Both Councilmember Janeese Lewis George and Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker have submitted their FY 2027 budget request letters to DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. Links to each below with snippets of neighborhood-specific items.

CM Lewis George FY27 Budget Request Letter

• Provide targeted capital funding for upgrades at Riggs–LaSalle Recreation Center, including a new field, outdoor fitness equipment, replacement of indoor fitness equipment, window repairs in the multipurpose room, new blinds in the computer, senior, multipurpose, and arts and crafts rooms, and updated computers and televisions.

• Fully fund all five Ward 4 Main Street programs, including Petworth, Uptown, Upper Georgia Avenue, Takoma, and Parks, with specific attention to restoring funding for Takoma Main Street, that continues to serve District residents.

• Retain and increase funding for the School Connect program at LaSalle–Backus Elementary and Ida B. Wells Middle School, and increase funding to sustain competitive compensation for School-Based Behavioral Health clinicians and coordinator roles.

• Continue to invest in Ward 4, including through the following capital projects:
  • New Playground at Grant Circle
  • Shepherd Park Library
  • Kennedy Street Library
  • Whittier Modernization and Swing Space
  • LaSalle-Backus Education Campus Modernization
  • Emery Heights Recreation Center Modernization
  • Small Capital Improvements to MPD’s Fourth District station
  • ADA upgrades at Riggs LaSalle Rec. Center
  • Track replacement at Riggs LaSalle Rec. Center
  • Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center Courtyard Enclosure
  • Pre-K Playground replacement at Takoma Elementary
  • 2-5 year old playground replacement at Shepherd Park
  • Playground slide replacement at Lafayette Pointer Park
  • Playground slide replacement at Chevy Chase Community Center

CM Parker FY27 Budget Request Letter

• Begin designing a new trail project to connect the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) to the PG County Connector along Galloway Street and Eastern Ave NE. Y

Worth reading both letters in full to see what citywide policies the councilmembers are pushing and what you may want to advocate for during the upcoming budget hearings.

From Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker:

If you missed the Ward 5 Budget Forum (recording here), take a moment to complete the Ward 5 Budget Survey.

From Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker:

Do you know a remarkable community member who makes Ward 5 a better place? Someone who has gone out of their way to help neighbors, build healthy communities, and represents the best of Ward 5? Nominate them for a Ward 5 Award using this form by March 2, 2026. And mark your calendar to attend the Ward 5 Awards Ceremony – April 1, 2026 (Location TBA)!

Join Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker for the annual Ward 5 Budget Forum, which will be held virtually on February 11, 2026, at 6:30pm.

Learn more about the budget process and share your priorities as the Council prepares to work through the FY27 budget proposal.

Register at ward5.us/budgetforum.

Questions? Contact CM Parker’s office at ward5contact@dccouncil.gov or at 202-724-8028.

From Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker

Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker is continuing his Annual Holiday Giveaway this year with a Thanksgiving Grocery Bag Giveway on November 20, 2025.

Do you need groceries for Thanksgiving?

Reserve your grocery bag at ward5.us/thanksgiving2025 (only 1 per household).

Limited supplies.

Grocery bags will include:

• Green beans
• Cornbread mix
• Stuffing mix
• Instant mashed potatoes
• Gravy mix
• Corn

The giveaway will take place on November 20, 2025 at the Turkey Thicket Recreation Center (1100 Michigan Ave NE). Time to be announced.

You must be a Ward 5 resident. Please bring a form of identification when you come to pick up your grocery bag.

Additional information will be sent ahead of November 20. For any questions or concerns, please call CM Parker’s office at 202-724-8028, or email ward5contact@dccouncil.gov.

From Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker

Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker is continuing his Annual Holiday Giveaway this year with a Thanksgiving Grocery Bag Giveway on November 20, 2025.

Do you need groceries for Thanksgiving?

Reserve your grocery bag at ward5.us/thanksgiving2025 (only 1 per household).

Limited supplies.

Grocery bags will include:

• Green beans
• Cornbread mix
• Stuffing mix
• Instant mashed potatoes
• Gravy mix
• Corn

The giveaway will take place on November 20, 2025 at the Turkey Thicket Recreation Center (1100 Michigan Ave NE). Time to be announced.

You must be a Ward 5 resident. Please bring a form of identification when you come to pick up your grocery bag.

Additional information will be sent ahead of November 20. For any questions or concerns, please call CM Parker’s office at 202-724-8028, or email ward5contact@dccouncil.gov.

The Ward 5 Leadership Council (W5LC) is hosting a community meeting with Councilmember Robert White.

Date: October 28, 2025

Time: 5:30 pm-7:30 pm

Location: Lamond-Riggs Library (5401 South Dakota Avenue NE)

W5LC Core Issues:

• Housing Hubs and Amenities for Senior Citizens on Large Tract Developents
• Social and uulti-Generation Housing
• Program Funding for the DC Youth Services Center
• Comprehensive Bicycle/Pedestrian and Vehicular Safety Commission
• Legislative boundaries for ANC Commissioners
• Ranked Choice Voting

The Ward 5 Leadership Council (W5LC) is hosting a community meeting with Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Date: October 16, 2025

Time: 5:30 pm-7:30 pm

Location: Lamond-Riggs Library (5401 South Dakota Avenue NE)

W5LC Core Issues:

• Erosion of Home Rule/DC Federal Government Overreach/National Guard Occupation
• 25/26 Budget Update/Child Tax Credits/Baby Bonds
• RFK Contracting and Employment
• Funding Programs at DC Youth Services Center
• Ranked Choice Voting

On September 20, 2025, from 12pm to 5pm, join Councilmember Zachary Parker for Ward 5 Day at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center (1100 Michigan Avenue NE).

