PR 24-0314 — Sense of the Council Supporting the Establishment of Amigos Park Resolution of 2021

_____________________________ENROLLED _____________________________ORIGINAL CouncilmemberA RobertRESOLUTION C.24-239 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA October 5, 2021 To declare the sense of the Council supporting the establishment of a public park at the intersection of Mount Pleasant Street, N.W.

White,and Jr.Kenyon Street, N.W.

Councilmember Brianne K.

Nadeau 4 6 _____________________________ _____________________________ Councilmember Brooke Pinto Councilmember Elissa Silverman 9 A PROPOSED RESOLUTION _________________________ IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA _________________________ To declare the sense of the Council supporting the establishment of a public park at the intersection of Mount Pleasant Street, N.W.

and Kenyon Street, N.W..

(1) The Mount Pleasant neighborhood became home to a large population of Central American immigrants beginning in the 1970s and the 1980s, particularly Salvadoran residents fleeing conflict andwho establishingestablished communities in the District of Columbia.

(2) Throughout the following decades, these residents created in Mount Pleasant a hub of Salvadoran and Central American community organizing and culture, including tenant organizing, musical performance,performances, restaurants, grocers, retail, and healthcare clinics.

(3) The intersection of Mount Pleasant Street, N.W., and Kenyon Street, N.W.

and Kenyon Street, N.W.

(4) La Esquina and the “Esquineros” who frequent it were the subject of a Smithsonian Folklife exhibition in 2018, which notes that the space is used by many to “share stories of life back home in Latin America, journey[s] to D.C., and life in the Latino barrio…barrio…. In fact, many consider this corner a second home.” (5) For many years, Esquineros and other residents have advocated for an improved park space at the northwest corner of Mount Pleasant Street, N.W.

In fact, many consider this corner a second home.” (5) For many years, Esquineros and other residents have advocated for an improved park space at the northwest corner of Mount Pleasant Street, N.W.

(6) In 2017, the nonprofit Green Spaces for DC helped residents and advocates to incorporate an “AmigosAmigos Park”Park organization to advance the cause of “turning the small, fenced greenspace located at northwest corner of Mr.

into a public park.” ENROLLED ORIGINAL (7) The establishment of Amigos Park has been supported by two2 unanimous votes ofby ANC 1D.

In a letter from October,October 2019, they state:

Many of our members would welcome such a place to stop, to meet and to engage with our community outside our homes…Manyhomes…. of our members have lived in Mount Pleasant for decades, and with those years have come the appreciation of the special diversity of our neighborhood across ages and cultures.” (9) District Bridges, a nonprofit organization that manages the Mount Pleasant Main Street, has also expressed strong support for a formalized park space.

Many of our members have lived in Mount Pleasant for decades, and with those years have come the appreciation of the special diversity of our neighborhood across ages and cultures.” (9) District Bridges, a nonprofit organization that manages the Mount Pleasant Main Street, has also expressed strong support for a formalized park space.

This space is currently underutilized, and it would benefit all the residents of Mount Pleasant.” (10) The space in question is approximately 1700 square feet and is bisected by a fenced-fenced-in in planting area that often poses a rodent and trash problem.

It is the sense of the Council,Council that creating a legitimate park or plaza space at the northwest corner of Mount Pleasant Street, N.W.

The District government should use its existing FY21 resources to engage in negotiations with the property owner and the established Amigos Park ENROLLED ORIGINAL organization to establish a lease or other agreement that allows the fencing to be removed and future improvements to be made.

This resolution shall take effect immediatelyimmediately. upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.