News Archive

NoMa’s newest park officially opens Wednesday (Oct. 19)!!

October 13, 2022

We’ve all heard “good things come in small packages”. Well, Swampoodle Terrace proves it! This delight-filled, small park at the corner of 3rd and L streets NE, is beautiful and inviting. It is chockablock with trees and plants, as well as useful and restful spaces for NoMa neighbors.

Read more from Popville.

Swampoodle Terrace Ribbon-Cutting

October 07, 2022

Swampoodle Terrace  We’ve all heard “good things come in small packages”. Well, Swampoodle Terrace proves it! This delight-filled, small park at the corner of 3rd and L streets NE, is beautiful and inviting. It is chockablock with trees and plants, as well as useful and restful spaces for NoMa neighbors. It’s been nearly eight years since the NoMa Parks Foundation (NPF) began its public-private partnership with the DC Government, and Swampoodle Terrace will be one of the final projects delivered for NoMa community members. The land was acquired in 2020 after five years of pursuit and longing for a bookend to Swampoodle Park. It was the fourth successful land acquisition in the joint effort of NPF and the DC Government. The park was designed by Lee and Associates and constructed by Forrester Construction. Support and guidance throughout the process were provided by the DC Departments of Parks and Recreation, General Services, and Transportation, ANC6C – especially through the Environment, Parks, and Events, and Transportation and Public Space committees – as well as by NoMa residents. NPF and NoMa BID are grateful for the engagement and commitment of our many partners over the last eight years. Together the two spaces, Swampoodle Park and Swampoodle Terrace, will fill many of the aspirations that the NoMa community expressed during stakeholder meetings leading up to the creation of the 2012 NoMa Public Realm Design Plan. That Plan was the framework document for the grant provided by the District to NPF and the guide for the activities NPF undertook. Swampoodle Terrace includes important new community gathering spaces, serving capability for events and storage for park equipment in a specially designed shipping container, flexible play and performance space, plenty of seating, a shade pergola, and beautiful plantings – including a community herb garden. Changes to adjacent public spaces are comprised of a lovely, terraced entry, curb bulb-outs for traffic-calming, new bike racks, and two micro-mobility corrals. When seen and used together with Swampoodle Park, its award-winning sister park directly across the street, the parks address a wider range of play needs – for both kids and dogs – and even more seating options. With the opening of Swampoodle Terrace, NPF has created a unique and lovely green interlude for this once park-starved area. The ribbon-cutting for Swampoodle Terrace is scheduled for October 19th at 5 p.m. Please join NPF and our District partners as we celebrate the opening of this charming new park.

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 3^rd & 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.