Riggs-LaSalle Rec is the next stop on the Senior Fest Pre-Game Tour.
Senior Fest Pre-Game Tour
May 1, 2024
12:00 pm-2:00 pm
Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center
501 Riggs Road NE
Senior Fest 2024 will take place on May 29, 2024, at UDC Van Ness Campus. Join in for fitness demonstrations, line dancing, entertainment, and more.
Both Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George and Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker provided parks and recs update in their newsletters a couple of weeks ago that are of interest to the neighborhood.
From Councilmember Lewis George on planned summer repairs:
From Councilmember Parker on green space at southwest corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE:
I listened to a recording of the budget oversight hearing for DGS, and it clarifies conflicting information we were receiving about the green space (discussion starts at roughly the 01:41 mark). The green space sits in DDOT’s portfolio. Instead of pursuing a transfer of jurisdiction to DPR, DGS Director Delano Hunter stated that they will go through DDOT’s public space permitting process to program the space. (DDOT has stated for a while that this is their preferred option). DDOT wants to keep the space in its portfolio in case of transportation needs.
Director Hunter stated that the plan is to have a designer on board before the end of this fiscal year (so before September 30, 2024) with the goal of having initial community engagement by then as well. Director Hunter stated that there is about $440,000 in the budget. We know this is not a ton of money to create an actual park, but it will be a start for some landscaping, maybe some benches, and generally making the space more useable.
Park space here is included in the neighborhood’s area development plan. A team of neighbors (myself included) has been working on getting this funded for several years now. That is the reason for all of the surveys. In my formal and informal conversations with District agencies on this, I pointed out that this space could feature any number of things, such as a neighborhood sign, neighborhood history park, an art park, native plant demonstration garden, walking path, and limited recreation (think seasonal ice/skate rink). To bolster our funding request, a team of us worked with EYA to draw up initial concept plans with the goal of providing a more concrete idea of what we have in mind for agency officials (shoutout to EYA for this).
The limited amount budgeted for this space for Fiscal Year 2024 is not going to get us anywhere close to 100% of what we want, but it is a small start. And we continue to work to identify other sources of funding for things like neighborhood history markers in the space. We also know that there is still a third phase for Art Place at Fort Totten that will eventually get started at some point (this is the space on the northwest side of South Dakota Avenue/Kennedy Street NE). If the timing were better, it would have been nice to be able to conceive of these spaces together.
On December 16, 2023, the DC Department of Parks & Recreation released Ready2Play, a 20-year parks and recreation plan. The project website has a handy storymap that provides an easy way to walk through the plan, starting with a high level overview and priorities before getting to specific recommendations. Probably the easiest way to see site-specific recommendations is by looking at the capital blueprint. That section contains charts with recommendations for specific parks and recreation centers.
Those who followed the process will notice that while the draft plan included specific funding year recommendations for many of the site-specific recommendations, the final plan does not because there is a budget process for getting things funded. The final plan denotes those projects that are currently funded and DPR substantially revised the implementation section (beginning on p. 110 of the plan) so it now includes a description of short-term, medium-term, and long-term actions. DPR describes the implementation section as follows:
The implementation section lays out an action-by-action guide on how the success of each action will be measured. For some actions, there are relevant metrics that will be tracked and reported on annually. For others, there are implementation outputs or deliverables that will be an initial measure of success for that action. Every action is also assigned a projected timeframe for when its achievement seems most possible and practical. Some actions are ongoing, while others are categorized into short-, medium- or long-term timeframes. Short-term actions are anticipated to be completed by the end of FY26, medium-term actions are anticipated to be completed by the end of FY30, and long-term actions are anticipated to be completed in the years following FY30. Each of the actions also has a corresponding funding value that estimates the range of funding that implementing the action will require. If the funding value is listed
as N/A, it is anticipated that DPR can complete this task in-house or with the resources already available within current operating or capital budget funding levels.
I attended the Ready2Play plan release party and neighbor Gavin also took a look at the plan for mentions of parks and recs in Riggs Park and nearby areas. I think the plan for our neighborhood parks & rec centers largely reflects the important long-term advocacy of neighbors as well as our engagement throughout the Ready2Play process. It does not contain everything we need or want in our neighborhood parks and rec centers, but it is a useful tool that can be used by neighbors to advocate for funding for implementation of pieces of the plan in the future.
Neighborhood site-specific Ready2Play recommendations listed below.
Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center
These recommendations are mostly the same as the draft plan, but the “safety and inclusion” column is new. DPR defines safety and inclusion element this way:
A safety and inclusive space highlights areas where there will be an enhanced security upgrade to protect the safety of users of the facility. This could include new cameras, security staff, lighting or other site improvements to enhance the safety of site users.
The Friends of Riggs-LaSalle Rec advocated for these safety features during the public process.
Riggs Road and South Dakota Park
This item refers to the District-owned green space on the southwest corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE. It is part of the portfolio of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT). The neighborhood’s 2009 area development plan envisioned this site as park space.
This site was not listed in the DPR’s draft plan, but residents continued our yearslong advocacy for funding and to have this space included in DPR’s master plan. We worked with ANC 5A, former and current Ward 5 councilmember, and others to make this happen.
There is (a little bit of) money in the budget for this park space. My understanding is that DPR is waiting for DDOT to complete the land transfer.
Lamond Recreation Center
The draft plan included new exercise equipment, but a FitLot was installed late summer 2022.
Keene Field
This is the same as the draft plan.
Gavin points out that the plan also lists Keene under “Recommended natural areas | forest patches,” but it is not listed on the site table for Keene.
North Michigan Park Recreation Center
This is the same as the draft plan.
Reservation 0574 (New Hampshire, Ingraham, and 1st Sts., NW)
This is the same as the draft plan.
National Park Service Partnership Recommendations
The Ready2Play plan includes sites for potential partnerships with the National Park Service (NPS). Fort Totten Park and Fort Circle Park on South Dakota Avenue NE are included in the list of sites to “assess and discuss with NPS for further collaboration, based on neighborhood desire, need, and quality of site/amenity,” and shown as recommended NPS sites for transfers of jurisdiction (TOJ) or cooperative management agreements (CMA). These were recommendations in the draft plan as well. The implementation plan shows that these TOJ/CMA discussions with NPS are ongoing.
At the release party, DPR staff stated that DPR is looking to use TOJs more (transferring ownership of park space owned by federal government to District government) to transfer bundles of park spaces together rather than pursuing transfers one by one. In addition, I was told that current DPR staff believe that TOJs rather than CMAs would be more useful for long-term goals because with a TOJ, park space owned by the federal government would be transferred to the District government. By having ownership of the park space, the District would then have more authority and control over what can be done with the parks. With CMAs, the District can use invest its own capital funding in federal parks for enjoyment of residents and visitors, but the federal government still retains ownership and therefore still has to approve what types of activities/amenities/programming can be done in the park. (A recent example of a CMA is Franklin Park downtown).
Future Planning and Other Recommendations
The Ready2Play plan includes sites for potential planning efforts. North Michigan Park/Queens Chapel, Brightwood Park/Manor Park, and MBT & Piney Branch are recommended as “areas to study for potential park expansion.” These were recommendations in the draft plan as well.
The draft plan recommended, “Work with DDOT and NPS to further develop the Fort Circle Park hiker/biker trail system.” This recommendation is not listed in the final plan. Unclear why this was removed or if it is somehow incorporated into another recommendation, such as the TOJ/CMA recommendations. I will just note that a trail along the perimeter of Fort Circle Park is an element of the neighborhood’s 2009 area development plan as well as the National Capital Trail Network.
Next Steps
This is quick snapshot of recommendations relevant to the neighborhood in the Ready2Play plan. The plan was an ambitious undertaking for DPR. It is worth taking some time to look at the plan not just for recommendations specific to the neighborhood, but also to see all of the really cool things envisioned for the city, such as the District’s first net-zero rec center as well as what sounds like a massive planned project for Kenilworth Park (125 acres!). It will be up to neighbors to continue advocating for improvements to our neighborhood parks and rec centers, and that includes some specific things that did not make it into the final plan (we can make it fit though).
Join the DC Department of Parks & Recreation for the release of the city’s 20-year parks & rec plan called Ready2Play. Food, games, giveaways, and more.
Ready2Play Release Party
December 16, 2023
11:00 am-2:00 pm
Edgewood Recreation Center
301 Franklin Street NE
Information at ready2play.splashthat.com
From DC Department of Parks & Recreation
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 31, 2023 CONTACT: DPR Customer Care: (202) 673-7647 Media Contacts: Michael Tucker, Jr. – (202) 717-4242, michael.tucker@dc. gov Nolan Treadway, (202) 257-5266, nolan.treadway@dc.gov |
Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) are reminding residents that registration for DPR’s 2023 winter programming will begin on Wednesday, November 1 for aquatics programs and Thursday, November 2 for all other programs. Registration opens at noon on both days.
