potomac triangle parks reclamation project

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Several years ago the Potomac Triangle Parks, public spaces located between the Potomac Gardens and Hopkins Apartments public housing complexes (in Southeast Washington DC) were renovated. However, the ambitious plans never fully came to fruition because the government funding ran out before any meaningful landscaping could be done. Provisions for maintenance fell by the wayside as well, resulting in conditions wrought by neglect overtaking the parcels. Disuse fostered an unsafe environment that led to tragedy in October 2019.

In June 2020, ANC Commissioner Kelly Waud (6B07) and Naomi Mitchell, Community Liaison for Councilmember Charles Allen asked Guerrilla Gardeners of Washington DC to rescue the Potomac Triangle Parks from the downward spiral. They helped us form an alliance with Brothas Huddle to organize the residents of Potomac Gardens and Hopkins to reclaim these overgrown and underutilized spaces and make them more attractive, usable and safe - and keep them that way. Other groups, including Washington Naval Lodge No. 4 joined in the reclamation effort.

Our collaboration empowered the residents of this community to assume collective "ownership" of these spaces in order to improve and maintain them for their own use and benefit through "sweat equity." Neighbors embraced the residents of Potomac Gardens and Hopkins through this project with donations and physical labor.  

Capitol Hill Corner: Guerrilla Gardeners Rally Community to Take on Potomac Avenue Triangle Park

Guerrilla Blog: Unsung Heroes of Potomac Triangle Parks

By the end of September, the parks had been cleaned up and gardens filled with chrysanthemums replaced weed patches. Volunteers returned in November to plant bulbs, daylilies and liriope for the following year's bloom. 

Hill Rag: Guerrilla Gardeners Give Triangle Parks a New Look

The commitment of Guerrilla Gardeners of Washington DC to the Potomac Triangle Parks and the Potomac Gardens and Hopkins community is broad, strong and long term, extending to the end of 2025. During this period, an autonomous "Friends of" group will be established to maintain and further develop the parks.

In addition to landscape improvement and maintenance, we will offer education and training opportunities as well as organizing and supporting creative programming for these spaces working with Brothas Huddle and other groups.