D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 810

PROS-2.2 Providing Quality Service to All Residents

Effective Aug 21, 2021Authority: Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)). 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)).District of Columbia, Office of the Secretary

810.1 Maintaining a quality park system requires a high level of facility maintenance, modernization, and repair. A 2009 assessment of 72 DPR facilities found that 10 were in poor condition, 11 were in fair condition, and 51 were in good condition. A supplemental assessment of 56 recreation centers was done by DGS in 2013. It found 11 facilities in poor condition, 17 in fair condition, and 28 in good condition.

810.2 On a per capita basis, the District spends less on park operations and maintenance than peer cities like Minneapolis, Portland, and San Francisco. Since 2003, however, the District’s annual expenditures on park capital improvements have been higher than expenditures in these cities. New facilities are replacing aging buildings and providing attractive new community centers. With more capital construction planned in the coming years, the District will need to dedicate additional funds to cover the higher expenses of operating and maintaining these facilities.

810.3 Similar efforts will be needed to address a wide variety of park planning issues, including the personal safety of park visitors, provisions for youth and residents with disabilities, staffing needs, and the coordination of service delivery with other agencies. A steady, reliable stream of funds will be essential to keep our parks safe and attractive, and to respond to future needs.

810.4 Programming is one of the core elements of recreational service delivery. DPR delivers over 400 programs a year at its facilities. Recent data indicates that fewer than 20 percent of DC residents participate in these programs. Detailed data on demographics, resident preferences, and user satisfaction can help create more responsive programming. There are also opportunities for better marketing and programming for targeted audiences like youth and older adults. In some cases, service delivery by other agencies or nonprofits may be the most effective option.

810.5 Looking ahead, new funding sources—such as public-private partnerships, grants, and concessions—may be necessary. A commitment to future funding should recognize the many tangible and intangible benefits that the District’s parks provide to neighborhoods.

810.6 Policy PROS-2.2.1: Maintenance and Renovation

Provide for the continuing maintenance, renovation, and upgrading of the District’s parks and recreational facilities to prevent their deterioration so that they continue to meet community needs. Prioritize the asset management of existing facilities during the capital improvement process.

810.7 Policy PROS-2.2.2: Park Safety and Security Design parks, trails, and recreational facilities to improve the safety of visitors and staff. Avoid creating hidden and difficult-to-access areas, where security problems or vandalism could result. Lighting, fencing, building materials, and other design components should be selected to enhance the safety of park users. Park lighting should be compatible with adjacent residential neighborhoods.810.8 Policy PROS-2.2.3: Program Diversity Provide diverse recreational activities to promote healthy living for persons of all ages and cultural backgrounds. Such activities must be distributed equitably in all parts of the District. Coordinate activities and offerings with other service providers, including DCPS and community-based organizations such as wellness centers for older persons, to maximize the effectiveness of service delivery and minimize redundancy.810.9 Policy PROS-2.2.4: Data-Driven Programming Collect and analyze data on recreational program participation and use this data to shape decisions on future programs and operations. Programs should reflect local and national trends in recreation and regular surveys of District residents, with a focus on meeting the needs of underserved populations.810.10 Policy PROS-2.2.5: Youth Recreational Services Provide recreational services that are particularly responsive to the special needs of the District's youth, using recreation and athletics to promote self-esteem, responsibility, and leadership skills among youth.810.11 Policy PROS-2.2.6: Special Needs Increase efforts to meet the needs of underserved population groups, particularly older residents and persons with disabilities. Provide barrier free access by modifying existing facilities to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities and modifying existing indoor and outdoor facilities and parks to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities. Explore the use of alternative participation styles and formats in the program curriculum so that activities can be easily adjusted to allow persons with disabilities and residents needing additional accommodations to participate.810.12 Policy PROS-2.2.7: Physical Activity in Everyday Spaces Prioritize community-driven strategies to support physical activity in non-traditional, everyday spaces across the District. Childhood play is essential to physical, cognitive, creative, social, and emotional development. However, many children face barriers to play, such as a perceived or actual lack of safe spaces. District government and its partners should provide additional opportunities for play in everyday locations where kids and families already spend time, including bus stops, grocery stores, and sidewalks.

