DC Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) is updating its Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) and needs input from residents.
From DPR:
The SCORP is used to prioritize and select outdoor recreation projects in the District to receive funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund in the National Park Service. DPR wants to know more about how you enjoy the outdoors, what outdoor activities you do, and what activities you wish you could do through DPR. Your insights will shape the SCORP priorities and help plan the future. Complete the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/scorp.
On February 26, 2026, the DC Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) and Department of General Services (DGS) held a final design and pre-construction community meeting for the park space on the southwest corner of South Dakota Avenue and Riggs Road NE. The property sits in ANC 5A09, currently served by ANC Commissioner Shelagh Bocoum (5A09). It looks like DPR may now being calling it South Dakota and Riggs Park (they used to refer to it as Riggs & South Dakota Park). They anticipate construction starting this spring, ending this fall.
First thing to know is that thanks to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s office, there is $600,000 of new federal money for the green space, but District officials do not know when that money will become available. So they are proceeding with the design as planned with the budget of $337,000. When the additional funding becomes available, they will return to the community to begin planning for the next phase.
Final design for the first phase:
Concrete platform of 830 sq ft with native planting surround
Total native planting of 1,374 sq ft
Art installation
Trash and recycling receptacles
Two benches
Bike racks
Lighting
The presentation contains the plant palette, which should provide lots of visual interest.
Art Installation
DGS will handle solicitations for the art piece. Commissioner Bocoum along with ANC Commissioners Keith Sellars (5A01) and Danielle Geong (4B09) will assist DGS with reviewing applications. They will recommend the artist and the location for the installation. If a more interactive installation is selected, that will be placed more in the interior of the green space.
Water Source
Lots of time spent discussing the fact that the team does not plan to provide a water source to help maintain the plant or provide a drinking fountain. A water source has been a clear ask from the community from the beginning. The project team said providing a water source would cost about one-third of the $337,000 budget so they opted not to go that route.
The contract team said they as the contractor will be responsible for watering the plants the first year following installation. After that, DPR would love a community partnership to help maintain the plants, but without a water source, that will be a bit more challenging.
Construction Timeline & Maintenance
Lots of time spent discussing maintenance more generally. Sounded like DPR/DGS committed to putting together an info sheet identifying agency maintenance responsibilities, i.e., DPW, DGS, DDOT, DPR, etc.
The public space application was approved at the Public Space Committee’s meeting in January earlier this year (application #481392). I believe the project team will notify the ANC commissioners when they obtain all of the necessary permits and construction is imminent so that people are not surprised when fencing pops up.
Construction hours will be 7am-3pm, Monday-Friday. Delivery hours will be 10am-2pm (outside of rush hour). The construction entrance will be on the South Dakota side. Currently, they do not anticipate a need for lane closures.
Direct any questions to Brittany Hughes (DGS) at brittany.hughes@dc.gov and Christopher Dyer (DPR) at christopher.dyer@dc.gov. And please copy ANC Commissioners Bocoum (5A09), Sellars (5A01), and Geong (4B09): 5A01@anc.dc.gov; 5A09@anc.dc.gov; 4B09@anc.dc.gov.
Please join the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the DC Department of General Services (DGS) for a community meeting to discuss the initial designs for improvements to the park at the intersection of Riggs Road & South Dakota Avenue NE.
Meeting Details:
Date: February 26, 2026(NEW DATE)
Location: Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Neighborhood Library, 5401 South Dakota Ave NE (NEW LOCATION)
Time:6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Individuals needing special accommodations, please contact Christopher Dyer via email at christopher.dyer@dc.gov or by telephone at (202) 702-9453.
Additional websites for the Riggs Road & South Dakota Ave Park project
Please join the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) for a virtual community meeting regarding the upcoming capital construction projects coming to the Ward 4 community.
Included in Tuesday’s legislation to fund several federal agencies for the remainder of the fiscal year was funding for several smaller community projects in DC, including additional funding for the green space at Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue NE.
Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a statement about the federal funding.
Community Project Funding Secured for the District in this bill includes:
Solar Charging for Capital eBikes – $250,000
Suitland Parkway Safety Enhancements – $850,000
Carver Langston Park Upgrades – $500,000
Riggs & South Dakota Triangle Park Upgrades – $600,000
Lederer Gardens Facility Improvements – $850,000
Duke Ellington Park Upgrades – $850,000
I for one was pretty vocal about the paltry sum of $337,000 originally allocated for the green space. Thank you to the offices of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mayor Bowser, and Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker for advocating for this additional support.
Please join the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) for a virtual community meeting regarding the upcoming capital construction projects coming to the Ward 5 community.
Thanks to neighbor Gavin for passing along information from DPR’s kickoff meeting for improvements to the playground at Lamond Rec, held on December 1, 2025.
Thanks to neighbor Gavin for passing along information from DPR’s kickoff meeting for improvements to the playground at Lamond Rec, held on December 1, 2025.