DPR programs offered this winter include:
Families can sign their children up for Wee Winter Wondercamp, available for ages 3-5, and Winter Wondercamp, available for ages 6-13, during the upcoming winter break. And registration for additional DPR winter break programs will be announced in November.
Registration for winter programming is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and DPR will utilize a virtual “waiting room” on both program registration days in order to manage the high demand for programs.
DPR Winter Program registration opens:
Residents are encouraged to create an account online with DPR’s registration system in advance to save time once program registration opens. To create an account, visit http://dpr.dc.gov/DPRaccount.
DPR offers programming at reduced rates to qualifying DC residents. Complete the online reduced rates application here. Residents must be approved for reduced rates by DPR before registering for programs.
For more information and to view a complete list of DPR programs, visit DPRprograms.com.
From neighbor Heather Rodgers
The 3rd Annual Trunk or Treat in Ft. Circle Park is this Saturday, October 28th! This is a very low-key gathering. It’s an opportunity to bring the kids in their costumes and meet some neighbors. For safety, blankets will be set up in the park instead of going to car trunks. Please see below for details:
Ft. Totten Trunk (Blanket) or Treat
Saturday, October 28th, 2023
3:00pm ET to 5:00pm ET
Ft. Circle Park – Pavilion on Galloway St NE between 9th and 10th Street
Facebook invite is here
Volunteer sign-up here
DC Family Bike Fest 2023 is happening this Sunday, September 17, 10:00 am-2:00 pm at Alethia Tanner Park.
Ward 5 Biking will be celebrating completion of the 8th Street NE cycletrack at 10:00 am at Brookland Arts Walk before heading down the Met Branch Trail to the park. The cycletrack is quite lovely (hats off to the Ward 5 ANC commissioners who worked with DDOT to close this gap along the MBT).
DPR Cultural Arts Showcase
Highlighting DPR cultural Arts programs and activities
May 18, 2023
6:00 PM
Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center
501 Riggs Road NE
Today, the DC Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) announced expanded hours at Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (501 Riggs Road NE), Lamond Recreation Center (20 Tuckerman Street NE), and at North Michigan Park Recreation Center (1333 Emerson Street NE).
| Old Hours* | New Hours | Daily Operating Hours Change | |
| Monday – Friday | 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. | 8 ➔ 12 hours per day |
| Saturday | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. / Closed | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | 4 ➔ 8 hours per day |
DPR indicated that the expanded hours address usage by teens.
The expansion of hours addresses a growing desire among teens more interested in leisure usage of DPR’s gyms, fitness centers, eGaming lounges, etc. DPR will limit programming and permits during the expanded hours to ensure availability of these highly utilized recreation assets for teens. April 10th, is a professional development day at DC Public Schools which means youth are out of school.
To view all DPR recreation and community centers, visit dpr.dc.gov/RecCenters.
DPR also announced hiring opportunities.
DPR is Hiring
DPR also is also hiring for the summer, with over 600 positions available. Positions available include summer camp, roving leaders, lifeguards and pool operators, urban park rangers, summer meals program, environmental division, and warehouse and transportation.
Residents can find a job or sign up to attend our next hiring event on Saturday, April 15 at earnwithdpr.com.
Be sure to comment on the District’s draft parks and recreation long-range plan by January 31, 2023. Visit ready2playdc.com to read the draft plan and submit your comments.
From DC Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR):
The plan includes goals, strategies, actions, and an investment blueprint to guide DPR over the next two decades. There are policy-level planning, programming, design, and operations actions that DPR intends to undertake and track over the coming years, as well as specific site-based recommendations and an implementation plan of investment.
The draft plan is currently posted on the Ready2Play website, where you can submit comments directly in the document by clicking on the relevant area of the page and filling in the comment window that pops up. Additionally, there is a public comment survey where you can leave additional feedback or general comments on the whole document.
I previously discussed some elements of the draft plan in this post.
This is the time to support the items in the draft plan that you like and to continue to advocate for funding and implementation of the things neighbors want.
Want to see attractive community green space at the corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE? Ask for it and remind officials that this request is consistent with the neighborhood’s area development plan.
