District Of Columbia 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

District Of Columbia Council Bill CER25-0235 Introduced / Bill

Filed 05/06/2024

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Councilmember Christina Henderson  Councilmember Trayon White, Sr.  2 
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Councilmember Zachary Parker             Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie 6 
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Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau   Councilmember Robert White, Jr. 10 
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Councilmember Vincent C. Gray  Councilmember Charles Allen 14 
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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 19 
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 22 
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To recognize and honor the many contributions of Oxon Run Park to the health and wellness of 26 
 of District residents and visitors, and to declare August 17, 2024, as Oxon Run Day. 27 
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 WHEREAS, the federal government transferred Oxon Run Park to the District in 1971 to 29 
improve the health and wellness of all District residents; 30 
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 WHEREAS, Oxon Run Park is located in Ward 8 and is the largest park in the 32 
Department of Park and Recreation’s inventory, with a 3-mile, 128-acre circumference, and one 33 
of the largest collections of Legacy Cherry Blossom Trees outside of the Tidal Basin; 34 
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 WHEREAS, Oxon Run Park has served a critical role in meeting the educational and 36 
recreational needs of residents and visitors since 1942 and supports basketball, baseball, tennis, 37 
yoga, swimming, and hiking activities, as well as bike paths and walking trails; 38 
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 WHEREAS, Oxon Run Park is the site of the James E. Bunn amphitheater, named after 40 
the Ward 8 businessman and civil leader, and the site of 4000 square feet of playground space for 41 
the safe enjoyment of District youth and visitors; 42 
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 WHEREAS, Oxon Run Park is the site of the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, a 44 
state of the art tennis facility that hosts more than 20 official US Tennis Association events each 45 
year and has served more than 10,000 District youth by providing tennis instruction, tutoring, life 46 
 
 
   skills instruction, chess instruction, and the use of a computer center and library since its opening 47 
in 2001; 48 
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 WHEREAS, Oxon Run Park has partnered with the District Department of Energy and 50 
The Environment to establish a community renewable energy facility that produces 2.65 51 
megawatts of clean solar energy and delivers energy to 750 nearby households;  52 
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 WHEREAS, as a result of persistent concerns regarding the nutritional choices available 54 
in East of the River Communities, the Well at Oxon Run was established; a one acre, 20,000 55 
square foot of land which provides fruits and vegetables to the Ward 8 community and the 56 
District at large, and supports collective learning and education on urban farming practices and 57 
the eradication of food deserts;   58 
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 WHEREAS, the Department of Parks and Recreation began an agreement with residents 60 
concerned with the future development of the park and its mission, and formed the Friends of 61 
Oxon Run Coalition in 2017 to help improve the overall maintenance and programming 62 
available at the park;  63 
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 WHEREAS, Friends of Oxon Run have entered significant partnerships to improve the 65 
Park including the University of the District of Columbia, the Department of Energy and the 66 
Environment, the Alice Ferguson Foundation, Eagle Academy Public Charter School, the 67 
Washington Area Bicyclist Association, the DC Audubon Society, and many more; 68 
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 WHEREAS, the continued improvement and progressive use of Oxon Run Park is of 70 
great benefit to the overall health, wellness, and enjoyment of District residents and visitors; 71 
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RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this 73 
resolution may be cited as the “Oxon Run Park Day Recognition Resolution of 2024”. 74 
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Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors the invaluable 76 
contributions of Oxon Run Park to the health, safety, and sustainability of the District and 77 
visitors and declares August 17, 2024, as Oxon Run Park Day. 78 
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Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in 80 
the District of Columbia Register.    81