By Southwester Staff
This Earth Day, GOODProjects, the Southwest Resident Council Presidents, Southwest Business Improvement District (SWBID), the DC Housing Authority and the DC Department of Parks and Recreation hosted Southwest Garden Fest, a community event celebrating the reopening of the Southwest Peace Gardens for the season.
The festival included food, live music, an all-levels yoga class led by instructor Caren Plummer, accompanied by a relaxing sound bath from health and wellness coach Soul Cole, painting of the garden beds, and the installation of little free libraries, as well as an opportunity for community input on additional public art installations.
The Southwest Peace Gardens were created with the intention of preventing gun violence in the community, thanks to the Building Blocks DC (BBDC) grant program. These gardens transform centrally located community spaces into flower and herb gardens with art and enhanced public amenities. Locations include the Southwest Family Enhancement Center at Greenleaf Gardens, the James Creek Resident Council building, and the Syphax Garden housing community on 2nd Street SW.