Rosedale Recreation Center has been Demolished!

During Demolition - 17th & Gales Sts.


Before Demolition - 17th & Gales Sts.

*************** More Photos Follow ******************

And here is a post from the RCA listserv that says it all -

"Demolition has begun. A new Recreation Center will rise. A library will be be built where there hadn't been one before. And we all did it together. All of us.

RCA. RYI. RGO. All worked hand-in-hand. Rosedale neighbors got themselves down to the District Council over and over again. Our mayor pitched in. Tommy Wells helped at crucial times along with Charles Allen, his chief of staff.

Councilman Thomas and his key staff Council Staff member, Neil Rodgers, were surprised and responsive because we were always at Council meetings. And that "we" meant the Rosedale Community...men and women, multi-racial, different ages. We could always count on Councilmembers Alexander and Kwame Brown, too. The whole council listened and supported us.

RYI, with its orientation on sports, sent coach John Cotten to meetings where the community could speak out about the field and design of the building. RCA president, Nikki Bowens, was there carefully keeping us on track. RGO leader Sondra Phillips Gilbert added her voice to the chorus. Willie Smith brought his vision for area youth and the creation of H.O.O.D. to the table. ANC6A members never wavered. Members from Pilgrim church gave testimony at the Wilson Building. Despite our different backgrounds or because of them...we ordinary people were awesome and relentless.

District planners paid attention to the Rosedale community because we learned to work together by touring Rec Centers and Community Centers all around the District. We got to know several of the DPR people, including Bridget Stesney, and the architects. Brian Williams, Rosedale's tireless manager, literally steered us around town us on those tours. Sometimes we purred. Often we pouted. There days when we shouted. We weren't playing. We were working. And no one suggested that we stop.

I repeat that we, the people of Rosedale, were all amazing. All of us tore down the past to build the future. And I am proud to know so many of us."

Brit Wyckoff
RCA Outreach Committee Co-chair

**************** More Photos ****************


During Demolition - Gales St, looking west


Before Demolition - Gales St, looking west


During Demolition - West Side of Rec. Center, looking east


Before Demolition - West Side of Rec. Center, looking east


During Demolition - Courts, looking southwest


Before Demolition - Courts, looking southwest


During Demolition - Driveway, looking south


Before Demolition - Driveway, looking south


During Demolition - Fields & Back of Rec. Center, looking west


Before Demolition - Fields & Back of Rec. Center, looking west


Demolition photographs taken on August 22, 2010. Before images have been extracted from Google Street View.

Update on Rosedale Community Center & Library Construction

Here are some highlights from Mayor Fenty's Rosedale Community Center update press announcement last Friday, January 29, 2010.

• Construction will resume shortly and will stay close to its original completion schedule, now slated for June 2011
• Construction has been officially transferred to the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization (OPEFM), under the direction of Allen Lew
• The proposed RCC&L project scope remains intact (see highlight list below)

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And, below is the Office of the Mayor's media release, provided by Josh Hopkins (his contact info is below):

Mayor Fenty Provides Construction Update On Rosedale Recreation Center Modernization - Ward 6 Community Gathers to Discuss Ongoing Efforts
January 29, 2010


WASHINGTON, DC – Today Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Executive Director of the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization (OPEFM) Allen Y. Lew, and Interim Director of the Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) Jesus Aguirre joined the Ward-6 community to provide an update on renovation efforts scheduled for Rosedale Recreation Center.

“I am pleased to meet with the dedicated residents of this community to thank them for their endurance and commitment in seeing this project through to completion with us,” said Mayor Fenty. “I am confident that our team will create a first class facility that this community will be proud of.”

The $17 million complex will include the abatement and demolition of the existing recreation center and will feature a highly anticipated adjoining library and a brand new recreation facility with space for:

· child care center
· administration offices
· senior room
· computer lab
· gymnasium
· new locker rooms
· game room
· new athletic field and a refurbished pool

"It is a goal at DPR to meet the recreational needs of all of our residents, and the new Rosedale Recreation Center will meet that goal," said Interim Director Jesús Aguirre. "The community has asked for and is getting a new facility that will provide a safe and healthy environment for everyone to enjoy."

“We are working diligently to ensure the recreation center is built to this community’s liking,” said Director Lew. “As with many of our school and recreation projects, we are committed to the highest standards of sustainability.”

The administration held a groundbreaking to announce renovation plans on September 30, 2009 with a completion date of May 2011. After careful restructuring, the project has been slightly readjusted for a completion date of June 2011.

To stay informed of the recreation center’s progress, visit DPR 's project page for Rosedale Recreation Center

###

Josh Hopkins - Ward 6 Outreach and Service Specialist
Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Services
1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite 211 Washington, DC 20004
Direct: 202.340.8313
Email: joshua.hopkins@dc.gov
Website: http://mocrs.dc.gov

NBC 4 Reports on the Rosedale Community Center Project

NBC 4 reports on the ongoing controversy surrounding funds for 12 recreation center projects. It highlights Rosedale and quotes RCA's President Necothia "Nikki" Bowens about the now idle Rosedale Community Center and Library construction project. Read the full report here.

Senior Open Swim @ Rosedale Recreation Center Pool!

Rosedale Pool & Pool House (Image Extracted from Google Maps)

At the request of RCA's Outreach Committee, DPR has graciously and expeditiously started a Senior Open Swim (55 and older) on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30AM until 12PM at the Rosedale Recreation Pool. The program begins this coming Monday, June 15. Though the facilities are a bit dated, the restrooms, shower and changing areas, deck area and pool are very well maintained and exceptionally clean. And, the pool staff are professional, courtesy and helpful. So please let the community know about the new program and hours.

Please contact DPR's Aquatic Department Director Mr. Brendan McElroy, 202-341-5380 or brendan.mcelroy@dc.gov, for further information.


Rosedale Recreation Center Pool House (pool unfilled in foreground)

Also, Mr. McElroy and other DPR Aquatic Department staff, including a representative from their Capitol Projects team, are tentatively scheduled to attend RCA's July 13 monthly meeting (at the Rosedale Recreation Center) to discuss Rosedale pool programming, seek community input on potential aquatic programs and discuss how the exisitng pool will be integrated into the proposed new Rosedale Community Center, scheduled to break ground this fall.