DDOT and Community Celebrate Restoration of Old Market House Square in Anacostia

(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Ward 8 councilmember Marion Barry and community leaders today broke ground on the restoration of Old Market House Square in historic Anacostia. DDOT is making the improvements, but the project is the culmination of a determined, community-led effort to transform the small, little used median park in 14th Street, SE between U and V Streets, into a beautiful neighborhood amenity with new lighting, benches, paths, plants and trees.

“We are pleased to partner with the community to complete this great project, but they deserve all the credit for getting us to this point,” said DDOT Associate Director Karina Ricks. “They took the initiative to make a positive change in their neighborhood and when the work is done we anticipate this square will be a magnetic community amenity attracting students looking for a quiet reading spot, local chess enthusiasts, farmers’ markets and music performances.”

The restoration of Old Market House Square was spearheaded by a small group of church patrons, historians, community advocates, business district leaders, long-time and new residents. The optimism and passion of these community leaders quickly attracted willing partners to help them implement their compelling vision: the TKF foundation of Maryland* provided critical financial support, DDOT Trees preserved the majestic and towering existing trees while Casey Trees will add lovely flowering species to define the space and provide seasonal interest. In addition, DDOT provided funding and technical support to bring the project to fruition.

“This project represents a community with no boundaries and a group of people with like hearts,” said Marie Zackrie-Hall, a community leader of the effort to restore the park.

This median park was renamed John A. Logan Park in 1908, but the community has requested that it once again be known by its historic name, Old Market House Square. The $560,000 restoration is scheduled to be completed in late September.

*The TKF Foundation is a private grant-making foundation whose purpose is to inspire and create "Open Spaces, Sacred Places". For more information visit their website at www.tkffdn.org .