Committee of the Whole Meeting: Park Naming Bills and Corrections Council Confirmations - May 19, 2026
Committee of the Whole Meeting: Park Naming Bills and Corrections Council Confirmations - May 19, 2026
The Committee of the Whole of the Council of the District of Columbia, chaired by Phil Mendelssohn, held a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, from 11:45 AM to 12:09 PM in Room 500 of the John A. Wilson Building. The meeting was televised and streamed online. A quorum was present. The council marked up three park naming bills and handled two confirmation resolutions from the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, all of which were placed on the consent agenda for the June 2, 2026 legislative meeting.
Discussion Items
Green's Court Park Designation (Bill 26-???)
- Councilmember Pinto introduced the bill on July 14, 2025. A public hearing was held on January 13, 2026, with no opposition. The bill officially names a park in the Foggy Bottom area as Green's Court Park to memorialize the historic Green's Court alley dwelling community that was displaced by urban renewal in the 1960s. The park includes a playground, dog park, and plaza. The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) reported a $6,000 cost for signage, which it cannot absorb, making the bill subject to appropriation. Councilmember Pinto noted a forthcoming $6,000 transfer. The print and report were moved with leave for staff to make technical corrections. Unanimously approved.
Harmony Park Designation (Bill 26-331)
- Councilmember Pinto introduced the bill on July 14, 2025. A public hearing was held on January 13, 2026, with testimony in support. The bill names a triangular park at New Jersey Avenue and Rhode Island Avenue, NW (Reservation 160) as Harmony Park, recognizing its location at the intersection of Wards 1, 2, and 5, and its historical connection to the Columbian Harmony Society and the Harmonian Cemetery (a historic African American burial ground). Councilmember Pinto highlighted the intersectional rationale. Councilmember Crawford spoke in support, emphasizing the importance of preserving African American burial grounds and aligning with the Paul E. Sluby Senior Historic African American Burial Grounds Preservation Fund. DPR reported a $6,000 signage cost, which cannot be absorbed, making the bill subject to appropriation. Unanimously approved.
Rodney Wright Basketball Court Designation (Bill 26-431)
- Former Councilmember Kenyon McDuffie introduced the bill on October 16, 2025. A public hearing was held on January 13, 2026, with no opposition. The bill names the basketball court at the Marvin Gay Recreation Center (61st Street, NE, Ward 7) as the Rodney Wright Basketball Court, honoring James Rodney Wright, a native Washingtonian who played at Howard University and coached at Eastern High School. DPR reported a $6,000 signage cost, which cannot be absorbed, making the bill subject to appropriation. Unanimously approved.
Confirmation of Corrections Information Council Governing Board Members (PR 26-635 and PR 26-638)
- Councilmember Pinto moved both resolutions in block. PR 26-635 confirms Dr. Prochelle Shannon, current CEO/co-founder of For Truth, with over 16 years of experience in corrections and trauma-informed consulting. PR 26-638 confirms Natasha Dasher, administrative officer at the U.S. Department of Energy and a returning citizen with experience on the Commission on Reentry and Returning Citizens. Both are current board members being renominated at the mayor's request. Councilmember Henderson asked about the lack of posted meeting minutes since 2024; Councilmember Pinto agreed to look into it. No other questions. Both resolutions were placed on the consent agenda without objection.
Key Outcomes
- All three park naming bills (Green's Court Park, Harmony Park, and Rodney Wright Basketball Court) were approved unanimously by the Committee of the Whole. Each has a $6,000 signage cost subject to appropriation and will appear on the consent agenda for the June 2, 2026 legislative meeting.
- Both confirmation resolutions (PR 26-635 and PR 26-638) were moved to the consent agenda for the June 2, 2026 legislative meeting.
- The meeting adjourned at 12:09 PM.
Meeting Transcript
I am calling to order this meeting. This is a regular meeting of the Committee of the Whole of the Council of the District of Columbia. I'm Phil Mendelssohn, Chair of the Council, Chair of the Committee of the Whole. Today is recording in progress. Today is Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The time is 11.45 in the morning. We are in room 500, the council chambers of the Johnny Wilson Building. This meeting of the Council of the Committee of the Whole is being televised on Cable Channel 13 and is also on the Council's website, WW.dccouncil.gov. We have three measures for markup in the community of the whole and two measures that were reported out of the committee on judiciary, which will pass to the committee of the whole today. We begin our committee of the whole meetings determining whether we have a quorum. Mr. Cash, would you call the roll? Chairman Mendelssohn. Present. Council Member Allen. Here. Councilmember Bonds. Here. Councilmember Crawford. Here. Councilmember Felder. Present. Councilmember Fruman. Councilmember Freeman. Councilmember Henderson. Here. Councilmember Lewis George. Councilmember Lewis George. Councilmember Nadaux. Here. Councilmember Parker. Here. Councilmember Pinto. Present. Councilmember Robert White. Present. Councilmember Trionley. Councilmember Trionway. Mr. Chairman, you have a quorum. Thank you, Mr. Cash. We have the Secretary's Report of Committee filings. I'm going to recognize the Chair Po Tem. Councilmember Anita Bonds. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I waive the reading of the secretary's report. It's been a motion to waive the reading of the report. Is there discussion?
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