Friends of Lafayette-Pointer Park

Events

What's coming up at the park.

Cleanup days, fundraisers, and gatherings throughout the year. Most events meet at the Recreation Center or the gazebo.

Coming up

2 events
  1. The gazebo at Lafayette-Pointer ParkSave the date

    Saturday, November 14 · 9 a.m.–Noon

    Monthly Meet-Up: Fall Planting

    Join friends and neighbors Saturday, November 14th from 9 a.m. to noon for our monthly meet-up in Lafayette-Pointer Park. This month’s meet-up will focus on Fall planting and mulching. Come for an hour or stay the whole morning — all are welcome!

    Download .icsGoogle Calendar
  2. Save the dateWinter
    Fundraiser

    Annual Fund Drive Kickoff

    Winter kickoff for our annual fund. Meet the board, hear what's planned for the year, and renew your membership. Date TBD — check back closer to winter.

    Download .icsGoogle Calendar

Recent

  1. CompletedOctober 17, 2026Saturday
    VolunteerPast event

    2026 Fall Clean-up

    Thanks to all our friends and neighbors who came out Saturday, October 17th for our Fall Clean-Up in the park. Here's what we got done together:

    • Invasives removed from the perimeter beds
    • Bulbs planted for spring
    • Mulched to suppress weeds
    • Weeded the new athletic field
    • Trash pick-up
    Kids planting bulbs in the bed beside the Lafayette-Pointer Park sign
    Volunteers clearing invasives and mulching the perimeter beds along the sidewalk
    Neighbors and kids with buckets weeding the new athletic field in front of the recreation center
  2. CompletedJune 12, 2026Friday
    CommunityPast event

    The Bear Carving Is Complete

    We did it! Thanks to an outpouring of community support, FOLP reached its ten thousand dollar fundraising goal, and artist Paul Waclo completed the bear carving the week of June 8–12, 2026. One of Lafayette-Pointer Park's beloved 250-year-old oaks was damaged in a major windstorm last summer — and rather than remove the stump, Friends of Lafayette-Pointer Park (FOLP) worked with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation to transform it into a sculpture of a bear, the longtime mascot of Lafayette Elementary School. The project earned broad community support, including enthusiastic backing from the local ANC.

    FOLP selected Paul Waclo, a York, Pennsylvania-based artist with extensive experience in large-scale tree-stump sculpture, to bring the bear to life — you can see his work at chainsawcarvingbypaul.com. With formal approvals in hand from both DC DPR and the DC Department of General Services, Paul carved June 8–11.

    FOLP and organizers worked with Lafayette Elementary School to arrange field trips so every class could visit Paul at work during the school day. And on Tuesday, June 9th, FOLP and supporters gathered for a community celebration — a Honey Strawberry Shortcake and Lemonade party at the carving site, from 4 to 6 pm.

    The total project cost was $11,500, which covered the artist's fee and signage honoring the tree's history. FOLP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so your donation is fully tax-deductible.

    Thank you to everyone who gave, volunteered, and came out to cheer the bear to life. This is what our community can do together.

    The storm-damaged 250-year-old oak stump before carving, with a “Donate to the Bear” sign
    The bear’s shape beginning to emerge from the oak as the carving gets underway
    Two children looking up at the nearly finished bear carving
    The finished “Be Kind” bear carving on the old oak stump, with families and a dog gathered at the bench beneath it

    With gratitude

    Thank you to our 61 donors

    The bear carving was made possible by the generosity of these neighbors and friends.

    • Roy Assido
    • Joanne Barrett
    • Madhura Bhat
    • Tracy Bowen
    • Niall Brennan
    • Meghan Browne
    • Elizabeth T Burden
    • Gregory Campbell
    • Stephanie Cappa
    • Elizabeth Clark
    • Pauline Crane
    • Elizabeth Critchley
    • Sally D'Amato
    • Jessica Deahl
    • Eva Dömötör
    • Donna Fabiani
    • Samuel Hall
    • Cynthia Hamilton
    • Catherine Hannan
    • Eric Karian
    • Greg Kats
    • Alexander Kullar
    • Paul Laporte
    • Jessica Leinwand
    • Erin Lindsay
    • Robin Lloyd
    • Ian Meyers
    • Patricia Myler
    • Susan Okun
    • Vikas Raj
    • Mary Reed
    • Adam Reisman
    • Rebecca Richardson
    • Julie Roberts Home Team
    • Andrea Rosen
    • Lauren Ross
    • Elizabeth Scanlon
    • Adam Singleton
    • James Smith
    • Dennis Smyth
    • Jeanie Teare
    • Terrell Ussing
    • Beth Van Hanswyk
    • Frank Van Riper

    …and 17 anonymous donors.

  3. CompletedApril 18, 2026Saturday
    VolunteerPast event

    2026 Spring Clean-up

    80–90 neighbors turned out to rake, weed, mulch, and prune across the park. Thank you to everyone who came — the gardens are in great shape heading into summer.

    A large group of neighbors working together under the cherry trees during the spring cleanup
    Kids and parents planting in a freshly mulched bed during the spring cleanup
    Volunteers digging and planting along a roadside bed during the spring cleanup

Add events to your calendar above, or sign up for our newsletter for reminders when dates are announced.