Want shade at the new Riggs-LaSalle Rec playground? Ask for it.
Want a neighborhood walking track and tennis courts? Co-sign the recommendation in the plan.
Want better coordination with National Park Service for Fort Circle Park? Co-sign the recommendation in the plan & remind officials that the neighborhood’s approved area development plan contemplates recreation and a trail around the perimeter of the park.
Want “safe access” to include not just safe routes to the rec, but also safety in and around the rec? Let officials know.
Whatever it is that you support, let DPR know by January 31.
Riggs Park Follow Up Public Safety Meeting
Hosted by DC’s Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety & Justice
January 10, 2023
6:30 pm
Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (501 Riggs Road NE)
Government agencies in attendance:
Metropolitan Police Department
DC Department of General Services
DC Department of Parks & Recreation
DC Department of Behavioral Health
For questions or concerns, please contact Jasmin Benab at jasmin.benab@dc.gov.
—
This meeting is a follow-up to a less than useful meeting that was held on January 3, 2023, in response to the shooting that happend at the Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center on December 23, 2022. MPD 4th District Commander Carlos Heraud attended the meeting but a minute before having to leave because of a shooting at Georgia Avenue & Rittenhouse Street NW. Officials from other agencies present were not prepared to address questions raised by residents.
For the meeting on January 10, residents are encouraged to submit questions, concerns, and ideas in advance to jasmin.benab@dc.gov.
My understanding is that representatives will be prepared with responses to questions raised at the meeting on January 3. It sounds like this will be a real opportunity for residents to say what they would like to see from District government officials and what kind of resources residents believe are necessary to make sure something like this does not happen again.
The frontline staff at the rec deserve all the thanks and support for keeping the children who were in the gym at the time safe. They also deserve a workplace free from violence, a building with working security cameras, and an executive branch that timely responds to issues raised by the staff.
Also, nothing can be that deep to make someone decide to shoot up a rec center. So often people say that there are not enough programs or things for young people to do in this city and then people decide to shoot up a place that actually offers programs and things for young people to do. This is ridiculous.
Riggs Park Public Safety Meeting
Hosted by DC’s Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety & Justice
January 3, 2023
6:00 pm
Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (501 Riggs Road NE)
Government agencies in attendance:
MPD 4th District Commander Carlos Heraud
DC Department of Parks & Recreation
DC Department of Behavioral Health
For questions or concerns, please contact Jasmin Benab at jasmin.benab@dc.gov.
The below message is from DC’s Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR). Edited 12/29/2022: A community meeting is tentatively scheduled for January 7, 2023, at 12:00 pm at Riggs-LaSalle Rec (501 Riggs Road NE). A community meeting is scheduled for January 3, 2023, at 6:00 pm at Riggs-LaSalle Rec (501 Riggs Road NE).
—
From DPR
Dear Community Stakeholders:
The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) would like to provide an update on a critical incident that happened at the Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center. On Friday December 23, 2022, several individuals shot through the windows of the center and injured two residents who were playing pool. Fortunately, both individuals received non life-threatening injuries and are expected to make a full recovery. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is conducting a thorough investigation into this incident and will provide updates.
In response to this incident, DPR is taking the following immediate steps to address the impact of this incident.
* DPR will provide trauma counselling for staff, children and partners who are impacted by the incident.
* The Department of General Services (DGS) is making immediate arrangements to replace the glass and make repairs to any additional damages to the site.
* DPR will work with the DGS Protective Services Division (PSD) and MPD to provide additional security at the center site.
* DPR is working with MPD to review all security tape of the incident and requests that individuals with any information about the shooting directly contact MPD.
We would like to thank the community again for the outpouring of support that the center staff received since Friday. DPR takes the safety and security of our residents and employees very seriously and we will continue to work with all of our partners to improve safety at our sites.
Again, thank you for your continuing support. Please feel free to contact me directly via e-mail at Christopher.dyer@dc.gov<mailto:Christopher.dyer@dc.gov> or phone (202) 702-9453 if you have any questions.
Best,
Chris
Christopher Dyer
Community Engagement Manager
Department of Parks and Recreation
1275 1st Street NE
Washington DC 20002
(202) 702-9453 (cell)
dpr.dc.gov
The DC Department of Parks and Recreation has released Ready2Play, the city’s long-range parks and recreation master plan, for public comment. This plan is the result of over two years of public engagement. You can submit comments in one of two ways:
Either way, be sure to submit comments by January 31, 2023.
