This year, the Friends of Noyes Park is participating in #givingtuesday to raise funds in support of our community garden, special programming, and to promote beautification at Noyes Park. Our volunteer-run organization operates off a very small budget, and we make every dollar you give go a long way! We're trying to raise $1,000 to fully fund our 2018 initiatives. You can help us achieve this goal by donating today:
Community Compost Bins
Ever wonder what the composting bins near the gas station are for? They are part of DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR)’s composting program. DPR trains volunteers to maintain compost in gardens throughout DC, including at Noyes Park. Friends of Noyes Park supports this program from the sidelines and is not directly involved. If you’d like to become a DPR compost volunteer at Noyes Park or for more general information, please visit: https://dpr.dc.gov/page/community-compost-cooperative-network
Additionally, individuals and families can drop off food scraps for free on Saturdays at the Monroe Street Farmers’ Market. You can drop them at the Compost Cab booth. More info about that can be found here: https://dpw.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff
Board Member Opportunity
The Friends of Noyes Park are looking for a few talented and conscientious volunteer board members to help support the mission of maintaining a safe and beautiful Noyes Park. If you can contribute your time, thoughtfulness, and leadership as outlined below and are interested in exploring this opportunity, please complete the board member expression of interest form. We're especially looking for folks with accounting experience, landscaping backgrounds, gardening experience, or just a passion for being active in the community.
Commitment:
One evening a month for board meetings (first Monday of the month).
Two to three Saturdays a year for park clean-ups and volunteer events.
Coordination of park projects related to board expertise area.
2017 Community Garden Plot Registration Open
The Noyes Park Community Garden Group seeks residents to register for garden plots in Noyes Park for the 2017 growing season. The Noyes Community Garden has twenty 8' by 4' plots. At least two of these plots will be reserved for public use and planted in conjunction with local youth and school children, and the remaining will be available for individuals or groups within the community. All DC residents who are not already tending a garden plot in a DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) garden are eligible to sign up for a garden plot. There is a $30 yearly fee to use the plots in Noyes Park.
To register, please click here and fill out the form to be entered into our 2017 Garden Plot Lottery.
Thank you!
Spring Cleaning Time at Noyes Park
After a few tempting days of summer-like weather last month, April has settled squarely into spring. Sure, there have been morning chills and gloomy days, but with that comes budding flowers, green leaves, and longer daytime hours. At FoNP, we're preparing for our first cleanup event of 2016, which is scheduled for tomorrow, April 9th. Noyes Park needs a little spring cleaning, so to speak.
Our monthly cleanup events focus mainly on park beautification. We pick up a lot of litter, pull weeds, sweep paths, and do other work to maintain Noyes Park's appearance. But this first cleanup of 2016 is a special event. Those of you that signed up for our community garden will join us to turn over the soil, and perhaps get your first seeds into the ground, as we look forward to a successful growing season here in DC.
We are also incorporating a community meeting into the cleanup event. After the cleanup, stick around for snacks and refreshments and talk with your neighbors or fellow community gardeners. Meet the board, including our newest member, Ed Garnett, and discuss what you'd like to see in the park, or any praise or concerns you may have.
It will be nice to spend a brisk morning in the park. We hope you join us to keep Noyes Park a beautiful and safe space for the community.
Kyle Macken
President, FoNP
2016 Community Garden Plot Registration Open
The Noyes Park Community Garden Group seeks residents to register for garden plots in Noyes Park for the 2016 growing season. The Noyes Community Garden has twenty 8' by 4' plots. At least two of these plots will be reserved for public use and planted in conjunction with local youth and school children, and the remaining will be available for individuals or groups within the community. All DC residents who are not already tending a garden plot in a DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) garden are eligible to sign up for a garden plot. There is a $30 yearly fee to use the plots in Noyes Park.
To register, please click here and fill out the form to be entered into our 2016 Garden Plot Lottery.
Thank you!
2015 Year in Review
Greetings!
This year was an amazing year for the Friends of Noyes Park! 2015 marked our second successful community garden season, with thirteen community members tending plots. Additionally, two public groups, and Noyes Elementary School used designated public plots to learn more about gardening. We extend gracious thanks to Menomale for donating equipment, soil, and seedlings for the community garden for a second straight year. Noyes Park also received three garden upgrades. The community garden received additional plots, and a fence and gate that surround the garden. In addition, Noyes Park was selected by the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) as the Ward 5 recipient for a native species garden, which sits on the hill on the east side of the park.
We organized monthly cleanups on the second Saturday of each month from April to October. Our April cleanup doubled as our kickoff to the community garden, while our October cleanup included our annual community meeting and barbeque. We would like to thank all of our cleanup attendees for their participation, and The Menkiti Group for providing snacks and bottled water. The park also saw two major landscaping improvements. This summer, we worked with DPR and Councilmember McDuffie’s office to resurface the park play area of the park. In September, George Washington University provided mulch and student volunteers to spread mulch around the trees that line the park.
Lastly, The Friends of Noyes Park has been working to create a solid foundation for the organization, and to increase the potential for programs and community partnerships. In 2015 we obtained our tax exemption certificate and charitable solicitation license, which enables us to fundraise for park cleanups and future community programs and events. We also received a donation from Dantes Partners, which helps ensure the financial viability of the organization.
Thanks to overwhelming support from the community and local businesses, we received a letter of support from ANC5B to be awarded official “Friends Of” status through DPR. We submitted our application to DPR and hope to receive approval in 2016. Thank you to the 190 community members for your signatures of support, and to the Boy Scouts Troup 98, Brookland’s Finest, Brookland Pint, the Cub Scouts Troup 98, the Dew Drop Inn, Menomale, Serendipity, Smith Public Trust, and Steel Plate for your letters of support to ANC5B.
We are now in the process of looking for additional Board of Directors Members for 2016. If you would like to help support our mission and contribute to the stewardship of the park on an ongoing basis, please consider applying to be a Board Member. Feel free to email or call me for more information.
The Friends of Noyes Park sincerely appreciates all of the community participation and support. We look forward to another great year in 2016!
Sincerely,
Kyle Macken