Community Opportunity to Collaborate with AFRH, Beautify Park Place Fence Area
AFRH fence along Park Place, NW
On Friday, April 15, 2011, I had the pleasure of meeting with Justin Seffens, Chief of Campus Operations at the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH). I scheduled the appointment to discuss a possible collaboration between the community and the AFRH. In short, I wanted to know if there was any possibility of assisting the AFRH paint the fence along Park Place or plant wildflowers along the fence. Both would greatly enhance the streetscape along the roadway.
I was encouraged by how receptive Mr. Seffens was to both ideas. Not surprisingly, repair and painting the fence along Park Place is a relatively low priority for the facility since they are currently engaged in renovating some of their older buildings — but if there is enough interest in the community and volunteers can be found the AFRH would see if they could provide the supplies.
Seffens also like the idea of planting the easement along the roadway/fence with seasonal plantings. If done correctly it could reduce the amount of maintenance required to keep the fence area up in addition to creation a more pleasant view. His only concern was that whatever is planted there can not propagate by seeds since he needs to protect the golf course. I offered that a list of proposed plants could be submitted to the AFRH in advance for approval, which Seffens liked.
While there are further conversations that need to occur with the AFRH, I’m going to throw this out to the community. Is this something that residents would 1) like to see happen, and 2) would be willing to participate in?
Tags: AFRH, Park Place, streets
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Park View, D.C. 
April 18, 2011 at 9:01 am
Count me in on this, great idea Kent. Did you by chance mention removing the barbwire at the top of the fence? In any case, even just some plantings would be a great improvement. The AFRH should be a focus point for the neighborhood, not a barrier.
April 18, 2011 at 9:13 pm
I’ve mentioned the barbwire at the top before and I’ve been told that it’s scheduled for removal. I’m sure we could quicken that with our involvement.
April 18, 2011 at 11:15 am
1) YES, I would like to see this happen.
2) YES, I would be willing to participate.
Park View along Park Place deserves to be “parked” up.
April 18, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Count me in…
April 18, 2011 at 11:58 pm
Would there be any chance of leveraging this relationship to the point they allow residents of the area to use the grounds as a park?
April 19, 2011 at 7:52 am
Leo and I would certainly like to see the fence area beautified and we’d certainly be willing to do the work necessary to make it happen.
Please count us in.
April 27, 2011 at 9:51 pm
Happy to lend a hand Kent!