News

Graham Calls For DC Ownership Of Two Parks In Ward One

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: John De Taeye
(202) 724-8031

February 6, 2007

Washington, DC – Ward One Councilmember Jim Graham today presented two Council Resolutions addressing two historic and prominent parks in Ward One.

One Resolution calls for the transfer of ownership of the Meridian Hill / Malcolm X Park from the National Park Service to the DC Department of Parks and Recreation. “Meridian Hill / Malcolm X Park is an important asset to the residents of the District of Columbia and Ward One,” Graham says. “We want to own this park for the benefit of the people who live near it and use it everyday.”

The second Resolution calls for the renaming of the Rabaut Park to honor Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, the Archbishop of El Salvador who was assassinated while celebrating Mass on Sunday, March 24, 1980. The park is located at the intersection of Columbia Rd. and Harvard St and is currently administered by the National Park Service.

“Some 27 years after his death, Archbishop Romero is an important figure throughout Central America, and especially the Salvadoran community here in Ward One,” said Graham. “The Archbishop Romero Park will be a place for all DC residents to remember and celebrate the heroic life of the Archbishop.”

Councilmember Graham has been in contact with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton who is interested in the Sense of the Council on both of these issues.

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