D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-A810
Maintaining a quality park system requires a high level of facility maintenance, modernization, and repair. An analysis prepared as part of the Parks Master Plan estimated that more than half of the District's recreation centers are in fair to poor condition and should be considered for replacement by 2014. This includes the 25 recreation centers in the city that are more than 50 years old. 810.1
On a per capita basis, the District spends less on maintenance than peer cities like Boston, Baltimore, Chicago, and Minneapolis. Since 2003, however, its annual expenditures on park capital improvements have been higher than these cities. New facilities like Kennedy, Emery, Sherwood, and Turkey Thicket are replacing aging buildings and providing attractive new community centers. With more capital construction planned in the coming years, the District will need to dedicate additional funds to cover the higher expenses of operating and maintaining these facilities. 810.2
Similar efforts will be needed to address a wide variety of park planning issues, including the personal safety of park visitors, provisions for at-risk youth and residents with special needs, staffing needs, and the coordination of service delivery with other agencies. A steady, reliable stream of funds will be essential to keep our parks safe and attractive, and to respond to future needs. 810.3
Looking ahead, new funding sources such as public/private partnerships, grants, and concessions may be necessary. A commitment to future funding should recognize the many tangible and intangible benefits that Washington's parks provide to our neighborhoods. 810.4
Policy PROS-2.2.1: Maintenance and Renovation
Provide for the continuing maintenance, renovation, and upgrading of the District's parks and recreational facilities to prevent their deterioration and ensure that they continue to meet community needs. 810.5
Policy PROS-2.2.2: Park Safety and Security
Design parks, trails, and recreational facilities to improve public safety. Avoid creating hidden and difficult to access areas where security problems or vandalism could result. Lighting, fencing, building materials, and other design components should be selected to enhance the safety of park users. Park lighting shall be compatible with adjacent residential neighborhoods. 810.6
Policy PROS-2.2.3: Program Diversity
Provide diverse recreational activities for persons of all ages and cultural backgrounds, distributed equitably in all parts of the city. Coordinate with other service providers, including DC Public Schools, to maximize the effectiveness of service delivery and minimize redundancy. 810.7
Policy PROS-2.2.4: Youth Recreational Services
Provide recreational services that are particularly responsive to the special needs of the District's youth, using recreation and athletics to promote self esteem, responsibility, and leadership skills among DC teens. 810.8
Policy PROS-2.2.5: Special Needs
Increase efforts to meet the needs of special population groups, particularly persons with disabilities. Provide "barrier free" access by modifying existing facilities to accommodate the needs of the disabled. 810.9
A steady, reliable stream of funds will be essential to keep our parks safe and attractive, and to respond to future needs.
Policy PROS-2.2.6: New Funding Sources
Seek out and pursue new forms of federal, non-profit, and private financial support to acquire, develop, and operate the District's park and recreational facilities. 810.10
Policy PROS-2.2.7: Public-Private Partnerships for Recreation
Consider joint public-private financing to develop or rehabilitate recreational facilities that cannot be provided by District government alone due to budgetary or fiscal constraints. 810.11
Policy PROS-2.2.8: Park Stewardship
Encourage volunteer assistance and stewardship in the maintenance of the District's parks, particularly the triangle parks along major thoroughfares. Local community organizations should be encouraged to donate goods, services, and time to help in the oversight and upkeep of such spaces. 810.12
Policy PROS-2.2.9: User Fees
Establish user fees and charges for recreational programs as needed to partially recover the cost of providing recreation services to the public. Use graduated fee schedules where feasible to make allowances for residents with limited incomes. 810.13
Policy PROS-2.2.10: Fiscal Impact of Park Improvements
Evaluate proposed park facilities to determine their ability to generate revenue and help recover operational and maintenance costs. When developing new facilities, assess the projected operation and maintenance costs prior to requesting capital funding approval.
Action PROS-2.2.A: Facility Assessments
Conduct regular facility condition and utilization studies and use this data to determine if there is a need for improvement, reconstruction, closure, or expansion. A comprehensive facility condition assessment should be performed for each recreation center at least once every five years. 810.15
Action PROS-2.2.B: Maintenance Standards
Create official maintenance standards to improve the effectiveness of current maintenance and service levels for recreational buildings, facilities, and landscaping. Require adherence to these standards by maintenance contractors, as well as the District itself. 810.16
Action PROS-2.2.C: Adopt-A-Park
Encourage community groups, businesses, and others to participate in the District's Adopt A Park/Adopt a Playground program and publicize the program through signs, advertisements, websites, and other media. 810.17
Encourage volunteer assistance and stewardship in the maintenance of the District's parks. Local community organizations should be encouraged to donate goods, services, and time to help in the oversight and upkeep of such spaces.
Action PROS-2.2.D: Data Tracking
Implement computer tracking of data on facility use, costs, and revenues to make more informed decisions and to guide policies on fees, fee waivers, scheduling, and other aspects of facility programming. 810.18
Action PROS-2.2.E: Marketing and Branding
Implement a unified marketing strategy to raise awareness of the variety of the District's recreational program offerings and to more firmly establish an identity for the District of Columbia Parks. This strategy should use advertisements, web-based information and promotions, radio and television, branding, and other means to raise the profile of District parks. 810.19
See also policies in the Environmental Protection Element about "green" maintenance and green building practices, including requirements that future recreation centers meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standards.
Action PROS-2.2.F: Integration of Federal and District Athletic Fields
Better integrate federal and District athletic fields under the jurisdictions of NPS, DPR, and DCPS.
The provisions of Title 10, Part A of the DCMR accessible through this web interface are codification of the District Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. As such, they do not represent the organic provisions adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia. The official version of the District Elements only appears as a hard copy volume of Title 10, Part A published pursuant to section 9 a of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1994, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1 -301.66)) . In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions accessible through this site and the provisions contained in the published version of Title 10, Part A, the provisions contained in the published version govern. A copy of the published District Elements is available www.planning.dc.gov.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-A810