WEBVTT
Index - Segment 1 - memories of Anacostia Park
00:00:04.860 --> 00:02:06.690
INDEXED CLIP TIME: 00:00:04.860 --> 00:02:06.690
SEGMENT SYNOPSIS: Maren Orchard interviews Bryan Proctor on
August 24, 2019 during Late Skate at Anacostia Park. In this clip, Bryan
Proctor discusses his memories of Anacostia Park.
SUBJECTS: Late Skate in Anacostia Park; Anacostia Park
(Washington, D.C.); Anacostia Park and Community Collaborative; National
Park Service -- Anacostia Park; Roller skating; Basketball courts; Betty
Jean Dodds (1948-2018)
1
00:00:04.860 --> 00:00:17.940
Alright. This is the August 24, 2019. And you have Bryan
Proctor. The interviewer is Maren Orchard. And we are at the Anacostia
skating park, Late Skate. Do I have your permission to record this
interview?
2
00:00:17.940 --> 00:00:18.030
Yes.
3
00:00:20.430 --> 00:00:24.240
Do you want to start off by telling me a little bit about
yourself? What brought you here tonight?
4
00:00:25.530 --> 00:02:06.690
My name is Bryan Proctor. I grew up in southeast DC. I
used to play ball down here. Use to come down here during the day, during
the week, play basketball and roller skate, play basketball and more roller
skating and... me and a group of people have a little skate club where we
met certain people that came here like Betty Dodds. She used to put on the
skating showcase once a year. Unfortunately, she passed away. May she rest
in peace. But this skating area has changed so much over the years. When we
used to skate down here back 20 years ago, there was no DJ down here. Now
they have DJs down here on the weekends. We used to just skate to the music
that came out of the speakers. You know, I think they had like a radio and
offices up. And once upon a time the lights on the basketball court used to
stay on till about 10 o'clock. Now they don't come on at all. But when they
were on, when the lights were on, and the skating rink was open and the
lights on, there was plenty of people down here. You know, people down here
cooking out. People playing basketball. People just walking around, just
coming down here to relax. I think it's something that needs to continue.
Index - Segment 2 - losing of many skating rinks
00:02:11.340 --> 00:04:16.150
INDEXED CLIP TIME: 00:02:11.340 --> 00:04:16.150
SEGMENT SYNOPSIS: Maren Orchard interviews Bryan Proctor on
August 24, 2019 during Late Skate at Anacostia Park. In this clip, Bryan
Proctor discusses the closing of many skating rinks.
SUBJECTS: Late Skate in Anacostia Park; Anacostia Park
(Washington, D.C.); Roller skating; Alexandria Roller Rink; Temple Hills
Skate Palace; Kalorama Road (National Roller Skating Rink); Atlantic roller
skating rink; Fordsville, MD roller skating rink; Seabrook Skate Center
5
00:02:11.340 --> 00:02:52.230
Things things in this area have changed a lot and are
changing a lot. But I want the skating rink to stay the same for the
community. Because when it's open, it's definitely used. They're definitely
coming down here to skate. I've been skating for over 30 years. You know,
I've skated at Alexandria skating rink in Virginia. I've skated at
Fordsville skating rink in Maryland. I've skated at Atlantic skating rink
off South Capitol Street. It used to be a movie theater. They turned into a
skating rink. I've skated here. I skated at Kalorama skating rink.
6
00:02:51.960 --> 00:03:31.679
A lot of things are changing, you know. They closed Alexandria. They closed
Kalorama. Now we got to travel to Temple Hills or Baltimore or Seabrook to
roller skate. It is very nice for people to be able to come down here and
skate outside. You know, I don't skate outside anymore because I'm afraid
of falling and hitting this concrete hurts. But I think what they're doing
with the park is really nice.
7
00:03:31.660 --> 00:03:34.660
Do you think skating is less popular now than it used to
be?
8
00:03:35.350 --> 00:04:16.150
No, no, skating has gotten more popular. You know. There's
a lot more people skating. I mean, some of the older seasoned skaters like
myself, some have faded away and stop skating. But then, the kids of the
season skaters are coming out. So skating is really up and coming. It's
really ... I still want to be a big fan. So I can say, at this park, they
need to continue this. They need to have a DJ down here with music on the
weekends... Saturday and Sunday. And also during the week during the
evening.
Index - Segment 3 - activities at Anacostia Park and other DC parks
00:04:17.140 --> 00:05:54.990
INDEXED CLIP TIME: 00:04:17.140 --> 00:05:54.990
SEGMENT SYNOPSIS: Maren Orchard interviews Bryan Proctor on
August 24, 2019 during Late Skate at Anacostia Park. In this clip, Bryan
Proctor discusses activities at Anacostia Park and other DC parks.
SUBJECTS: Late Skate in Anacostia Park; Anacostia Park
(Washington, D.C.); Roller skating; Summer in the Park; Fort DuPont Park
(Washington, D.C.); Fort Dupont Park Summer Concert Series
9
00:04:17.140 --> 00:04:18.730
Are you meeting anyone here today?
10
00:04:19.200 --> 00:04:41.880
No, no, no, I was I was out riding my motorcycle and every
now and then I'll come through here and just see what's going on. And I
just came through and I see one of the guys that I know from the skating
rink DJing, you know. I just walked around and now they're supposed to have
bands down here today. So they're still doing some nice stuff.
11
00:04:43.850 --> 00:04:56.150
I remember when they used to have Summer in the Park further past the
skating rink. You know, they had Summer in the Park here and they got
Summer in the Park at Fort DuPont. It's still doing it Fort DuPont, they
just don't do it here.
12
00:04:59.300 --> 00:05:06.830
When they did do it here it was really nice. It was really
nice and crowded and it was peaceful. It was very peaceful.
13
00:04:59.310 --> 00:04:59.455
What was it like when they did do it here?
14
00:05:06.860 --> 00:05:06.890
[inaudible]
15
00:05:12.990 --> 00:05:54.990
The Summer in the Park had vendors and a lot of music, lot
of different artists, you know, people came from all over the DMV,
Washington, Maryland, and Virginia. Once again, I think that's something
that they need to bring back to Anacostia Park. There's a lot more space to
people to stand or people to sit and watch the show. You know, like some of
the shows they have in Merriweather and Wolf Trap, you know, they can have
here in Anacostia Park. You know, people will come out.
16
00:05:58.380 --> 00:06:01.710
Is there anything else that you'd like to share about DC
or about the park?
17
00:06:06.430 --> 00:06:50.350
DC has changed a lot. Martin Luther King Avenue has
changed a lot. You know, when I grew up it was Nichols Avenue. Later on it
turned into Martin Luther King Avenue. It has changed a lot, you know. But
with that change, I hope Anacostia Park doesn't change too much. You know,
they made a lot of changes to the highways and I just hope Anacostia Park
doesn't change too much. You know, I personally liked them. And now you see
people skate, even though I'm not skating myself. You know. It's a it's a
good thing and I think they should keep it going.
18
00:06:52.060 --> 00:06:53.080
Thank you so much for sharing.
19
00:06:54.630 --> 00:06:55.230
You're welcome.
