Yesterday, We Love DC posted news that the organizers of the summer concert series in Fort Reno Park canceled the concerts this year due to a new requirement that they pay to post an officer of the US Park Police at every show.

The series could not bear the costs of this unannounced new requirement, prompting organizer Amanda Mackaye to announce the cancellation of the popular concerts Thursday.

We asked Mackaye what could folks do if they wanted to help. She suggested reaching out to protest the decision by the National Park Service (NPS) in hopes of reversing the requirement to bear the costs of an officer at the concerts.

Suggested contacts below

Jon Jarvis, NPS director
No readily available contact info as of yet

Lisa Mendelson-Ielmini, acting regional NPS director for National Capital Region
1100 Ohio Dr. SW
Washington, DC 20242
202-619-7222

These DC officials have been sympathetic to the situation, and Mackaye suggested contacting them to inquire about how to help:

Sen. Paul Strauss
One Judiciary Square, Suite 1000-S
Washington, DC 20001
202-727-7890

Councilmember Mary Cheh
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 108
Washington, DC 20004
202-724-8062

In addition, Change.org has posted a petition protesting the Park Service requirement. You can sign the petition online.

What can happen at this point? I don’t know, but Mackaye wrote to me, “I believe in the power of the people.  I look forward to those who hold this concert series dear to their hearts being the reason we can move forward with the schedule we created for this summer.”