I have only skimmed the document so far. It is a pretty hefty document containing a Strategic Plan with 4 Goals, an Equity Framework, Recommendations, and an Implementation Plan. There is discussion of what DPR heard during the public engagement process, recreation trends, and lots of other interesting stuff. Thanks to neighbor Gavin Baker for passing along a few highlights from the plan for parks & recreation centers in our neighborhood.
Less than an acre in size, this typology includes triangles, circles, plazas, and landscaped medians. Small parks provide opportunities for beautification, commemorative works of importance to neighborhoods, and public art. They are perfect settings for passive recreation and socialization or active recreation with amenities such as playgrounds, dog parks, walkways, and multi-purpose turf areas. Additionally, they may provide infrastructure to address environmental challenges such as stormwater management, biological diversity, and ecological and habitat restoration.
Let’s keep advocating for what we want in our neighborhood parks and rec centers. It really does make a difference to participate in these public engagement processes. Be sure to submit comments by January 31, 2023.
Look & See: Help Envision a Community Park in Our Neighborhood
September 24, 2022
11:00 am-1:00 pm
Food & Friends
219 Riggs Road NE (southwest corner of Riggs Road & South Dakota Avenue NE)
Sponsored by the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) Development Task Force
Hosted by Food & Friends
Our neighborhood has an area development plan that was initiated by the LRCA, completed by the DC Office of Planning in 2008, approved by the DC Council in 2009, and fully incorporated into the DC Comprehensive Plan in 2021.
One element of the plan envisions “parks and open space” for the District-owned green space (“District Green”) on the southwest corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE near Food & Friends.
This Saturday September 24, 2022, the LRCA invites neighbors to the District Green to Look & SEE.
“SEE” stands for “Site Experience Event.”
At your own pace and in no particular order, walk the land, see information displays, talk with your neighbors, have light refreshments, and envision what you would like to see in this community open space.
Come as you are & come-and-go as you please any time between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm.
Note: To enter the Food & Friends facility, you must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Masks are optional.
From Friends of Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center
DPR is giving away free tickets to a Washington Nationals game for tonight, September 13th at 7:00 pm. Tickets are on a first come, first serve basis.
Please contact Ms. Shirleta Settles at our Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center at shirleta.settles@dc.gov or go directly to the community center at 501 Riggs Road NE to receive the tickets.
From Friends of Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center
Back to School Public Safety Day & Backpack Giveaway
August 27, 2022
10:00 am-2:00 pm
Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center
501 Riggs Road NE
Jazz in the Park with vocalist Shirleta Settles
July 28, 2022
6:30 pm-9:30 pm
Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (outdoors)
501 Riggs Road NE
Bring chairs, blankets, family, and friends!
Refreshments provided the Friends of Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center.
DPR Activates Local DC Parks And Connects Residents To Art, Music, And Culture Right In Their Own Back Yards.
Join the DC Department of Parks & Recreation for a series of pop-up music and art installations at scenic green spaces all over the District.
These events are free, open to the public, and a great way to take advantage of DC’s tremendous park system, which was recently ranked #1 in the United States.
The series features locally known artists, musicians, and civic demonstrations in a celebration of DC culture. All you have to do is get there, sit back, and enjoy your local parks and a free show.
Shirleta Settles is a wonderful jazz vocalist, who previously lived in Riggs Park for many many years. It is always a treat to see her perform and should be a fun time. In case of rain, event will be moved indoors at the rec.
Summer in the Parks
Fort Circle Park (South Dakota Avenue & Galloway Street NE)
July 13, 2022
6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Join Rock Creek Park and Rock Creek Conservancy for Wednesday evening Summer in the Parks events in July at Fort Circle Parks in NE DC from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Music from DJ Lance Reynolds and family-friendly games and activities will bring the Rock Creek community together to celebrate our urban oasis and #RecreateResponsibly in our parks.
Registration is not required to attend this event, but those who register will receive email reminders and updates in advance.
The Michigan Park community playground is open near 12th Street and Varnum Street NE after a grand opening event on June 5, 2022. The playground was constructed as part of a community benefits package for the Michigan Park Townhome development by EYA. A decorative fence along 12th Street will be constructed at a later date.
Photos below courtesy of Robert Oliver
Next Stop...Riggs Park 