The DC Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) gave an update on plans for a neighborhood park on the southwest corner of South Dakota Avenue and Riggs Road NE.

DPR Ward 5 Capital Project Update Presentation (August 2024)

I am going to call this more of a neighborhood green space because calling it a park evokes visions of a playground and vast amenities, which is not at all what is happening here. There is only $400,000 allocated for design and construction of this green space so it will be more like signage, landscaping, benches, that kind of thing (unless more funding comes).

The project website is https://dgs.dc.gov/page/riggs-south-dakota-park-0. I would say to ignore the design start date on the presentation slide shown above because it does not make sense and conflicts with what is on the project website:

Riggs & South Dakota Park

Project Details:

Address: Riggs Road & South Dakota, NE
Ward: 5
DPR Project Manager: Nick Kushner
DGS Project Manager: TBD
Project Status: Scope of Work Development
Design Start Date: Summer 2024
Design End Date: TBD
Project Delivery: Design-Build
Architect: TBD
General Contractor: TBD
Current Budget: $400k
Construction Start Date: TBD
Construction End Date: TBD
DGS Contact: Chellese Grove

I reached out to DPR to get a better understanding of the process for this green space. Here is what DPR stated.

There are two key phases in the design process:

1. Initial Community Input: Later this summer, DPR’s Community Planning team, led by Nick Kushner, will host a “Walk and Talk” in the park. This session will gather initial input from stakeholders . . . to help inform the design.

2. Design Kickoff: The actual design work begins once [DPR] hires a design team. This is anticipated to start in summer 2025, contingent on [DPR’s] collaboration with DDOT to either transfer the property or obtain the necessary permits. After the design team is on board, [DPR will] hold further meetings with the community to refine the concepts.  [DPR] do[es]n’t yet have a timeline for the DDOT coordination. 

DPR also shared with me an overall project timeline that they made sure to say is tentative and subject to change based on permitting, weather, etc.

• Late Summer 2024: DPR “Walk and Talk” – Stakeholder feedback session.
• Late Summer 2025: Design process begins after the Landscape Architect is hired and DDOT approvals are in place.  Please note that this could possibly start sooner, but we like to err on the side of caution when it comes to projected timelines.
• Fall/Winter 2025: Community meeting to refine the design.
• Spring/Summer 2026: Construction begins.

We have been writing about this space for a while now and the advocacy behind activating this green space. The tricky thing is that the space sits in DDOT’s portfolio given that it consists of the old right-of-way. DDOT does not want to give it up, for reasons. (Residents can see that it is currently serving as a construction staging area for the Riggs Crossing Senior Residences development project). DDOT has repeatedly stated (to me at least) that DPR will need to program the space through the public space permitting process, whereas DPR previously understood that the space would be transferred into DPR’s portfolio. I am hoping that we will not stay on this merry-go-round of dealing with the same question and that the right hand and left hand will really start working together. That will take leadership.

Also complicating things a bit are expansion plans by Food & Friends and their curb cut project. More on that to come.