MISSION STATEMENT

PREAMBLE

Stead Park was established by a private bequest from Robert Stead for the specific purpose of creating a playground for the children of Washington, D.C., in memory of his late wife, Mary Force Stead.  It is a public park administered by the Department of Recreation and Parks with a small staff, and it is financially supported in part by funding from a private trust also created by Robert Stead.  Stead Park is composed of a playground, basketball courts, a multi-use playing field, picnic areas and indoor recreation facilities. 

 

Friends of Stead Park is an organization of neighborhood residents who recognize that Stead Park’s founding and primary purpose is to serve the children of Washington, D.C. and that the Park has evolved and has great potential as a broader resource for education, recreation and community cohesion.  We also believe Stead Park is currently underused and that it must become a safer, more attractive and engaging place to draw members of the community together.  We believe Stead Park’s fulfillment of these purposes is hampered by under-funding for operations, maintenance and capital construction, and by a design that does not take full advantage of the space available.  At a minimum, extensive upgrades are needed just to support current activities.  Further, the configuration of Stead Park is not open to or integrated with the adjacent residential and commercial neighborhood.

 

VISION

We envision Stead Park as a safe, well-kept, attractive community asset, bustling with residents of all ages and backgrounds who fully utilize all facilities and attend programming that responds to their interests, with focus on the needs of D.C. children.  As envisioned, Stead Park will also serve the needs of neighborhood educational and recreational organizations such as Ross School, the DC Jewish Community Center, Foundry United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church, childcare facilities and neighborhood recreational sports organizations, such as the soccer, rugby, little league baseball, kickball and ultimate Frisbee groups that currently use Stead Park.

 

MISSION

The mission of Friends of Stead Park is to work with the neighborhood, the Department of Recreation and Parks, and all others who use Stead Park, to create and maintain a safe, attractive environment for play and learning and to conceive and implement appropriate programming for children and adults.

 

Friends of Stead Park seeks to engage and cooperate with other civic groups that share our concerns, such as the Dupont Circle Citizens Association, the Logan Circle Community Association, the local ANC, the DC Council, historic preservation groups and any other interested organization, to further our common purpose of developing an attractive recreation space that meets the needs of the children of Washington D.C. and the community. 

 

GOALS

Friends of Stead Park will pursue the following goals:

·       Enhance and beautify the building, grounds and equipment at Stead Park

·       Raise funds and enlist volunteers to redesign and rebuild Stead Park’s facilities to better provide
-------play space for children and adults and an attractive gathering place for the community

·       Ensure the safety of Stead Park as a gathering place for residents of all ages

·       Promote programs, projects and events that meet the needs and interests of children and adult users

·       Collaborate with DC Dept. of Recreation and Parks to effectively use city resources

·       Provide liaison between local residents and the organizations that operate and use Stead Park

Make participation in Friends of Stead Park an enjoyable and rewarding experience