Friday, June 25, 2021

'We’re concerned that we have been ignored' - Homeowners sign petition regarding new Prince George's school location

(Click on the above image for Nicole DiAntonio's WUSA9 report)

FORT WASHINGTON, Md. — There is a petition growing online about plans to build a new K-8 school in Prince George’s County.

The proposed school building is scheduled to be built at the corner of Fort Washington Road and East Swan Creek Road.

As of Friday morning, more than 1,260 people have signed a Change.org petition to protest the building.

“The citizens of the Tantallon area of Fort Washington, MD oppose the building of a 2000 student school on the 23-acre wooded lot at the corner of Fort Washington & East Swan Creek Roads. This development would have a great impact on the environmentally peaceful area by adding increased flooding, traffic, light and noise pollution to the surrounding neighborhoods,” organizers wrote on the online petition.

Nancy Bhargava organized marches throughout the neighborhood nearly six weeks ago to protest the proposed school.

"We’re concerned that we have been ignored. Our community, the residents here have been dismissed," said Bhargava.

On Saturday, Bhargava plans to be back out at the intersection of Fort Washington Road and East Swan Creek Road, ahead of a scheduled groundbreaking next week.

"I'm concerned because we are going to be losing a lot of tree canopy. The tree canopy absorbs the water and prevents the water from flowing out into the road and into my house, my backyard and my neighbor's yard and causing serious issues," said Bhargava.