Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

                               A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION

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                   IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

                                          June 6, 2023

To recognize and honor Julia Washburn on the occasion of her retirement as Superintendent of

       Rock Creek Park for the National Park Service.

       WHEREAS, Washington, DC native Julia Washburn spent the majority of her career

with the National Park Service (NPS) in the Washington, DC area;

       WHEREAS, after graduation for Mount Holyoke College with a bachelor’s degree in

Psychobiology, Ms. Washburn served 2 years with the United States Peace Corps in Sierra

Leone, West Africa;

        WHEREAS, in 1989, Ms. Washburn returned home to Washington, DC to work for the

National Park Service as a park ranger at National Capital Parks East, later worked for the

National Capital Regional Office and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia,

and in 1996, became Chief of Resource Management and Visitor Services for Rock Creek Park;

         WHEREAS, in 1999, Ms. Washburn left NPS to become Senior Vice President for

Grants and Programs at the National Park Foundation and then worked in the private sector

before returning to NPS in 2010 as the first Associate Director for Interpretation, Education, and

Volunteers. In that capacity, she spearheaded the NPS Every Kid in a Park program which

brought millions of 4th graders into national parks across the nation. Ms. Washburn also played a

critical role in the development of NPS relevancy, diversity, and inclusion efforts, and worked

collaboratively with numerous non-profit partners;

        WHEREAS, in 2017, Ms. Washburn returned to Rock Creek Park as the park’s

Superintendent. During her tenure, she oversaw the transition of the upper portion of Beach

Drive to permanent, non-motorized recreational use which has increased access to safe outdoor

recreation in the District, and the removal of Melvin Hazen’s name from reservation 630. Hazen

was one of the District Commissioners in the early 20th Century who was directly responsible for

the removal of African American residents and intentional housing segregation for white citizens

in large sections of northwest Washington, DC; and

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         WHEREAS, as Superintendent of Rock Creek Park, Ms. Washburn has served as a

tireless advocate for sharing a more inclusive park history, increasing park access for neighbors

and visitors, preserving the natural bounty of the Park, and building community with residents,

local leaders, and partners.

        RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this

resolution may be cited as the “Julia Washburn Recognition Resolution of 2023”.

       Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and celebrates the many

contributions that Julia Washburn has made to the District of Columbia through her work with

the National Park Service, and wishes her and her husband, William Kules, well in their

retirement.

       Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.

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