Public Works

Penn Branch Mourns of Passing of Alberta Paul, Former PBCA President & Chair, Public Works Committee

Published on
///

In Memoriam: Alberta Paul, September 29, 1950 – September 27, 2025

It is with profound sadness that we share that our beloved neighbor and friend, Ms. Alberta Paul passed away earlier today. She had been in recovery following a medical procedure earlier this week.

Alberta Paul has been a dogmatic champion for our Penn Branch neighborhood. She served as president of the Penn Branch Community Association (PBCA) for 10 years. As president, she re-establish Penn Branch Citizens/ Civic Association as a non-profit and was instrumental in getting the city to pass emergency legislation to maintain the O Street Street (Retaining) Wall in 1997. She frequently raised funds and coordinated volunteer efforts to improve 9/11 Memorial Park, located at the gateway of our neighborhood. After serving as President, Alberta was Chair of our neighborhood Public Works Committee for much of the last twenty five years. In this capacity she led many beautification projects and also helped many neighbors and as well as other Ward 7 residents to gain better access to city services. She was also lifelong advocate for youth and senior citizens in our community.

Alberta retired from District Depart of Transportation (DDOT) last fall after many years of distinguished service. She championed investing in youth, cultivating the next generation of community leadership, and greater support for seniors. Her friendship, service, and her tireless advocacy for Penn Branch, Ward 7, and our city will be greatly missed.

A Champion for Penn Branch Neighborhood

From Left: Donna Cooper (PEPCO Regional President) and PBCA Public Works Chair Alberta Paul and President Stan Benton Receive 25K Award-
Alberta Paul at National Night Out Event
Alberta Paul spearheads 9-11 Park Clean up Event

Funeral Service for Ms. Alberta Paul

Date:
Saturday, October 11, 2025 

Wake:
9:30AM -11:00AM

Funeral Service:
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM 

 Location:
Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church 3000 Pennsylvania Ave. SE Washington, DC 20020

Final Interment:
Cedar Hill Cemetery 4111 Pennsylvania Ave Suitland, MD 20746

 Send cards to:
3721 Carpenter Street SE WDC, 20020

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family please visit: Pope Funeral Home Sympathy Store.

You might be interested in

Penn Branch Launches Memorial Paver Campaign to Improve 9/11 Memorial Gateway Park

Published on
////
9/1 Memorial Park Paver Campaign

Donate a paver in honor of your family, organization, or a beloved neighbor | LINK: Donate.Brickmarkers.com/pennbranchdc

Penn Branch Community Association is asking for your support to help us improve 9/11 Memorial Park. Our goal is to beautify this gateway to our neighborhood by covering the main surface area (along Carpenter Street SE) with personalize pavers that memorialize the many great families, elected servants, and organizations that has made this community great.

Donate a personalized paver in honor of your Penn Branch Family, Ward 7 organization, or a beloved neighbor.

Donate.Brickmarkers.com/pennbranchdc

#wearepennbranch#DC#campaign#SEDC

donate.brickmarkers.com/pennbranchdc

9/11 Memorial Gateway Park Paver Campaign (FY2025)

Published on
///
9/1 Memorial Park Paver Campaign

PBCA has been working hard to renovate and improve our 9/11 Memorial Gateway Park. The ultimate goal is to greatly improve usability, access, and sustainable plan for water and erosion. We also want to make this pocket park a destination that tells the story of our great Penn Branch neighborhood and memorializes those D.C. residents who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on the September 11, 2001.

PBCA design plan for 9/11 Memorial Park

Penn Branch Community Association is asking for your support to help us improve 9/11 Memorial Park. Our goal is to beautify this gateway to our neighborhood by covering the main surface area (along Carpenter Street SE) with memorial pavers.

DONATE YOUR PAVER

Donate a personalized paver in honor of your Penn Branch Family, Ward 7 organization, or a beloved neighbor.

4″ x 8″ | $150.00
*3 lines personalized text
*Up to 20 characters per line

8″ x 8″ | $200.00
*For military service families, elected, public servants, and non-profits

