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D.C. history lesson time!
What sweet urban oasis was dubbed “Needle Park” due to rampant drug use? Our east-of-the-river expert doesn’t know.
But apparently it’s Marvin Gaye Park, formally Watts Branch Park, in Northeast.
The park is currently undergoing a huge revitalization, including “state-of-the-art playground equipment, a Marvin Gaye Amphitheater, the restoration of Watts Branch stream and 1.6 miles of newly-rebuilt hiker/biker trails.”
Earlier this year, a street nearby was also renamed for Marvin Gaye, a native son to the Deanwood area. A special ribbon-cutting event for the new playground equipment is planned for next month, August 20.
Image by Permanently Scatterbrained, Flickr Creative Commons