APACC July Newsletter

StoryTime Series with MPD in Oxon Run Park

Our StoryTime series with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Oxon Run Park have been a roaring success. More than 125 children from the Washington Highland Public Housing summer camp and the Eagle Academy Day Care Center have participated in these events. DC Public Library provided books for all the children to take home, and read with MPD captains Ashley Archer and Joseph Dorsey stories such as My America by Karen Katz and Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller. Right Directions provided ice cream for the children to cool off after storytime. We had a brief scare when one of the children was stung, and we discovered a hornet nest under one of the amphitheater steps. The little girl was treated and is fine, and we reported the hive to the Department of Parks & Recreation. We also learned after the event that one of the participants was infected with Covid. So far everyone seems to be alright, and we have refrained from additional in-person meetings and events.

DCBIA Community Project in Oxon Run Park 

The meeting was held on Wednesday, July 13th at 6 pm at THEARC. The DC Building Industry Association presented their design plans for their community volunteer project in Oxon Run Park in September, and included a beautiful rendering of a wall design for the amphitheater to make it more professional for theater performances. The engineers will also lift and expand the stage in the amphitheater. The most exciting thing is there will be a sensory walk with chimes and other fun intergenerational stations for everyone to enjoy. The plans still have to pass muster with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation.

Other Updates

July 14 Citizens Forest Health Working Group

21 people attended the meeting.  Damien Ossi of the DC Department of Energy & the Environment was the guest speaker.  I forwarded his powerpoint shortly after the meeting.  The next meeting is scheduled for September 2022.

July 15 APACC General Meeting

We had a fantastic meeting with presentations from Josh Burch of the Department of Energy and Environment on Stream Restoration in the District, and Michaela Munson from Casey Trees made a presentation on the tree canopy in disfavored communities.