Friends of Volta Park Cheer $200K From City for New Playground

The Friends of Volta Park gathered June 8 for its 14th annual cocktail party and silent auction at Georgetown Visitation Prep, one block from the D.C. public park. The group — founded by John Richardson in 1995 and headed by Mimsy Lindner — rescued Volta Park from a closed pool and overgrown plants, maintains the landscape and is a strong advocate for this green place in the middle of town. Mayor Vincent Gray said at the party that the park with its playground, tennis courts, pool, baseball field, used by many Georgetown families, is an example of how a public-private partnership should work. Gray was also happy to announce that Volta Park would be receiving $200,000 for playground upgrades as part of the fiscal 2013 budget that includes $9.7 million for park improvements throughout the city. The well-arranged auction added money to the effort, of course, but the party (with food and beverages from 1789 Restaurant) still stole the show. It was a relaxed, noisy mix of neighbors, public servants and business leaders who lingered in the hallway and rooms, glad to see each other.