Coming off a wildly successful and positively epic three-week collaboration with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, I want to thank them for everything they did for us, and what they do every day for the District of Columbia.
DPR, it was truly a pleasure to work with and alongside y’all to promote #FitDCFridays. As tremendous advocates for exercising outdoors and enjoying green spaces, thanks so much for everything y’all do to keep DC parks clean, safe, and ready for gnarly workouts.
For those of you unfamiliar with DC DPR, it’s kind of like that Amy Poehler show, except our version is responding to hundreds of thousands of constituents, managing acres of space, and hopefully less-aggressive raccoons. DPR is responsible for a host of things, namely maintaining hundreds of parks in all 8 DC wards, operating 35 swimming pools around the District, and of course, the dog parks — OH, YOU GOTTA LOVE THOSE DOG PARKS, FOLKS! (DPR also casually helps the National Park Service with the occasional historical monument because, you know, DC).
One of the coolest aspects of DPR is their programming, The agency sponsors aqua-cycling classes, youth sports leagues, and yes, even an annual Chuck Brown Day. So when our boy Greg emailed us about the possibility of working with DPR to promote Friday destination deck workouts, it was what the kids would call a no-brainer.
Friday, November 3, Stoddert Elementary
Some killer basketball-court sprints, followed by a positively radical plank-off. Greg shows up, is completely floored at the level of energy and positivity radiating out of this gang of yahoos at 6:30 in the morning. We get the chance to engage the dear residents of Ward 3, always a blast. (Also, Mitch’s 6-year old daughter Julia SLAYS the workout; that’s really all you need to know.)
Friday, November 10, Kenilworth Park
HOT DANG if ya can’t get jacked up about a FAR OUT FRIDAY. The location was approximately six feet from the DC/Maryland border, which, if you consider it, is ACTUALLY DOPE. It’s remarkable, and fortunate, to live in a city you can navigate completely on foot or by bike — this is a point we try to drive home. Explore the unexplored (or, #neverstopexploring) and IT’S COOL to hang out in a ward you don’t live in.
Two nights before, Jake and Maria tag shirts donated by DPR for the occasion (inhaling paint fumes is really dank, y’all), a rarity, but it was important to us that people EARN the tag, and I’m absolutely super proud that it’s freshly laid over a #FitDC logo. 60+ (!!!!, this is awesome turnout for a far-out #FitDCFriday) friends show up to wall climb (WITH YOUR BACK FEET), bear crawl, and 4X1 relay sprint into their weekend. DPR sends not only their official photographer, but also a TOTAL RINGER, who destroys leg 1 of the relay.
These DPR FitDCFridays were a titillating warm-up, and served to whet our appetite, for what went down on…
Friday, November 17, THE WHARF
Oh. baby. We threw down the gauntlet, issued a recruiting challenge, and hyped the heck out of this workout. Not only was this us christening an awesome new outdoor space, it was a phenomenal opportunity to engage with city government officials all over DC. Department of Health? Come through. Office of Community Engagement? You bet. Thanks, DPR, for connecting us with these folks and helping build a crazy amount of hype for this workout.
It was honestly incredible to watch everyone filing in. Dropping their gear at the “new age” fireplace at the end of the pier, and then bouncing like our heads were about to explode. I LOVE when newbies come and throw themselves into the center of the bounce because it is fearless and they have no idea what they’re in for and I deeply admire that. DPR showed up with not only THEIR DIRECTOR, but film crew, camera man, and a host of city government employees in tow. Aside from a stupendous workout, we got to give away PRIZES. Honestly folks, if you’re new to NP, you are about to be sorely let down by the lack of giveaways coming at ya for the foreseeable future. This does not happen every day!
A baseball signed by Anthony Rendon.
A baseball signed by Ryan Zimmerman.
Free shirts (that would looks DOPE with a fresh tag — December 4, #justshowup)
Gift cards (Thanks, Steve-O and Noli!)
Free shoes (HUGE shoutout, Mel!)
Holy cow, everyone’s a winner. WOWZA. Three weeks, three ridiculously fun Friday workouts. DPR, on behalf of November Project DC, thank you, we appreciate you, and we’re glad you’re here.
I think it’s easy to get caught up in the cynicism and snark of living in DC. It’s trendy to act blasé, right? People nickname our city “The Swamp.” And hating on Washington is basically a pastime. Filthy corporate lobbyists and an inefficient government, that’s all we have to offer. Nah, forget that. I adore this city, in large part due to the hard work of individuals, at DPR, in city government, that strive to make DC amazing for every DC resident.
THANK YOU.
I want everyone to love and experience DC, particularly its’ outdoor spaces, in the way that I’ve been so fortunate to. So this week, try to find one DC space — maybe it’s Meridian, Lincoln, Rock Creek, or the 11th Street bike lane — that you’re thankful for, and give some kudos to the people who work for the District of Columbia and make that space happen.
MUCH LOVE, DC.
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