Aug 10, 2018 2 min read

Seventh Ward Playground was reopened Thursday by Washington City Council.

Council members unanimously voted to reopen the playground after thanking the volunteers who invested time and money into cleaning it up while it was closed. One of those volunteers was Aaron Miller, an associate pastor at Life Church and leader of The Dreamers Company, who attended the meeting.

“I just wanted to publicly thank Aaron for taking the lead on that and the work that’s been done up there,” Councilman Joseph Manning said.

Miller, along with several community partners involved in Mission Washington, cleaned up the park with new mulch, benches, picnic tables, lighting, play equipment and paint. They also trimmed trees and cleared brush, making it easier for police officers on patrol to see in the park at night.

The request to reopen the playground came from Washington police Chief Robert Wilson, who said that “thanks to Aaron Miller and The Dreamers,” he recommended the city open the park. Wilson said he agreed with a suggestion Miller made Monday to put a locked gate on the School Avenue entrance to the playground.

Wilson requested the city close the playground July 12 under a nuisance ordinance, after his department received 14 calls for disturbances at the playground within two months.

Residents complained to council in July about a large group of children who were congregating in the park at night and destroying park property and private property of the surrounding neighbors. Wilson said Monday that since closing the park last month, they’ve only received two calls.

Councilwoman Monda Williams also thanked Miller and other community activists and volunteers for the work they’ve put into the playground.

Mayor Scott Putnam said that he would like to see the “good momentum” continue in the playground. Miller said Monday that he is organizing a “stakeholders meeting” Sept. 5, with several community organizations to discuss programming opportunities for the playground.