Aionna Butler and Mykia Charles Interview, August 24, 2019

INDEXED CLIP TIME: 00:00:06.210 --> 00:03:41.820 SEGMENT SYNOPSIS: Maren Orchard interviews Mykia Charles and Aionna Butler on August 24, 2019 during Late Skate at Anacostia Park. In this clip, Mykia Charles and Aionna Butler talk about Anacostia Park - what they like to do and what changes they'd like to see. 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; School children in Washington, D.C.; Schools in Washington, D.C.

Alright, tonight is August 24, 2019. We are at Anacostia Park. We are at Late Skate. My name is Dan Kerr. Can you guys tell me your names?

Mykia Charles.

And Aionna Butler.

You want to tell me a little bit about what's the meaning of this park for you? What do you like about this place?

I like the skating.

Me too and the playground.

How long have you guys been coming here?

A long time.

This is my first tim.

How long have you been skating?

Not long cuz I can't skate.

I've been skating since I was one.

Who'd you come down here with?

My mom, my aunt, and my cousins.

My mother and my cousins.

So is this a good place to meet up with your family?

Yes.

Are you guys related or just friends?

This is my cousin.

You guys all live all over.

We live in the same area.

And so what's what are your earliest memories of this park?

I was on basketball court and fell and hurt my butt.

I fell in the skating rink. It was the first time I fell since I was born.

Really? So tonight what were some of your favorite things that you did?

Skating.

You like the music?

Yeah, I was dancing

We went to the water.

Oh yeah, we were over there by the water.

What did you guys do over there? Just walking around?

Yeah, we just sat right there because I didn't want to fall.

We put our skates on. When we were coming back, some old ladies told us...

that we gotta get off the grass cuz there's holes.

Okay, so tell, let's say five years from now ,what would you like this park to be like?

So a bigger and better skating rink.

A bigger skating rink. A better skating rink.

Yeah, and they need to give out knee pads.

I'm going into 6th.

What grade are you guys in?

I'm going into 7th.

What school do you go to?

I'm going to Meridian.

I'm going to [inaudible] Academy.

Any other thoughts you want to leave everyone with?

This is a fun park.

They just need bigger bathrooms.

Bring some knee pads.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.