org and sign up for our newsletter. Follow the NoMa Parks Foundation on Twitter (@NoMaParksDC) and Facebook.

Land Acquired for Yet Another New Park in NoMa

September 30, 2020

For Immediate Release
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Land Acquired for Yet Another New Park in NoMa 

Intersection at Third and L Streets NE Will Soon Feature Bookend Public Parks 

September 30, 2020 (Washington, DC) – The NoMa Parks Foundation, an affiliate of the NoMa Business Improvement District (BID), announced today that it has acquired the parcel at 1100 Third Street NE, at the corner of Third and L Streets NE. The now-vacant property, which consists of 5,800 square feet of land, will be turned into a public park owned by the District of Columbia government. 

“This parcel is the long lost twin sister to the adjacent, award-winning Swampoodle Park, which opened in 2018, and has become a neighborhood favorite for both people and pets,” said Robin-Eve Jasper, President of the NoMa Parks Foundation. “We look forward to working with the community and our DC government agency partners to deliver the perfect bookend to complement Swampoodle Park and bring yet another remarkable new park to NoMa for the community to share and enjoy for years to come.” 

The NoMa Parks Foundation purchased the property at 1100 Third Street NE from Jemal’s 1100 3rd LLC for $3.4 million. The acquisition is the fourth such land acquisition by the NoMa Parks Foundation since the D.C. Council in 2014 provided it with $50 million to identify opportunities to acquire land, design and create parks for the formerly park- deficient NoMa neighborhood. 

The NoMa neighborhood had no publicly accessible park spaces in 2012, leading to the public-private partnership between the NoMa Parks Foundation and the DC government to address the absence of parks and remedy this deficiency. Over the last eight years, the NoMa Parks Foundation has delivered four parks – Alethia Tanner Park (March 2020); Lightweave Underpass Art Park (2019); Rain Underpass Art Park (2018); and Swampoodle Park (2018). Additionally, the NoMa Parks Foundation has partnered with the District government to design three new open space parcels at the intersection of New York and Florida Avenues NE (“Virtual Circle”), worked with developers to assure the availability of publicly accessible private spaces like the NoMa Meander, and established public space design guidelines to assure that private owners provide park-like public spaces when developing new projects. Additional public space improvements are coming to the K Street underpass, the NoMa Meander, and at several other small sites throughout NoMa. 

“The purchase of this parcel marks the final acquisition in the remarkable story of the NoMa Parks Foundation’s success in fulfilling its mission to establish welcoming, sustainable, beautiful spaces where people can play, refresh and connect in NoMa,” said Sandy Wilkes, NoMa Parks Foundation Board Chair. “The progress made in establishing much needed green and public spaces throughout the NoMa neighborhood has only been possible through collaboration with our committed and visionary partners including Mayor Bowser, the Department of General Services, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the District Department of Transportation, the Commission on Arts and Humanities, and the DC Office of Planning.” 

“It is extremely rewarding to know that more greenspace will be coming to this area of NoMa that will help residents and visitors thrive, said Keith A. Anderson, Director of the Department of General Services. “DGS is excited to be able to deliver again on this network of parks to the NoMa community and the District on behalf of Mayor Bowser. We are proud to be part of this public-private partnership with the NoMa Parks Foundation, the Department of Parks and Recreation and the community.” 

NoMa Parks Foundation to Illuminate Lightweave Installation in L Street NE Underpass on April 9

April 03, 2019

For Immediate Release
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NoMa Parks Foundation to Illuminate Lightweave Installation in L Street NE Underpass on April 9

Six suspended lattices of steel and polycarbonate LED tubing will glow 24 hours a day, shifting colors in response to nearby ambient sounds.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the evening of Tuesday, April 9, the NoMa Parks Foundation will turn on the power for Lightweave, a dynamic and compelling light installation in the L Street NE railway underpass. Comprising six spiraling lattices of stainless steel and bent LED tubing suspended above the underpass sidewalks — three above each passageway, hung from freestanding armatures — the artwork will light up the space 24 hours a day, with LED colors changing and moving in response to sound waves from the sidewalk spaces and vibrations from trains passing overhead. Lightweave is the second of the NoMa Parks Foundation’s planned underpass “art parks” to open and was designed by interdisciplinary San Francisco art and design firm FUTUREFORMS. The first art park — Rain, in the M Street NE underpass — opened in October 2018. Read More