The Department of Parks and Recreation's (DPR) Athletic Permits Office handles all permit applications for the athletic use of its ball fields, basketball courts, and aquatic centers. The Athletic Permits Office is your one-stop-shop whether you would like field space for your youth baseball league, swimming lanes for your school’s swim team, or would like to reserve an indoor basketball court for a basketball game. The first step to reserving any of DPR’s athletic facilities is to find a facility that meets your needs. You may find a list of our recreation centers, fields, and gymnasiums below.

• DPR Recreation Centers
• DC Athletic Fields
• DC Gymnasiums (coming soon)  

The second step is to complete a Permit Application Form requesting the facility.

Location

We’ve moved! The Permit Office has moved to the first floor of the DPR Central Office located at 1250 U Street, NW.

Office Hours

In order to better serve you and more efficiently process permit requests, the permit office shall have the following hours:

• Office Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00am-5:00pm Closed Saturday and Sunday.
• Walk-Ins: Customers may drop off permit applications or submit payments any weekday between 9:00am and 5:00pm. For general concerns, questions, or comments, the office will provide walk-in hours from 9:00am and 5:00pm.
• Discussing a Permit/Application Request: Customers whom wish to discuss any permit issues (Approval, Denial, Pending Request,) or general questions concerning a permit can schedule a meeting or conference call (202) 671-0297 or email: DPRpermits@dc.gov.

Site Closures

Your preferred location may be offline temporarily or on a long-term basis due to inclement weather or construction. Visit the DPR Athletic Fields page for more information.

Application Period

DPR generally permits its ball fields and basketball courts on a seasonal basis. DPR has three scheduling seasons: Fall, Winter, and Spring / Summer. Prior to each scheduling season, DPR will publish on the website a time period, or “permit window,” during which the agency will accept permit applications. The latest seasonal athletic permit information is listed below. Note that DPR will handle late requests for fields and gyms in the order in which they are received. 

• Permit Season: Spring/Summer 2012
• Season Duration: March 19, 2012 - August 31, 2012
• Permit Window: December 12, 2011 - January 6, 2012
• Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m., January 6, 2012
• Notifications of Availability: Week of February 10, 2012

Seasonal Athletic Permit Preferences

Provided that the application is timely, DPR will, in scheduling its fields for the permitting season, award field preferences in the following order:

1. DPR Programs
2. DC Public Schools and Public Charter Schools
3. DPR Partners (Organizations that have executed a DPR Partnership Agreement)
4. Private Youth Leagues and Teams
5. Private Adult Leagues

Payment

Prospective permit holders must pay two weeks after receiving email confirmation of the availability of their field or gym. In order to cover incidental costs associated with late permits, DPR will charge a permit holder a fee equal to 15% of the total cost of the permit for any payment that arrives past the two week deadline. DPR reserves the right to cancel any athletic permit for which it has not received payment after the two-week deadline.

National Park Service (NPS) Fields

The DPR Athletic Permits Office also manages the permits for NPS athletic fields. National Park Service Fields 1-8 located along Ohio Drive, S.W. and Wallenberg field are scheduled to be available for use on May 1, 2011. NPS Fields 9-13 are currently offline due to construction. For further information on National Park Service fields and construction schedules please contact the National Park Service at (202) 619-7225.

Aquatic Permits

DPR handles aquatics permits on a first-come, first-serve basis. Prospective permit holders must submit their Permit Application Form at least two weeks prior to the planned event. If the applicant receives a notice of availability or invoice in response, the applicant is required to submit payment for the event at least one week prior to the event. If the applicant fails to meet either requirement, DPR will charge permit holders a fee equal to 15% of the total cost of the permit in order to cover incidental costs associated with late permits. DPR reserves the right to cancel any permit for which it has not received payment after the one-week deadline.

  DPR Permit Office
  1480 Girard Street, NW
  Washington, DC 20009

  Phone: (202) 671-0297
  Fax: (202) 671-2796
  Email: DPRpermits@dc.gov