Rose Park friends bat it out of the park

Rose Park's fans, friends and neighbors turned out in force Thursday for a fundraiser to support one of Georgetown's best-known parks in an event featuring Georgetown's icon hostess Frida Burling. Home of young and old from every corner of the city, the park provides basketball, tennis courts, a playground for youngsters and a baseball diamond.

The reception was hosted by Dr. Jim D'Orta in his home, site of famous parties by Pamela and Averill Harriman. 

Guests swarmed in on the warm, clear evening. "We bring our 2 1/2 year old and our five-month old," said Luke Bronin, describing himself as a fan. "We depend on Rose Park."

Leslie Kamrad and Leslie Maysak of The Georgetown Dish glistened in the crowd, as did noted writer and Dish contributor Page Evans, who recently described a "Blessing of the Animals" nearby at Christ Church. Potential D.C. Council candidate Fiona Greig also stopped by, and Councilmember Jack Evans dropped in after a fundraiser for his campaign hosted by former Mayor Adrian Fenty downtown.

Fans of the Rose Park Farmers Market were also out in force, having created a unique and treasured weekly event that some say is the closest thing to a Paris market this side of The Pond.

But maintaining the park grounds requires community support, said fundraising co-hostesses Jill White and Toni Brody of Friends of Rose Park. A plan for longer-range improvements is in development. "The whole community is here," said White. "That's what Georgetown is really about."

In addition to White and Brody, board members include David Abrams, Russell Bridges, John Donvan, David Dunning (President since 2010). Anna Fuhrman, Carol Harman, Marjorie Heiss, Rob Hetem, Severina Mladenova, Pamla Moore, Mary Carroll Platt, Vicky Rigby, Dave Salwen, Katie Sexton, and Leslie Wheelock.