805.1 At first glance, Washington, DC appears to have a more than adequate supply of parkland. There are 12.6 acres of parks per 1,000 residents, compared to 7.9 acres per 1,000 in Baltimore, 6.9 acres per 1,000 in Philadelphia, and 7.7 acres per 1,000 in Boston. However, most of the District's parkland consists of passive federally owned natural resource areas. Neighborhood and community parkland is much more limited and amounts to less than one acre per 1,000 residents in many parts of the District. By contrast, suburban communities typically set standards of four or five acres of active parkland per 1,000 residents.

805.2 Even neighborhoods with abundant parkland may lack access to recreational amenities and facilities. Other neighborhoods have parks that are too small to meet local needs, such as relief from the impacts of increasing temperatures. For example, a lack of open space and accompanying vegetation can result in heat islands that reduce local health quality. Many of these neighborhoods include areas where significant growth is taking place, and the increased volume strains the ability of the facilities to meet neighborhood needs. Improved access to parks is also needed through improvements to bus service, enhanced pedestrian and bicycle routes, and better security. Figure 8.3 presents recommended benchmarks for delivery of parks and recreation services.

805.3 Recreational needs are also a function of demographics and density. The need for parks may be more critical in some areas of the District due to:

1. Limited mobility due to low rates of auto ownership;
2. Larger numbers of children, older adults, and/or populations with chronic disease;
3. Larger numbers of apartment dwellers living in housing without usable open space;
4. Denser development patterns without the aesthetic amenities, heat island mitigation, and stormwater management benefits afforded by open space; and
5. Larger concentrations of youth who may benefit from programmed recreational activities.

805.4 These factors suggest that special attention be given to increasing usable open space in the District's densest neighborhoods, even where parks already exist. Special attention must be given to improving access, park capacity, and acreage for communities where access or acreage is poor.

805.5 Improved data collection will allow the District and its partners to plan for a healthier and more active community. More robust data will help improve facilities usage and participation measurement, master planning, capital investment, and programming decisions. The implementation of systems to track the work of DPR—such as maps to show progress in closing level of service gaps—and visitor data to observe trends in program participation are important for prioritizing projects and improving community outcomes.

805.6 Figure 8.3: Benchmarks for Delivery of Park and Recreation Services

Variable	Benchmark
Access to “Meaningful” Public Open Space (improved parks larger than 1/3 acre)	Within one-half mile of all residents
Public Open Space Land Area	- 4 acres per 1,000 residents in each neighborhood cluster - 2 acres per 1,000 residents in greater Downtown DC (e.g., the Central Employment Area)
Access to Recreation Centers	Within one mile of all residents
Access to Aquatics Facilities	- Indoor pool within two miles of all residents - Outdoor pool within 1.5 miles of all residents - Splash pad within one mile of all residents
Access to Outdoor Facilities	80 percent of all DC residents will rate their access to outdoor facilities as good or excellent
Program Options	25 percent of all DC residents will participate in a DPR program, and 90 percent will rate their experience as being good or excellent

805.7 Policy PROS-1.2.1: Closing the Gaps

Achieve a better distribution of high-quality parks in all neighborhoods of Washington, DC. Provide access to the natural environment or quality green space within a 10-minute walk of all residents. This will require a priority to improve or expand parks in:

1. More densely populated neighborhoods with limited open space;
2. Areas that are more than a half mile from a neighborhood or community park (or a federal park that serves an equivalent function);

3. Areas where substantial new housing growth is expected, based on the forecasts of the Comprehensive Plan;

4. Areas where the existing recreation centers and parks are in poor condition; and

5. Areas where social and economic conditions compel a greater investment in parks to improve health, public safety, and community well-being.

805.8 Policy PROS-1.2.2: Improving Accessibility

Improve accessibility to and within the major park and open space areas through pedestrian safety and street crossing improvements, wayfinding signage, bike lanes and storage areas, perimeter multiuse trails within select parks, and adjustments to bus routes where appropriate. All parks should be accessible by foot, and most should be accessible by bicycle. Seek to provide access within parks for all ages and abilities consistent with park use and recognize that paved trails are accessible to wheelchair users, whereas dirt, cinder, and wood chip trails can present challenges for these users.

805.9 Policy PROS-1.2.3: Responding to Community Change

Update and improve existing parks in response to changing demographics, cultural norms, and community needs and preferences. Parks should reflect the identity and needs of the communities they serve. Further, the parks and recreation system should evolve to offer a variety of facilities located within a reasonable distance of each resident and provide a range of programs in spaces designed to flex as residents' needs and interests change.

805.10 Action PROS-1.2.A: Bus Routing

Consult with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and the DC Circulator to identify locations where additional bus stops are needed to serve neighborhood and community parks, particularly those with recreation centers.

805.11 Action PROS-1.2.B: Public Involvement

Consult with Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) and local community groups on park planning and development to understand and better address resident priorities.

805.12 Action PROS-1.2.C: Park Spaces on District Properties

Encourage shared-use agreements for green spaces owned by District government and DCPS so that these areas are available and accessible to residents for recreational purposes.

805.13 Action PROS-1.2.D: Temporary Activation of Underutilized Spaces

Identify underutilized spaces that can be programmed on a seasonal and temporary basis to advance public life. Focus on commercial corridors where park space is scarce. Consult with ANCs, local community groups, and local

businesses to identify locations where on-street parking spaces, empty lots, or parking lots could be seasonally repurposed for outdoor recreational use.

805.14 Action PROS-1.2.E: Open Space Plan Evaluate the need for a District-wide open space plan focusing on improving physical access to green space and the rivers.

805.15 Action PROS-1.2.F: Promoting Access Promote access to biking and swimming facilities and programs, with an emphasis on underserved and underrepresented groups. Explore opportunities for roving park programming to serve residents in their communities.

SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996 effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996 effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).