History

The Friends of Noyes Park (FoNP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created to ensure Noyes Park remains a beautiful and well-maintained community space for all to enjoy. FoNP stewards, advocates, and hosts programming, education, and events to help maintain the grounds and assist in the planning process for the park.

Noyes Park is located at 1000 Franklin Street NE in Ward 5, and is classified by DPR as a Small Park. The park was constructed in 2013 and includes a pavilion for community events, children's play area, exercise equipment, an artificial turf field, a community garden, and a picnic area with grills and tables. The park playground is an extremely popular neighborhood asset and is regularly used by neighborhood children with their parents and caretakers as well as students attending nearby K-12 education facilities through all seasons. 

The Friends of Noyes Park formed shortly after park construction was completed, and has been actively leading stewardship activities at Noyes Park for nearly a decade. In 2016, FoNP became an official Park Partner through a cooperative agreement with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation. Since its inception, the Friends of Noyes Park has hosted nearly 50 park cleanups and facilitated over 5000 hours of volunteer work from neighborhood residents, local university students, and returning citizens. FoNP also manages the Noyes Park Community Garden and the Noyes Park Playground and recreation areas, spaces which engage patrons across a wide variety of ages, racial demographics, income levels, and backgrounds that reflect the rich diversity of the surrounding community. 

In addition, the Friends of Noyes Park has been a longstanding advocate for consistent and high-quality park maintenance activities by the DC agencies charged with implementing these aspects of care at Noyes Park and community spaces throughout the District, including the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of General Services, Department of Transportation Urban Forestry Division, and the Department of Public Works. When necessary, FoNP has engaged the local ANC, the DC Council, and Mayor Bowser directly to ensure the park is adequately maintained.

Our volunteer Board of Directors maintains the park in a variety of different ways. We manage the community garden, and hold monthly cleanup events the second Saturday of every month from April through October. We also work with area businesses and organizations to provide educational opportunities within the park.

Our work is made possible by the in-kind and financial support of individual neighbors, local businesses, and government agencies who trust FoNP to fulfill our organizational mission in safe, equitable, and engaging ways.

2025 Board of directors 

President: Lionel Foster

A resident of Brookland since 2019, Lionel joined the FoNP board in 2023. He has a background in urban planning, law, and public policy. The park is practically in his backyard, so on many warm days you will find him practicing trumpet or cornet (the trumpet’s shorter, mellower sibling) near the community garden. Feel free to say hello.

Treasurer: Derek Schultz

Derek joined the board in 2015 and has held various professional parks management and maintenance positions including time at DC Parks and Recreation where he played a role in the initial construction of Noyes Park. He is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) and enjoys working with the board to ensure Noyes Park remains a well maintained community asset.

Secretary: Marilyn Turner

Marilyn Turner joined the Friends of Noyes Park Board in 2023. She lives and works in Ward 5 and has been a career fundraiser since moving to DC in 2001. Marilyn and her husband bought a home in Edgewood in 2019 and have had a garden plot in Noyes Park since 2020. Marilyn enjoys outdoor activities, is an avid reader, and loves cooking, especially with the produce grown in the garden. 

Co-Garden Coordinator: Andrew Benson

Andrew joined the FONP board in 2023 serving as a garden coordinator. When his hands aren’t in the dirt, he enjoys photography, learning about DC’s history, and playing recreational sports. Andrew lives in Brookland with his partner and works in higher-ed marketing. 

Co-Garden Coordinator: Damon Anderson

Events Coordinator: Brandon Sousa

Communications Coordinator: Smita Gaith

Smita joined the Friends of Noyes Park board in 2025. She lives in Brookland and enjoys spending time at Noyes Park with her family and attempting to grow a green thumb in a community garden plot. She’s excited to support outreach efforts that promote the park as a vibrant space for community and connection. Throughout her career, Smita has worked in communications, public affairs, research translation, and knowledge management across think tank, advocacy, and government settings.

Fundraising Coordinator: Caroline Quat

Caroline has lived in Brookland since 2022 and joined the FoNP Board in 2025. She lives in the neighborhood with her husband, two young kids, and dog Brooklyn. She's a healthcare lobbyist by day, and busy mom who loves a good reality show or romantsy book by night. Her family loves the park and spends a lot of time there - if you see them, stop and say hello!

Interested in joining us?

Friends of Noyes Park is always looking for additional volunteers. If you are interested, you can either partner with us on neighborhood initiatives, or become a board member. FoNP currently has one open board vacancy. Please complete the board member expression of interest form to get involved!