In early May, of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) planning and design team, led by DPR Chief of Community Relations Tommie Jones, Jr. and Capital Projects and Design Manager Brent Sisco, provided an update on projects of interest to residents. Sisco took the lead in providing information on the nine Capital Projects underway in Ward 6 as of May 8.
He said that at this time, DPR does not anticipate any delays to projects due to Congressional interference around the DC budget. That largely relates to the District’s operating budget, whereas construction projects draw from the capital budget, a separate fund. “At this time, we’ve been told to proceed as planned,” Sisco said.
Get updates on the projects, here in alphabetical order, below.
Cobb Park (200 H St. NW)
This $2.1 million project converts the triangle park formerly used as a staging area for nearby construction back into parkland. The project includes walking path, seating, new trees, landscaping, fencing and water fountains.The Star Court is a structural installation sort of like a pagoda that will add shade to the park. Construction is currently underway and opening expected Fall 2025. www.dgs.dc.gov/page/cobb-park-renovation
Garfield Park (210 S. Carolina Ave. SE)
DGS and DPR have completed upgrades to the playground and bocce courts at Garfield Park, which are now open after being offline for some time. Remaining work includes erosion control, grass re-seeding, tennis court striping, painting and a new net. Completion of the $1.5 million job is anticipated by the end of May, weather permitting. www.dgs.dc.gov/page/garfield-park-and-playground-improvements
Jefferson Field (720 Ninth St. SW)
A project that has been “on the books for a while,” Sisco said, DGS and DPR were able to double the budget for the project with grant funds which enables the team to do more work on the property. Originally just a grass-to-turf conversion, additional funds facilitate a turn to the single tennis and two pickle ball courts on site. Using the grant funds, DPR reconfigured the pickle ball courts and was able to add two additional pickle ball courts to the site plan. The project is in permitting and for is anticipated to begin fall 2025 and be complete in spring 2026. Another progress meeting for the community is slated for the Sumer to discuss construction.
www.dgs.dc.gov/page/jefferson-athletic-field-replacement
Kingman Field and Dog Park (14th Street at D Street NE)
One of the first dog parks in the District, Sisco said, Kingsman Park now needs a complete renovation. $1.25 million has been allocated to renovate the dog park and make upgrades to the water fountains, basketball court and minor improvements to the field. The design is complete. The dog park will feature engineered wood fiber chips, which Sisco said is much easier on dog paws and is fond in many playgrounds. This project is in permitting and construction is expected to begin in summer and take about 90 days to complete, reopening in fall. www.dgs.dc.gov/page/kingsman-field-basketball-courts-and-dog-park
Randall Recreation Center (S. Capitol Street SW at I Street SW)
Sisco said that Randall is one of DPR’s more interesting properties. The old field house on the property was one of the first animal pounds in the District, used for storage of both horses and dogs. It is now a historic building. That places limits on what can be done with the structure’s exterior, but the interior will be renovated for recreational programming. The current poolhouse will be completely demolished and a new state-of-the-art building built in its place. Upgrades will be made to the outdoor pool, including the addition of shade structures, something the community loudly requested. There is potential to add pickleball courts to the site as well but Sisco said there are no plans for work on the baseball fields aside from the replacement of the outfield net, citing a lac of funds. The project is in the design phase with community meetings anticipated throughout the rest of spring and into summer. Construction on the $18.5 million project is anticipated to begin nearer to the end of 2025 and last a year. The exact dates the pool will be offline are not yet known. www.dgs.dc.gov/page/randall-recreation-center-and-pool
Rumsey Aquatic Center (635 N. Carolina Ave. SE)
The biggest project by budget currently underway under the DPR portfolio, the $37 million renovation of Rumsey Pool kicked off last winter and has been through two community meetings as it enters the design phase. Sisco said it was one of the biggest responses to a community survey they have ever received, with over 1100 people submitting responses. “It was incredible,” he said. The pool will be demolished and a new building including a senior center and other facilities such as a tech lounge or indoor fitness center could be included. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) submitted a letter to DPR requesting the team draft a design that incorporates a second floor, something that was not included in the last community meeting; his team has indicating that DPR was receptive although the team at this meeting was not enthusiastic, with Chief of External Affairs Tommie Jones noting that both a single and two-floor design have and that the goal is to create a “premier aquatic facility.” The DPR team anticipates at least five community meetings will take place to discuss the project. www.dgs.dc.gov/page/rumsey-aquatic-center
Sherwood Recreation Center Exterior Upgrades (640 Tenth St. NE)
After a few stops and starts, the renovation to basketball and tennis courts, the addition of a new water fountain and conversion of grass field into synthetic turf has now been completed at Sherwood Rec. Sisco said he went to the site to photograph improvements and children were all over the field and courts. He thanked ANC 6A Commissioner Roberta Shapiro for pushing the $1.4 million project over the finish line. www.dgs.dc.gov/page/sherwood-recreation-center-exterior-improvements
Southwest Town Center Park (South of I Street between Third and Sixth Streets SW)
This project is a $3.5 million effort to renovate southwest park spaces along I Street from Southwest Library to the Duck Pond. $3.5 million has been allocated to Phase 1, which consists of construction on the parcel called site “B”, located adjacent to Christ United Church (900 Fourth St. SW). No funding has yet been allocated to site “A”, north of Westminster Presbyterian Church (400 I St. SW). Permitting for site B is underway with an anticipated July 2025 construction start date. The project will add landscaping, signage, pathways, trees and sited seating to the site. DPR is working on getting funding to do the work on site A, Sisco said.
www.dgs.dc.gov/page/sw-town-center-park
Watkins Playground and Park Upgrades (420 12th St. SE)
This $2.25 million project will allow DPR to completely renovate the playground, upgrade basketball courts and improve the Rush Rink. The project has been through multiple meetings with the wider community and with the adjacent school, Sisco said, with one more meeting to kick off construction later this spring to kick off construction in the summer. The goal is to complete the work before school resumes in fall. www.dgs.dc.gov/page/watkins-playground-and-park-improvements