810.13 Policy PROS-2.2.8: New Funding Sources Seek out and pursue new forms of local, federal, nonprofit, and private financial support to acquire, develop, and operate the District's park and recreational facilities. Streamline the process for accepting private donations of parks-related goods, services, and facilities.For more information, see PROS-4.1 on public-private partnerships.810.14 Policy PROS-2.2.9: Park Stewardship Encourage volunteer assistance and stewardship in the maintenance of the District's parks, particularly the triangle parks along major thoroughfares. Local community organizations should be encouraged to donate goods, services, and time to help in the oversight and upkeep of such spaces. Stewardship should be viewed as a way to increase environmental awareness, reduce maintenance costs, and build civic pride in parks.810.15 Policy PROS-2.2.10: Fiscal Impact of Park Improvements Evaluate proposed park facilities to determine their ability to generate revenue and help recover operational and maintenance costs. When developing new facilities, assess the projected operation and maintenance costs prior to requesting capital funding approval.810.16 Action PROS-2.2.A: Facility Assessments Conduct regular facility condition and utilization studies and use this data to determine if there is a need for improvement, reconstruction, closure, or expansion. A comprehensive facility condition assessment should be performed for each recreation center at least once every five years.810.17 Action PROS-2.2.B: Maintenance Standards Create official maintenance standards based on industry best practices, such as Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES) or an equivalent system, to improve the effectiveness of current maintenance and service levels for recreational buildings, facilities, and landscaping. Both maintenance contractors and the District should adhere to these standards.810.18 Action PROS-2.2.C: Adopt-a-Park Continue to encourage community groups, businesses, and others to participate in the District's Adopt-a-Park/Adopt-a-Playground program and publicize the program through signs, advertisements, websites, and other media. Support Friends of Parks groups in stewarding, advocating, and hosting fundraising events for park sites to help maintain grounds and buildings and assist in the planning process.

810.19 Action PROS-2.2.D: Data Tracking Establish a system to maintain and regularly update data and maps on parks, recreational facilities, and programming offered by DPR and affiliated providers to measure improvements in levels of service and document achievements.810.20 Action PROS-2.2.E: Marketing and Branding Develop a marketing plan to increase public awareness of programs and to more firmly establish an identity for Washington, DC, parks.See also policies in the Environmental Protection Element about green maintenance and green building practices, including requirements that future recreation centers meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standards.810.21 Action PROS-2.2.F: Integration of Federal and District Athletic Fields Better integrate federal and District athletic fields under the jurisdictions of NPS, DPR, and DCPS.810.22 Action PROS-2.2.G: Design Standards Create District-wide parks and recreation facility design standards for outdoor facilities. Design parks, open spaces, and recreational facilities to reflect the preferences and culture of the local population, to accommodate a range of age groups and abilities and to improve the safety of visitors and staff. When renovating playgrounds and parks, design new infrastructure for active recreation, including workout equipment, for all ages and abilities.810.23 Action PROS-2.2.H: Hospital and Clinic Partnerships Explore partnerships with hospitals and clinics to increase the number of doctors prescribing parks and recreational activities to patients of every age.810.24 Action PROS-2.2.I: Performance Monitoring Provide the necessary hardware and software to track customer use and evaluations, determine gaps in programming and facilities, and identify opportunities to improve the overall performance of the parks and recreation system.810.25 Action PROS-2.2.J: Recreation Program Action Plan Develop a recreation program action plan that elevates, standardizes, and expands the quality of DPR program offerings. The plan should help DPR to prioritize program investments while promoting broader goals of health, fitness, artistic expression, and community building.810.26 Action PROS-2.2.K: Public-Private Partnerships When using a public-private partnership model to fund park acquisitions or

improvements, incorporate programming and maintenance plans.

810.27

Action PROS-2.2.L: New Kiosk Development

Amend the zoning regulations to allow temporary and permanent kiosks at residentially zoned parks, where appropriate. Kiosks would be owned by the District and revenue from the kiosks would be used to support park maintenance and operations.

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)).