Join the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the DC Department of General Services (DGS) for a community meeting to discuss improvements coming to the playground at Lamond Recreation Center.
Meeting Details:
Date: Monday, December 1, 2025
Location: Online via Zoom
Time: 6:00 PM- 7:30 PM
Individuals needing special accommodations, please contact Rasheed Jibreel at rasheed.jibreel@dc.gov or by telephone at (202)-341-0158.
Gather at Michigan Park Playground (1203 Wynton Place NE) at 10:30 am for ride to Lost Generation Brewery and enjoy food from Silver and Sons Barbecue food truck.
It’s time for the annual Blanket or Treat. Whats Blanket or Treat? It’s like trunk or treat, but neighbors sit on blankets in the park instead of car trunks and hand out candy. Feel free to come earlier or stay later. Don’t forget your costumes!
On Sunday, October 26th from 4:30 to 6:30pm, the Lamond Community Action Group will host a Halloween Parade starting at Milligan Point (Sligo Mill Rd & Rittenhouse) and ending at 60 Sheridan St NE. The parade will be followed by a potluck in the driveway between 56-60 Sheridan St NE. If you plan to participate or bring something for the potluck, or donate gift cards for the costume contest, email lcagdc@gmail.com with what you plan to bring.
October 31, 2025
From CM Lewis George newsletter:
On Friday, October 31st from 6 to 9pm, Riggs-LaSalle Rec Center (501 Riggs Rd NE) will host a night of frights and delights featuring a haunted house and family-friendly movie. RSVP here.
It’s time for the annual Blanket or Treat. Whats Blanket or Treat? It’s like trunk or treat, but neighbors sit on blankets in the park instead of car trunks and hand out candy. Feel free to come earlier or stay later. Don’t forget your costumes!
From the Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker
Join Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker for a night out at the ballgame as the Washington Nationals take on the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 6:45 p.m. The office has a limited number of free tickets for Ward 5 residents, so reserve yours now by visiting ward5.us/gonats!
At a community meeting on August 26, 2025, DC Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) and Department of General Services (DGS) presented an updated concept plan for the Riggs & South Dakota Park that will be located on the southwest corner of Riggs Road & South Dakota Avenue NE in Riggs Park.
Instead of a straight path through the row of mature trees, there will be a plaza area on the corner of the green space at Riggs & South Dakota. The plaza will be buffered by plantings of evergreen shrubs. Two benches sit in front of the shrubbery to orient the gaze to the existing mature trees and open green space and a planting bed of native plants. The addition of two trees on the western and eastern edge of the plaza will eventually provide shade for the plaza. There will be two solar powered lights, waste/recycling receptacles, bike racks, and a park sign. Right now the design-build team is planning for brushed concrete for the plaza.
Public Art
The team requested ideas for community-driven public art. Most people seemed supportive of some type of vertical sculpture as opposed to something like a ground mural. Some ideas included having a more playable/interactive artistic element reminiscent of the LOVE sculpture in Philadelphia but perhaps spelling out “Riggs” or something to that effect.
The team suggested that the community come to a consensus about themes/inspiration for the art piece and have that incorporated into the design now because the money is available rather than waiting. Seems like something The Parks Main Street, Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association, and the ANCs can work together on.
Other Ideas
Residents requested a water fountain with bottle filler along with a spigot. The team stated they will need to determine whether there are already water pipes underneath the space. If there are not, building out infrastructure for water would be cost prohibitive.
The team asked about interest in a community garden club for the native plants but residents pointed out that without a water source, it would be difficult for residents to maintain plantings. Residents have asked for a hose bib from the very beginning. We know that the city will not do a good job of maintaining the planting areas given that the city does not do a good job of even mowing the grass on regular basis. So we really want to make sure that anything planted will be able to be maintained.
Commissioner Bocoum asked about having a sign directing people to walk their bikes through the plaza area.
The team stressed again that this is what the budget of $337,000 will support. Residents can certainly work down the line to request more tree plantings and work with the DC Council on funding for additional elements for the space.
Timeline
The new park should be substantially completed by the end of summer 2026.
Join the DC Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) for the Jazz in the Park series Thursday August 28, 6pm-8pm, at North Michigan Park Rec. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy live music with neighbors.
Please join the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the DC Department of General Services (DGS) for a community meeting to discuss the initial designs for improvements to the triangle park at the intersection of Riggs Road & South Dakota Avenue NE.
Your attendance is greatly appreciated!
Meeting details:
Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Lamond Riggs Neighborhood Library – 5401 South Dakota Ave NE, Washington, DC 20011
Individuals needing special accommodations, please contact Rasheed Jibreel at rasheed.jibreel@dc.gov or by telephone at (202)-341-0158.
Additional websites for the Riggs and South Dakota Triangle Park project.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 