Mayor Vincent C. Gray and D.C. DPR Director Jesús Aguirre today urged District residents to provide feedback during the initial stages of Play DC: The Playground Improvement Project. The initiative – kickstarted by funding the Mayor announced earlier this year for the largest set of playground improvements in D.C. history – is a new, multi-year, citywide project.

CONTACT: 
Doxie McCoy 202.727.9691; [email protected]
John Stokes 202.288.7275; [email protected]

 
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Mayor Vincent C. Gray and D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Director Jesús Aguirre today urged District residents to provide feedback during the initial stages of Play DC: The Playground Improvement Project. The initiative – kickstarted by funding the Mayor announced earlier this year for the largest set of playground improvements in D.C. history – is a new, multi-year, citywide project that will drive the evaluation, improvement and ongoing maintenance of the playgrounds in DPR's inventory.
 
“My One City Action Plan includes as one of its main goals improving the quality of life for every child and adult in the District, and the Play DC initiative is crucial to achieving that goal,” Mayor Gray said. “That’s why getting a broad sampling of public feedback is necessary, and I urge residents to attend the feedback sessions on the project at their local playgrounds.”
 
The feedback sessions are taking place in two phases. The first phase – presently taking place – provides residents and children with an overview of the project and gives them an opportunity to provide feedback on what they want to see as part of the renovations for their play space. The second phase of community meetings will allow architects to present renderings of proposed playground projects based on feedback gleaned in the first round and refine their designs on the basis of further feedback.
 
“We need our residents to let us know how we can improve the play-space experience in their neighborhood,” Aguirre said. “We want these renovations to reflect a broad spectrum of community input.” The remaining feedback sessions are scheduled as follows:
 
Wednesday, November 28 (Round 1)

• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Southeast Tennis & Learning Center, 701 Mississippi Avenue SE (Ward 8)
  Discussing: Oxon Run Park Playground
• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Banneker Recreation Center, 2500 Georgia Avenue NW (Ward 1)
  Discussing: Banneker and Harrison Recreation Center Playgrounds

 
Thursday, November 29 (Round 1)

• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Hillcrest Recreation Center, 3100 Denver Street SE (Ward 7)
  Discussing: Hillcrest Recreation Center Playground
• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Rose Park Recreation Center (2609 Dumbarton St., NW) (Ward 2)
  Discussing: Rose Park Recreation Center Playground

 
Wednesday, December 5 (Round 2)

• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Harry Thomas, Sr. Recreation Center, 1743 Lincoln Road NE (Ward 5)
  Discussing: Harry Thomas, Sr. Recreation Center Playground
• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: The DCG-DHS Anacostia Service Center, 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, Councilmember Marion Barry’s Ward Office, 3rd Floor (Ward 8)
  Discussing: Douglass, Congress Heights and Fort Greble Recreation Center Playgrounds

 
Thursday, December 6 (Round 2)

• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Randall Recreation Center, South Capitol & I Streets SW (Ward 6)
  Discussing: Randall Recreation Center Playground
• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Benning Park Recreation Center, Southern Avenue & Fable Street SE (Ward 7)
  Discussing: Benning Park Recreation Center Playground

 
Monday, December 10 (Round 2)

• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Takoma Community Center, 300 Van Buren Street NW (Ward 4)
  Discussing: Takoma Community Center Playground
• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Palisades Recreation Center, 5200 Sherrier Place NW (Ward 3)
  Discussing: Palisades Recreation Center Playground

 
Tuesday, December 11 (Round 2)

• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Emery Recreation Center, 5801 Georgia Avenue NW (Ward 4)
  Discussing: Emery, Fort Stevens, Upshur and Hamilton Recreation Center Playgrounds

 
Monday, December 17 (Round 2)

• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Avenue NE (Ward 5)
  Discussing: Brentwood and Turkey Thicket Recreation Center Playgrounds

 
Tuesday, December 18 (Round 2)

• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Eaton Elementary School, 3301 Lowell Street NW (Ward 3)
  Discussing: Macomb Recreation Center, Newark Park and Forest Hills Park Playgrounds  
• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Kennedy Recreation Center, 1401 7th Street NW (Ward 6)
  Discussing: Kennedy Recreation Center Playground

 
Wednesday, December 19 (Round 2)

• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Southeast Tennis & Learning Center, 701 Mississippi Avenue SE (Ward 8)
  Discussing: Oxon Run Park Playground
• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Banneker Recreation Center, 2500 Georgia Avenue NW (Ward 1)
  Discussing: Banneker and Harrison Recreation Center Playgrounds

 
Thursday, December 20 (Round 2)

• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Hillcrest Recreation Center, 3100 Denver Street SE (Ward 7)
  Discussing: Hillcrest Recreation Center Playground
• 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Rose Park Recreation Center, 2609 Dumbarton Street NW (Ward 2)
  Discussing: Rose Park Recreation Center Playground

 
In addition, residents can offer feedback via an online survey. For more information on Play DC: The Playground Improvement Project, visit the Play DC website, e-mail [email protected], or call 202.391.9204.

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