H-Shaped Planters Get Mixed Welcome

Some residents are not pleased with the new H-shaped planters that have been placed at city parks.

In particular, several residents of University Hills do not like the purple planter at the University Hills Neighborhood Park, claiming that it has already become a trash receptacle and is an eyesore.

"Dumping a hot purple, odd-shaped box at the entrance to the University Hills park enhances nothing and serves no public purpose beyond Hyattsville city officials putting their mark on the park," said resident Tom Eichman. "What an ugly mark it is."

Residents have been leaving comments on local listservs, many not in favor of the planters.

"After further review, [the city determined] that University Hills residents will decide whether the H will be an installation in the park and, if so, where," said Councilman Timothy Hunt (Ward 3).

Until then, the H has been removed.

The boxes, which are now located at various parks around town, were a gift from an H-Street project via DC Greenworks, a nonprofit organization dedicated to growing livable communities using living materials, which helped develop the project.

It is expected that the planters will remain for about two years, Hunt said. The University Hills H was purple, while other Hs are blue, pink or yellow. The Hs will be repainted, but must maintain their original colors in order to stay true to the integrity of the artwork, Hunt said.

The planters are made of wood and will eventually be painted and filled with plants, Community Development Manager Jim Chandler said.

In 2009 the Washington, D.C. Mayor's Green Summer Job Corps developed and built 40 H-shaped planter boxes.  The planter boxes were placed along the H Street N.E. corridor during a construction project. With construction on H Street nearing an end, the letters found a new home in Hyattsville.

Twelve Hs were set in Hyattsville's parks, including Centennial Park, Magruder Park, Heurich Park, Hyatt Park, Robert J. King Memorial Park and the University Hills Neighborhood Park.