Meridian Hill, also known as Malcolm X Park, has long served as a central gathering place in Northwest D.C. for over forty years. On sunny days, the park hums with drum circles, children playing along grassy terraces and neighbors strolling along tree-lined paths. However, recent federal moves put the community’s access to the park in jeopardy, sparking them into action.
As part of one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders, Meridian Hill Park was slated to close for six months during peak spring and summer, raising concern among residents who depend on it for recreation, community and cultural life. After community members organized and protested, the National Park Service (NPS) shortened the park’s closure.
Trump’s executive order, titled “Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful,” called for renovations and improvements across public spaces in D.C., including upgrades to landscaping, lighting and facilities.
The NPS told 51stnews, a local DC newsroom, “the upper-level grassy areas will be closed so crews can prune trees, remove invasive plants, repair site features, and restore turf areas.” The closure was originally set for March 23 to Sept. 4.
In light of this order, on Sunday, March 29 at 6:30 p.m., residents gathered at the park’s 15th and Euclid entrance for a walk through, followed by a meeting at the Josephine Butler Parks Center at 7 p.m. with Rock Creek Park Superintendent Brian Joyner and Deputy Superintendent Shayna Scott to discuss the upcoming closure and restoration plans.
The event offered neighbors a chance to ask questions, share concerns and actively participate in shaping the future of a park that has long been a cornerstone of their community.
Representatives from the NPS answered questions from dozens of community members, who expressed concerns about public communications and transparency regarding renovation updates.
They also objected to the wider effects of major construction on the surrounding area, such as the blocking of streets used for community services. Francis On The Hill is one such initiative that provides over 150 people in need with meals every week. Representatives of the initiative shared concerns with Joyner and Scott.
Joyner and Scott assured that contractors would relocate, and if further disruption occurred, it would be addressed.
“We’ve done work at Malcolm X Park in phases for years. This is such a particular area, one of the largest national parks in the DMV, and it just requires a lot more time. What we’re doing now, and all the benefits that come with it, I feel good because, quite frankly, we’re being told we need to have this done by the 4th of July,” Joyner said.
Joyner expected public outcry over the original decision and took the opportunity to speak with community members to increase transparency about the timeline of the park’s renovation.
Furthermore, Jim Epstein, a representative of Washington Parks & People, spoke about the potential benefits of the renovation.
“I’ve been in this neighborhood for the last fifteen years or so. I love the park, it’s an incredible place for so many of us. This is our chance to reimagine what the park can be, and address the problems we’re seeing. We have the opportunity to think long-term, so let’s take advantage of the fact that the federal government is willing to pour $15 million into this park,” he said.
As the outcry grew, community members formed the ‘Keep Malcolm X Open Coalition’ to gather public support in opposing the park’s closure. They created a petition calling for phase restoration, garnering over 3,000 signatures.
Many people protested against the long-term order via social media, as seen by dozens of comments on an Instagram post by WashingtonianProbs. @Nickmartineziii wrote, “Spring is peak park time! Move the repairs out to the summer!” Another user, @Zachhally, wrote, “People have complained for years this park needs some rehab and fixed fountains. NPS finally announces plan to do so and people complain about that.”
Members of the community expressed that repairs should take place in the fall or winter months, and debated if a six-month-long closure was fair to the wellness and communal experience of the citizens.
Kendall Schoer, a member of the Keep Malcolm X Open Coalition, shared in an Instagram reel with @CityCast_DC that, amid news of the park’s closure with little community input, “my friends and I were devastated.”
In response to the coalition’s efforts, NPS revised the closure plan. Instead of remaining closed until September, officials stated that “public access to the entire upper area will be closed starting Monday, March 23, for 2–3 weeks” to begin lawn restoration. After this initial work, walkways will reopen, while the two lawn panels remain closed only until mid-June—allowing the community to continue using much of the park during the busiest months.’’
While the shortened closure marked a major victory for the coalition and demonstrated the power of grassroots organizing, members stress that their work is far from over.
Copy edited by Daryl R. Thomas Jr.
