The DC Traveler

Comments on Controversy — Sidewalk Ping Pong

by Jon on May 9th, 2008

In the first of an ongoing series, J-Michael at Starked DC and I will be examining the totally ridiculous, unimportant, and silly issues (such as the $76 million dollar pants story), that seemed to make it to the front page of DC’s newspapers. And perhaps once in a while, ever try to tackle the more serious DC related issue issues.  Often it might be a simply our opinions; on others, we will take opposing views in a point–counterpoint format.

Today’s issue was recently reported by The Washington Post and revolved around Comet Ping Pong Pizza, located in upper Northwest Washington, DC. Comet had, until recently, a ping pong table on the sidewalk in front of their restaurant.

Placed there as both a noticeable advertising gimmick and for customers or their children to play a game or two of ping pong while waiting for their pizza.  It became a bit of a neighborhood landmark.

But when the head of a local neighborhood association thought it was a hazard, and after complaining to the city, the restaurant’s owner was told by DC Zoning to remove the outdoor table. Customers can still enjoy a game of ping pong on one of the other ping pong tables located inside Comet.  

The sidewalk in front of the restaurant has more than enough room for both pedestrian traffic and the ping-pong table. In fact, the restaurant next door has outdoor seating, which occupies approximately the same amount of sidewalk space.  And both locations allows for ample pedestrian walking space.

The problems were first, that Comet Ping Pong Pizza didn’t have a permit for the outdoor table and second, the table could be considered a public hazard. I guess the risks include the possibility that an unsupervised child might chase a ball into traffic or that a customer that had a couple too many beers, while playing aggressive match, could run over an unsuspecting pedestrian or bicyclist.

The association’s commissioner created the You-Tube video to highlight the potential safety issue.

From my point of view, the sidewalk space in front of the restaurant looks wide enough to safely hold the ping-pong table. Additionally, creating some kind of boundary, perhaps using planters or a “velvet rope”, could safely cordon off the area.

I agree with DC zoning that the table should require a permit. Otherwise,  a precedence is set which could potentially allow any business to put any type of fixture in front of their business.  Taking the issue to the extreme, does anyone really want McDonald’s moving their deep fryer to the sidewalk? Or a dry cleaner to start hanging shirts to dry on clothes  lines in front of their store? 

So my recommendation is, the owner should apply for some type of appropriate permit, understanding that the ping-pong table might then become a piece of “public use” equipment, such as a bench or bike rack, that anyone could use, not just Comet’s patrons. 

Check out J-Michael’s take at Starked DC on this and ADD YOUR OPINION OR COMMENT to this “controversy”.

Image - Comet at night, interior

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