Idea: Turn the Park into A Park

I have always marveled at the amount of unused public space in DC compared to other cities, i.e. New York. Some call these spaces "parks," but they really are not because to my mind a park is place to hang out, play or run around if you are a kid or dog. But only a few run around say the area along M street by the Georgetown bridge or East Potomac Park, south of the Jefferson Memorial.

Well a recent forum sponsored by the Corcoran Gallery examined what to do with East Potomac Park. According to the Washington Post, architects and designers "were giddy with the possibilities." They talked about giant sculptural bridges, soaring waterfront museums, inland canals, water taxis and monuments that would forever change the nation's capital. Architect Arthur Cottom Moore discussed moving the Supreme Court buiding to the site.

I always have been amazed by the size of the space and the fact that the park is so underutilized. Riding the Yellow Line, I often thought there should be a Metro stop there, but then realized there would be no where for riders to go. Why not put some commerical, government or cultural activitiy to the space? For that matter, why not turn the park into a park by building atheletic facilities (aside from golf), an area for concerts or even landscaped gardens. Hopefully, the forum will get things moving.