The fools over at Project for Public Spaces released their 16 Squares Most Dramatically in Need of Improvement survey, the top 16 urban spaces worldwide that could be transformed from embarrassments to great community places, and guess what they put at number 13? Dupont Circle
Yes, they say that the great Dupont Circle of Life isn’t up to par. In fact, they go so far as to say:
Many think DuPont Circle is the best destination in Washington. We think it is performing at 30% of its potential. The city has undergone a metamorphosis in the past ten years, with many areas gradually becoming more vital. However, there seems to be a limit to this improvement: a rigid adherence to a master plan that keeps many areas from coalescing into real destinations. DuPont Circle needs to be freed from that mold.
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In fact, DuPont Circle could become a traffic-calmed, pedestrian friendly destination and quite possibly the core of a great urban district. Fulfilling this tremendous opportunity is essential if Washington is to become a world class city.
Now if I’m not mistaken, or hallucinating on any beautiful spring day, isn’t Dupont Circle already a “real destination”, “the core of a great urban district” and part of what makes Washington “a world class city”? I mean, call me crazy but its wall to wall people every time I walk by, a visual feast unparalleled anywhere in the District of Columbia.
The dumb asses can’t even spell it right. It’s “Dupont” not “DuPont”. And we like it that way! To quote City Desk:
If you mess with our circle, we’re gonna sic 24 bike couriers, 14 homeless men, 17 chess players, 22 yuppies sunning themselves, 3 bad guitar players, and a political button salesman on you!
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
