Meridian Hill Park

There are so many sounds to a city. One would think it would only be human voices and automobiles punctuated by the occasional construction site. But there is much more tucked away among the urban trees and green spaces. One example in DC is Meridian Hill park.

Meridian Hill Park, or depending on who you ask- Malcolm X Park, is a central main green space in Northern DC. The central grass mall is the remnant of an old military installation during the Civil War, and after was bought and developed into a park among the rapidly expanding and developing northern neighborhoods. Eventually the National Park Service acquired the land and got to work building the fountains at the base of the lawn, along with different statues and installations. The result included beautiful waterfalls cascading down to W Street.

Picture from my vantage point of sitting on the wall of the waterfall looking down towards W Street.

One of the most notable sounds on the weekends are the drum circles at the grand terrace on the end of the lawn above the waterfall. The drum circles go for hours, their beats constantly emanating across the lawn and bouncing off the walls of the nearby rowhouses and embassies. I danced to these drums once, which if you know me, is something you'll rarely see me do unless I'm absolutely comfortable.

Another one of the sounds you'll hear around the park are the clicking and whirling of bicycle gears as they whiz past along the straightaway paths. Bicycle culture is huge in DC. Sometimes it seems like everyone and their dogs are riding bikes. And I include myself and my dog (if I had one) in that category. I've found a new excitement in bike riding, and every time I go out for a ride it is still a new and exciting experience that I don't think I will ever lose it's charm.

A lot of people play volleyball, frisbee, and other outdoor sports during the weekend. The sound of the volleyball hitting people's arms almost takes on a rhythmic regularity, sometimes lining up with the drum circles, becoming a part of the mesh. Other sounds like the hula-hoops, badminton, and frisbees have a much quieter effect on the landscape, but without them the picture would be incomplete.

A view from the bench looking out on the grass mall. there are groups farther down doing some sort of activity.

Finally, some of the smallest sounds are some of the most curious. The buzzing and crunching of the wildlife. Bees are only discernible on the micro scale due to their small size. Their wings produce a radically unique frequency, sounding unlike anything else I've ever heard. Sit long enough on a bench and you will get squirrels that get brave and will walk up and around you, chomping on acorns, their squeaks and clicks sounding larger than what they actually are.

Finally, at the close of the day, the sun sets behind the local high-rises, giving a new tone, hue, and clarity to everything. The light is a warm blue, with the clouds transitioning to their signature fire colors. All of a sudden 16th Street is clearly visible beyond the trees with the rooftops of cars showing as they drive by. It's almost like the beauty of the sun and the blue sky obscures and floods out the details and contrasts of the landscape. The trees have more definition, and the eyes slowly auto-adjust for the continuous loss of light. The evening is wrapping up, but those drum circles are still going.