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Washington, D.C., May 23, 2013 – A network of parks for the NoMa neighborhood is now closer to reality, as the District of Columbia Council voted yesterday to include $50 million in the FY14 budget for parks, playgrounds and greenspace in this rapidly growing DC neighborhood.

None of this would have happened without the support and hard work of literally hundreds of people, and this week the neighborhood is buzzing with excitement.

“We’d like to thank Mayor Vincent Gray and each member of the DC Council for recognizing the great need in this area for recreation, gathering spaces, and nature,” said Robin-Eve Jasper, President of the NoMa Business Improvement District. The NoMa BID has worked hard, alongside hundreds of NoMa neighbors, to tell the story of nearly 20,000 NoMa neighborhood residents who have virtually no green spaces. “Many thanks to all the community members who supported this effort, and to the Mayor and the Council and who have joined us in the planning efforts over the last couple of years,” Jasper said. “Building great parks and public spaces in NoMa is a privilege and responsibility, and we are looking forward to working closely with of all our residents and stakeholders to deliver truly exceptional public spaces.”

The Council will vote on the budget one more time before it is signed by the mayor.

ANC Commissioner Tony Goodman thanked those who wrote letters, and the more than 1,000 people who signed petitions. NoMa BID staff announced the parks funding at the debut of NoMa Summer Screen Wednesday evening, and the news was met with a huge round of applause and many whoops.

What happens next?

To learn more about the proposed parks, view the framework of the Public Realm Design Plan. This plan was created after months of careful analysis and with input from a cross-section of community stakeholders. If the funding is secured, there will be much more work to do to design and then build the parks. The parks have to be planned, and land must be purchased. Throughout the process, planners and area residents will evaluate the proposed park designs in terms of their ability to bring neighbors together and to fulfill individual, family, and community space needs. Additionally, final designs will incorporate the best available thinking on urban parks, public safety, sustainability, handicapped accessibility, and ease of maintenance.

If you would like to get involved in the upcoming planning process, please contact Galin Brooks, Planning Manager, at [email protected] or 202-289-0111 x 6.

About NoMa

NoMa is a vibrant, growing neighborhood north of Union Station and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. In the last seven years, private developers have invested more than $5 billion in the 35-block areas in the NoMa BID boundary, and have plans to develop more than 20 million square feet of office, residential, hotel, and retail space. NoMa is now home to 45,000 daytime workers, with 4.5 million SF leased in the last 4.5 years. More than 3,900 apartments have been recently completed or are under construction. NoMa has 13 modes of transportation, including two Red Line Metro stops, and the best biking facilities in D.C., with the only East Coast Bikestation, the 8-mile Metropolitan Branch Trail, and access to nine Capital Bikeshare stations. NoMa is the most connected neighborhood in Washington, D.C. The NoMa BID organizes more than 50 free community events each year to connect friends and neighbors. For more information about NoMa, visit nomabid.wpengine.com and sign up for our bimonthly newsletter. Follow us on Twitter @NoMaBID and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nomabid.

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For immediate release

News media contact:

Rachel Davis

202-997-3846

[email protected]

Get Ready for a Spooktacular Time! Join us at Alethia Tanner Park on Thursday, October 24 for PumpkinPalooza!

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