A week before I delivered Lucy in 2009, I sat with a group of expecting mothers as we listened to the mother of an 18-month-old first express her frustration. She pointed out that the first barrier to living with a baby downtown was not the issue of the schools, but the lack of playgrounds. There is no safe, enclosed space for free play located outside. The National Building Museum and Kogod Courtyard at the National Portrait Gallery allow for indoor play, but a place
for rugged outdoor exercise is lacking. And when my toddler doesn’t get enough exercise, she doesn’t sleep. Our tiny downtown condo doesn’t provide her with the adequate incidental exercise of climbing stairs or running out into the back yard. Granted I have gotten lots of exercise pushing her stroller from one monument to the next so that I can hover as she chases the ducks amongst the tourists. It would be so nice to have a small space where I can sit and relax while she climbs, slides, runs, explores and maybe even make new friends.

As part of the WIN program, we have identified three pieces of land as potential play spaces – the Carnegie Library located directly north of Calvary on 8th Street, the Chinatown Park (aka Reservation 72) located at 5th & I, and City Center just under development at the old convention center site. We have also held two community meetings, started a web site and set up several meetings. This week, I will be meeting with a representative from Jack Evans’ office, offices of the Chinatown Cultural Community Center, Terry Lynch of the Downtown Cluster of Congregations and Philippa Hughes of The Pink Line Project. We understand that land is a premium in Downtown DC, so we are open to creative partnerships and out-of-the-box thinking.

I ask directly for Calvary’s support in this endeavor. As we move into Calvary’s 150th year in Downtown DC, it is important to recognize the changing demographics in the area. For years, Calvary has served the local population in a countless number of ways. At this time, we can reach out to new families by encouraging them not to give up and flee to the suburbs. By championing this cause of outdoor play space, we can help support the physical and mental health of small families during a very physically demanding time in their lives – when their small child will run without fear as hard as they can.

How can you help?
1. Spread the word.
See a new family or pregnant mom. Tell her about downtowndckids.org and the growing community of families choosing to stay downtown.
2. Share ideas.
Know of any land, sidewalk, parking lot, rooftop, alley, new development, even empty store fronts where kids might be able to play? Let me know.
3. Show up.
As we meet with government representatives and developers, we will need people present to show that we want our voices heard.

A new play space will not only serve the families living downtown, but our youngest congregation members who visit Calvary each week. Plus all of the children who attend day care downtown while their parents work. Some government day cares have playgrounds, but many private organizations do not. And the millions of children who visit our city every year, who patiently contain themselves in their strollers, but need a free place to burn off their energy.