Greetings!
This year was an amazing year for the Friends of Noyes Park! 2015 marked our second successful community garden season, with thirteen community members tending plots. Additionally, two public groups, and Noyes Elementary School used designated public plots to learn more about gardening. We extend gracious thanks to Menomale for donating equipment, soil, and seedlings for the community garden for a second straight year. Noyes Park also received three garden upgrades. The community garden received additional plots, and a fence and gate that surround the garden. In addition, Noyes Park was selected by the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) as the Ward 5 recipient for a native species garden, which sits on the hill on the east side of the park.
We organized monthly cleanups on the second Saturday of each month from April to October. Our April cleanup doubled as our kickoff to the community garden, while our October cleanup included our annual community meeting and barbeque. We would like to thank all of our cleanup attendees for their participation, and The Menkiti Group for providing snacks and bottled water. The park also saw two major landscaping improvements. This summer, we worked with DPR and Councilmember McDuffie’s office to resurface the park play area of the park. In September, George Washington University provided mulch and student volunteers to spread mulch around the trees that line the park.
Lastly, The Friends of Noyes Park has been working to create a solid foundation for the organization, and to increase the potential for programs and community partnerships. In 2015 we obtained our tax exemption certificate and charitable solicitation license, which enables us to fundraise for park cleanups and future community programs and events. We also received a donation from Dantes Partners, which helps ensure the financial viability of the organization.
Thanks to overwhelming support from the community and local businesses, we received a letter of support from ANC5B to be awarded official “Friends Of” status through DPR. We submitted our application to DPR and hope to receive approval in 2016. Thank you to the 190 community members for your signatures of support, and to the Boy Scouts Troup 98, Brookland’s Finest, Brookland Pint, the Cub Scouts Troup 98, the Dew Drop Inn, Menomale, Serendipity, Smith Public Trust, and Steel Plate for your letters of support to ANC5B.
We are now in the process of looking for additional Board of Directors Members for 2016. If you would like to help support our mission and contribute to the stewardship of the park on an ongoing basis, please consider applying to be a Board Member. Feel free to email or call me for more information.
The Friends of Noyes Park sincerely appreciates all of the community participation and support. We look forward to another great year in 2016!
Sincerely,
Kyle Macken