(Washington, DC) - Today, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, DC Housing Authority Interim Director Adrianne Todman and Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham joined Ward 1 residents and neighbors to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the newly reconstructed playground and resurfaced basketball court at Park Morton Housing Development.

The new playground includes modern equipment, swings, and benches in a secure fenced area as well as a resurfaced basketball court. Installing a new playground is the beginning of a comprehensive revitalization plan for the Park Morton Housing Development, which is a New Communities Initiative revitalization project administered by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED).

“The New Communities revitalization of Park Morton has several exciting components and will benefit all neighborhood residents,” said Mayor Fenty. “Replacing the playground is just the start of all of the exciting things to come at Park Morton.”

The Park Morton New Communities revitalization project is expected to produce more than 500 mixed-income residential units, 10,000 square feet of green space and a 4,000 square foot community center. The first phase of the Park Morton New Communities project is expected to begin before the end of the year with the construction of 83 off-site housing units.

The Park Morton revitalization project benefits from close proximity to the Petworth Metro station and other public investment along Lower Georgia Avenue including the Fenty administration’s Great Streets Initiative.