DC Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) shared the link to the recording and the PowerPoint presentation from the Ward 5 Capital Projects meeting held on June 4, 2026
An additional $600,000 was secured with assistance from Eleanor Holmes Norton, and the funding became law on 2/3/26, with release expected within 6 months to DPR. This will be Ph 2 park improvements; more info to come!
Description
Park improvements including landscaping, paving, benches, lighting, bike racks, and more.
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.
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.
The field at Riggs-LaSalle Rec Center will be closed for synthetic turf replacement starting June 1, 2026. The field is expected to reopen by late summer.
The scope of this project includes replacement of the multi‑purpose synthetic turf athletic field and the addition of a new synthetic turf walking path around the perimeter of the site.
Residents are welcome to contact DPR’s Customer Care Center at (202) 673-7647. The call line is open during regular business hours (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.), Monday through Friday, and is closed on weekends and holidays. You may also contact DPR via email at dprcustomercare@dc.gov.
Synthetic walking path around field shown in blue.
DPR Announces Camp Riverview Lottery Registration Now Open—Expanded Free Camp Opportunities for DC Youth
(WASHINGTON, DC) – The Mayor Bowser Administration and DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) announced that registration for Camp Riverview is now open through a new lottery system. Beginning today, Monday, April 27, 2026, eligible District residents can enter the lottery to secure their spot at one of DC’s most unique and transformative summer camp experiences—completely free of charge.
Camp Riverview is a full-service overnight and day camp for youth ages 8-13 located on the scenic Potomac River in Scotland, Maryland. Operating from June 22 through August 7, 2026, the camp offers campers an immersive outdoor experience where they build confidence, make lifelong friendships, and develop a deep appreciation for the natural world.
“This year, DPR is expanding access to Camp Riverview by transitioning to a lottery registration system—the same proven process we use for our day summer camps,” said DPR Director Thennie Freeman. “This is an incredible opportunity for DC families to access a world-class camp experience that would be prohibitively expensive elsewhere. Camp Riverview is truly one of the region’s most unique free summer offerings.”
Camp Riverview is not just another summer camp—it is an extraordinary journey into the natural world. Campers participate in hands-on environmental science programs, boating and water activities, nature-based exploration, and outdoor adventures led by skilled, dedicated instructors. From wildlife encounters to nature trails along the Potomac, every day at Camp Riverview is designed to inspire wonder, build self-confidence, and foster a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship.
How the Lottery Works
The Camp Riverview lottery is designed to be simple and fair:
Lottery Opens: Monday, April 27, 2026
Lottery Closes: Monday, May 4, 2026
Results Announced: After lottery closes, results will be sent via email to the address registered with your DPR account
Enrollment Confirmation Deadline: Sunday, May 17, 2026
Selected families will receive an \”enrollment offer\” email with a link to sign in to their DPR account and view their camp enrollment options. It is critical to monitor email during this period, as enrollment offers will be sent only to the email address on file with DPR.
Camp Riverview is exclusively for District residents and is completely FREE. There are no registration fees, tuition, or hidden costs. All campers receive meals, lodging, activities, and instruction at no charge.
For more information about Camp Riverview, including session dates, age groups, and frequently asked questions, visit Campriverview.splashthat.com or call DPR Customer Care at (202) 673-7647.
We asked for this information because we have been asking for the dimensions of the park space and planting areas for some time now and we knew they would have been submitted as part of the public space application. The construction set has a bunch of other useful information like planting, mulch, and watering schedule.
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.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 