Friends of

Kim Brenegar

For Immediate Release

January 3, 2011

Capitol Hill Park Restoration

to Honor the Memory of Kim Brenegar
Washington, DC—One year after the tragic death of Capitol Hill resident Kim Brenegar
on October 9, 2009, her friends and family are gathering to create a beautiful garden in her
memory. Friends of Kim Brenegar announced today its partnership with the DC Department
of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to redesign, restore and maintain a Capitol Hill park to
be called “Kim’s Garden” in honor of the long-time resident. Kim was founder of The
Ornamental Garden, a DC landscape business that she owned and operated. The garden
project, approved by the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC6B), is located at the
intersection of 8th Street SE, Independence Avenue and North Carolina Avenue, next to
Christ Our Shepherd Church.

This park was established by the National Park Service in the 1890s as Reservation 232 and
ceded to the DC park system in 1973. Over many years, Kim donated her time and resources
to maintaining the trapezoid-shaped site when it most needed care. “I didn’t know her name,
but she always took the time to talk to me,” a man recently said crossing the site. “I know
what you are planning for the park. It’s a good thing. I really miss her,” he continued, “And so
does the park.”

This site couldn’t be more appropriate as a dedication to Kim’s life and her love of nature and
the Hill,” said Kim’s fiancé, Joe Ardizzone. “Kim saw beauty and innocence all around her.
What better way to honor her memory than to come together as a community and create
beauty once again.”

Renovations will be directed by Friends of Kim Brenegar, a volunteer group of professionals

from several disciplines. Plans include a new landscape supervised by local horticulturist
Jim Adams, as well as a mixed media centerpiece by artist Deirdre Saunder. Details
of the extensive restoration may be found on the Friends of Kim Brenegar blog:
http://kimsgardendc.blogspot.com/. Volunteer assistance and financial support will
be critically important for this community project.

Committee Members
Jim Adams · Joe Ardizzone · Wendy Blair · Kim Matthews · JoAnn McInnis · Juliet Michaud · Deirdre Saunder
Friends of Kim Brenegar c/o Care Company
801 North Carolina Avenue, SE · Washington, DC 20003
FriendsofKimBrenegar@gmail.com
Tax deductible contributions (checks payable to:
“Friends of Kim Brenegar”) will be gratefully accepted by:
Care Company, c/o Friends of Kim Brenegar,
801 North Carolina Ave, SE, Washington, DC 20003

Contacts
Joe Ardizzone
jardizzone@gmail.com
301- 641-3294

Juliet Brenegar
jbmichaud@msn.com
646-522-5684

Electronic images are available to press

Kim Brenegar Photograph of Reservation 232 taken in 1927

(courtesy of the Historical Society of Washington)

Committee Members
Jim Adams · Joe Ardizzone · Wendy Blair · Kim Matthews · JoAnn McInnis · Juliet Michaud · Deirdre Saunder
Friends of Kim Brenegar c/o Care Company
801 North Carolina Avenue, SE · Washington, DC 20003
FriendsofKimBrenegar@gmail.com