On Tuesday, May 15, 2012, the District Council voted to remove funding for NoMa parks from the FY13 budget. However, there is still a chance that funding could be found for a parks system in NoMa in the coming weeks. We applaud the Mayor and Council for recognizing that parks are essential to assuring that NoMa achieves its full potential as a great, lively neighborhood and an economic engine for the District.  While we’re disappointed that the project did not receive funding in the FY 2013 BSA, we’re pleased that NoMa parks are a priority for future spending.

Many thanks to those who wrote emails and made phone calls to your councilmembers! Please continue to contact your councilmembers to voice your support for this important initiative.

• E-mail Council Chairman Kwame Brown (kbrown@dccouncil.us) and Parks Committee Chair and Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells (twells@dccouncil.us) to help assure that NoMa does not miss out on the chance to have parks.
• Please copy other councilmembers on the Parks Committee (dcatania@dccouncil.us, pmendelson@dccouncil.us; vorange@dccouncil.us) and NoMa parks advocates on the Council (Jack Evans jevans@dccouncil.us and Muriel Bowser mbowser@dccouncil.us).
• Please let them know that you SUPPORT NOMA PARKS and that you THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT for NoMa parks.

More information about the NoMa Public Realm Plan. More information about the budget vote (Washington Times). Background on the budget (Washington Post).

Please Support NoMa Parks TODAY:

Tomorrow, the DC Council will take action on the budget and will determine the possibilities for parks in NoMa. Some opportunities may be lost forever. We need your help!

For years NoMa has used vacant, privately-owned property to help create a sense of community through a farmers market, regular movie nights, and other events, but that cannot continue for much longer. Permanent spaces for recreation, events, playgrounds, dog parks and sports courts will help the neighborhood grow and assure a livable community.

Over the past year, the NoMa BID has worked with the neighborhood to develop a Parks & Public Realm Plan to help identify where and how parks can be added to our area. Available spaces are rapidly disappearing and becoming new buildings. We need to secure spaces for parks by demonstrating the District government’s commitment to this matter NOW.

Before TOMORROW’S VOTE on the budget, please let the DC Council know that you support legislation to start developing public park space in NoMa:
• E-mail Council Chairman Kwame Brown (kbrown@dccouncil.us) and Parks Committee Chair and Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells (twells@dccouncil.us) to help assure that NoMa does not miss out on the chance to have parks.
• Please let them know that you SUPPORT NOMA PARKS and that you THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT for NoMa parks.
• Please copy other councilmembers on the Parks Committee (dcatania@dccouncil.us, pmendelson@dccouncil.us; vorange@dccouncil.us) and NoMa parks advocates on the Council as well (Jack Evans jevans@dccouncil.us and Muriel Bowser mbowser@dccouncil.us).

For more information and images of the public realm, please visit http://www.nomabid.org/2012/04/noma-unveils-vision-for-public-parks/.

Washington, D.C., May 10, 2012 – Get ready to groove to the music, as NoMa’s concert series starts next week, now with three locations and new evening concerts geared to residents. Now in its third year, Rhythm in NoMa is a free concert series featuring a variety of local musicians and styles – from blues to reggae, and top 40s hits to smooth Motown favorites.

This year, organizer NoMa BID is expanding the series with a new resident-centric evening concert on the Third Thursday of each month from May through September. The concerts start next week on May 17 at Zuppa Fresca, with an R&B performance by crowd favorite Johnny Artis.

Evenings at Zuppa Fresca:

Third Thursdays, May through September, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (May 17, June 21, July 19, Aug. 16, Sept. 20)
250 K Street, NE:

• May 17: Johnny Artis (R&B)
• June 21: Raddy & the Cats (R&B, Soul, Jazz)
• July 19: 8 Ohms (Funk)
• August 16: Jimi Smooth & the Hittime (Motown)
• September 20: Levi Stephens(Funk/Blues)

Lunch at Au Bon Pain Plaza:

Thursdays, May 31—June 28, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
NoMa Metro Plaza at Florida Avenue/Marriott, 1325 Second Street, NE

• May 31: Johnny Artis (R&B)
• June 7: Sam’O (Reggae/Caribbean)
• June 14: Monster Band (Dance)
• June 21: Jimi Smooth & the Hittime (Motown)
• June 28: Levi Stephens (R&B, Blues)

Lunch at Union Center Plaza:

Fridays, June 1—July 20, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
810-840 First Street, NE

• June 1: Raddy & the Cats (Acoustic)
• June 8: Johnny Artis (Acoustic)
• June 15: Miguel Aubertin (Acoustic)
• June 22: Liz Briones (Acoustic)
• June 29: Special Occassions (Acoustic)
• July 6: Ten Feet Tall (Acoustic)
• July 13: Levi Stephens (Acoustic)
• July 20:  Sam’O (Carribean)

Rhythm in NoMa is organized by the NoMa BID; sponsored by the UPS Store at 455 Massachusetts Avenue; and managed by Last Call Entertainment. Special thanks to the property owners who host the concerts: Courtyard by Marriott, Au Bon Pain, the Loree Grand, Zuppa Fresca, Lincoln Property Company, Akridge, Union Center Plaza Management Corp., and G&R Management Company. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About NoMa
NoMa is a vibrant, growing neighborhood north of Union Station and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. In the last seven years, private developers have invested more than $5 billion in the 35-block area covered by the NoMa BID, and have plans to develop more than 20 million square feet of office, residential, hotel, and retail space. NoMa is now home to 45,000 daytime workers, with 4.5 million SF leased in the last 4.5 years. More than 3,500 apartments have been recently completed or are under construction. NoMa offers 15 forms of transportation, including two Red Line Metro stops, and the best biking facilities in DC, with the only East Coast Bikestation, the 8-mile Met Branch Trail, and access to eight Capital Bikeshare stations. NoMa is the most connected neighborhood in Washington, D.C. The NoMa BID organizes more than 100 free community events each year to connect friends and neighbors. For more information about NoMa, visit www.nomabid.org and sign up for our bimonthly newsletter. Follow us on Twitter @NoMaBID; or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nomabid.

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For immediate release
News media contact: Rachel Davis
202-997-3846, rdavis@nomabid.org