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 crucial role in D C Pride for decades will be closed this weekend The National Park Institution and U S Park Police decided to close Dupont Circle Park for WorldPride DC this weekend regime sources revealed The status park access during Pride festivities has been up in the air all week The Park Facility issued a announcement Tuesday morning saying Dupont Circle Park would be closed over the weekend after Park Police and D C police requested the closure The Park Organization cited a history of destructive and disorderly behavior during unpermitted programs during past D C Pride weekends In the Dupont Circle fountain sustained in damage Park Police announced Later Tuesday D C Council members Brooke Pinto and Zachary Parker announced they spoke with Metropolitan Police Department Chief of Police Pamela Smith and were reported 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 locality 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 various in the LGBTQ group It s known as a gathering place for people to celebrate their commitment to inclusion It s especially critical during Pride weekend stated 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 Greater part our free newsletter