Enjoy food from Ward 5 restaurants, live music (EU & Sugar Bear!), go-karts and moon bounce for kids, hand dancing and spades tables, community resources, a youth entrepreneur fair, Walk Thru Ward 5 exhibit, a basketball tournament, and more!

Join CM Parker’s office for a week of pop-up activities leading up to the big day.

• Monday, September 15 @ 5:45 p.m.
  • Childrens’ Storytime Read-aloud with Councilmember Parker @ Woodridge Library (1801 Hamlin St NE)
• Tuesday, September 16 @ 10:00 a.m.
  • Kinship Care Alliance Rally @ Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW)
• Tuesday, September 16 @ 6:45 p.m.
  • Ward 5 Day @ Nats Park (all tickets claimed!)
• Wednesday, September 17 @ 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Yappy Hour (bring your pup!) @ Other Half in Ivy City (1401 Okie St NE)
• Thursday, September 18 @ 5:00 p.m.
  • Community Bike Ride – explore the new Metropolitan Branch Trail connections! Meet @ Takoma Park Metro, and ride to the metrobar happy hour. 
• Thursday, September 18 @ 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
  • Happy Hour @ metrobar (640 Rhode Island Ave NE). Join for the bike ride first and ride to happy hour or just meet at metrobar! 
• Friday, September 19 @ 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
  • Free golf lessons @ Langston Golf Course with National Links Trust (2600 Benning Rd NE). Register at ward5.us/golf.

There are also promos that Ward 5 residents can take advantage of!

• $1 off any beverage at Spice Suite’s new tea/coffee shop! (2201 Channing St NE)
• BOGO on all range purchases @ Langston Golf Course. Must register at ward5.us/golfpromo

Join the Ward 5 Council Office constituent services team for office hours in the community.

Date: August 19, 2025, 12:00 pm-2:00 pm, Lamond-Riggs Library, 5401 South Dakota Avenue NE

Date: August 20, 2025, 12:00 pm-2:00 pm, Yu Ying PCS, 220 Taylor Street NE

Ward 5 Day is coming up on September 20, 2025. For the celebration, the Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker is asking neighbors to contribute to an interactive exhibit called “Walk Thru Ward 5.”

From CM Parker’s newsletter:

New this year to our Ward 5 Day festivities will be an interactive exhibit we’re calling Walk Thru Ward 5. Community members will create presentations featuring the history and culture of Ward 5 neighborhoods, telling the stories that have shaped us. Each neighborhood is unique and has its own rich and deep history. This project will have participants work closely with their neighbors to learn and share their untold stories. Our main goal is to actively engage Ward 5 residents in different neighborhoods. Whether you’ve lived in Ward 5 for 20 years or 2, the goal is collaboration. Want to be a part of shaping the exhibits? Now is the time to sign up! Click here. 

Please take some time to complete Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker’s Ward 5 FY 2026 Budget Priorities Survey by February 24, 2025.

CM Parker’s office is also accepting letters from residents and organizations. Send those materials to Conor Shaw (cshaw@dccouncil.gov) by February 24, 2025. If you prefer to relay your concerns via phone, contact CM Parker’s office at 202-724-8028. 

Join Councilmember Parker on Tuesday evening, February 25, 2025, for a community budget forum. This is an opportunity to share your budget priorities with the office ahead of budget season. The forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Friendship Public Charter School’s Armstrong Campus (111 O St NW). RSVP through the Ward 5 Budget Forum Link.

This is the time to ask for what you want.

Join Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker on Tuesday evening, February 25, 2025, for a community budget forum. This is an opportunity to share your budget priorities with the office ahead of budget season. The forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Friendship Public Charter School’s Armstrong Campus (111 O St NW).

RSVP through the Ward 5 Budget Forum Link.

This is the time to ask for what you want.

The office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker is hiring two constituent services coordinators. View the vacancy announcement.

Also, in his latest newsletter, Councilmember Parker announced a few new hires and personnel changes. Sign up to receive the newsletter at ward5.us/newsletter.

Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker has posted two job openings in his office.

Legislative Director

Committee Director

Due to a scheduling conflict, the Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker has to cancel the Ward 5 holiday party originally scheduled for December 19

For now, the Ward 5 Awards Nomination Form will stay open. Stay tuned for further details about an event in the new year.

Update 12/6/2024: The Ward 5 Holiday Party has been cancelled due to schedule conflict.

Ward 5 Holiday Party
December 19, 2024
6:00 pm-8:30 pm
Dock 5 at Union Market
1309 5th Street NE

Councilmember Zachary Parker will host the Ward 5 Holiday Party on December 19 from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. at Dock 5 at Union Market. Bring an unwrapped, unopened toy to contribute to the holiday toy drive.

This year’s Ward 5 Awards Ceremony will also take place at the Ward 5 Holiday Party. Nominate a deserving neighbor by December 13: Ward 5 Awards 2024 Nomination Form.