Dupont Circle Park will close for WorldPride after all

Amid days of uncertainty it now appears that a historic D C park that played an significant role in D C Pride for decades will be closed this weekend The National Park Operation and U S Park Police decided to close Dupont Circle Park for WorldPride DC this weekend ruling body sources mentioned The status park access during Pride festivities has been up in the air all week The Park Organization issued a message Tuesday morning saying Dupont Circle Park would be closed over the weekend after Park Police and D C police requested the closure The Park Utility cited a history of destructive and disorderly behavior during unpermitted events during past D C Pride weekends In the Dupont Circle fountain sustained in damage Park Police stated Later Tuesday D C Council members Brooke Pinto and Zachary Parker mentioned they spoke with Metropolitan Police Department Chief of Police Pamela Smith and were narrated Dupont Circle Park would not be closed for the weekend Smith withdrew D C police s request to close the park and requested anti-scale fencing not be erected around the park after listening to neighborhood leaders and residents according to a letter sent to U S Park Police Park Police and NPS have not returned News s calls for comment Fencing is expected to go up soon Dupont Circle Park is a symbolic location for numerous in the LGBTQ neighborhood It s known as a gathering place for people to celebrate their commitment to inclusion It s especially fundamental during Pride weekend explained Ashley Smith board president of the Capital Pride Alliance Get the D C area s top news and weather delivered to your inbox every morning Sign up for First Most of our free newsletter