*6 lines personalized text
Up to 20 characters per line

TO MAKE YOUR DONATION :
Donate.Brickmarkers.com/pennbranchdc

Donate.Brickmarkers.com/pennbranchdc

DC Residents who lost their lives on 9/11

  • David Charlebois Washington DC ,first Officer
  • Bernard Curtis Brown 11,student Leckie Elementary School
  • Sarah Clark 65,Columbia Md, sixth grade teacher ,Bertie Backus Middle School ,DC
  • Asia Cotton 11 student, Backus Middle School DC
  • James Debeuneure 58,Upper Marlboro MD fifth grade teacher, Ketcham Elementary School
  • Rodney Dickens11 student Ketcham Elementary School ,DC
  • James Joe Ferguson 39,Washington,education outreach director National Geographic Society
  • Ian Gray 55,Washington President of health care consulting firm
  • Karen A. Kincaid 40 attorney, Wiley Rein & Fielding ,DC
  • Hilda E. Taylor sixth grade teacher at Leckie Elementary School. DC
  • Carolyn B Halmon  49, Washington DC
  • Brenda Kegler 49 Washington, DC
  • Major Ronald D. Milam  33 Washington DC., US Army
  • Edna L Stephens 53,Washington DC
  • Johnnie Doctor, Jr., Washington DC
  • Paul Ambrose 32 ,Washington, DC
  • Major Ronald D. Milam 33 Washington ,DC

DESIGN CONCEPTS

PHASE I: Infrastructure, Design Improvements

Installation of electrical power, energy efficient LED lighting for the main sign, and community-approved plans for the redesign of the main area to expand the common areas and restore all pathways (80% Hardscaping). 

Also; to update and restore primary park signs and memorial plaques bearing the names of DC residents who lost their lives on 9/11.

PHASE II: Improved Gardening and Installation of Hardscaping (Memorial Pavers)

Leveling main area; Small Retaining Wall; Widen and restore all wood framing around steps and pathways

Our second phase efforts centered around making the pocket park a functioning town square or gathering space for the neighborhood. This includes wider walking paths and improving the grading of the severely sloped landscaping . 

The expanding redesign/ landscaping will create a defined memorial garden area and the addition of a (3.5ft high) retaining wall that runs horizontally through the park, parallel with the 3100 Block of O Street ST SE) to level the primary surface area.  All wood framing around walking paths and steps were replaced at the front entrance/ sign area (facing Penn Ave SE), and as well as other areas in the 9/11 Memorial Park in an effort to preserve the integrity of the landscape from erosion.

Resurfacing /Restoration of Pathways

Restoration of pathways and expanding the primary surface areas (80% Hardscaping/20%  Memorial Garden), increasing the capacity for public gatherings and improving overall accessibility to the park from Carpenter Street and O Street SE entrances.

You might be interested in

Penn Branch Expands Spring Community Clean Up Efforts to Include Penn Ave, Ft. Davis Drive

Published on
////
Alberta Paul spearheads 9-11 Park Clean up Event

Penn Branch neighbors came together on Saturday, April 8th, 2023 to help clean 9/11 Memorial Gateway Park and along the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor to Ft. Davis Drive before the entrance to Ft. Dupont Park. Several neighbors expressed concern to PBCA executive board members about the amount of trash that was visible from the street and from along the Circle-Park Hiking and Biking Trail that borders our neighborhood.

And they wanted to do something about it.

The DC Department of Public Works and the National Park Service (NPS) donated cleaning cleaning supplies, trash bags, bug spray, and grabbers. Then, our roughly 30 neighbors went to work on brisk spring morning. They were picking up trash and removing weeds. Others cut grass and help trim roses in our park.

Thanks to all who pitched-in. A few hours work did really made a difference!

#Springcleanup #SEDC #community #WearePennBranch #DC #Ftcircleparks

You might be interested in

Penn Branch Community Association Receives $25,000 ‘Sustainable Communities’ Award from PEPCO and Sustainable Maryland

Published on
/
From Left: Donna Cooper (PEPCO Regional President) and PBCA Public Works Chair Alberta Paul and President Stan Benton Receive 25K Award-

From Left: Donna Cooper (PEPCO Regional President) and PBCA Public Works Chair Alberta Paul and President Stan Benton Receive 25K Award- From the left: PEPCO Regional President Donna Cooper presents Sustainable Communities award to Penn Branch Public Works Chair Alberta Paul and former President Stan Benton.

DECEMBER 9, 2022

Penn Branch Community Association was awarded $25,000 to make improvements to 9/11 Memorial Park by Pepco and Sustainable Maryland. This funding is made available through Pepco’s Sustainable Communities Grant program, which provides funding to support open space preservation, improvements to parks and recreation resources, environmental conservation, and innovative community resiliency projects.

Our community association was one of 11 local municipalities, recreational authorities, and nonprofits that were chosen to receive $125,000 in funds from Pepco and Sustainable Maryland to support open space and resiliency projects across the District of Columbia and Maryland.

“These are important and impactful projects that will have sustainable impacts on our communities.  We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to support such projects,” said Donna Cooper, Pepco region president. “We are committed to helping our customers and communities achieve our collective climate goals, equitably and inclusively. These grants are one of the many ways we are working to foster a cleaner and safer environment for all.”

Pepco launched the Sustainable Communities Grant program in 2020.

You might be interested in

1 2 3