Bill > B26-0132

This bill establishes a program by the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) in partnership with District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) to expand safe and accessible community recreational facilities across all city wards during evenings and weekends when schools are not actively using the spaces. The program will build upon a pilot initiative from Fiscal Year 2024 and requires DPR to enter annual agreements with DCPS to determine specific community use hours that do not interfere with school activities, including details about signage, communication procedures for special events, and security and custodial services. When selecting program sites, DPR must establish at least one site in each ward, prioritizing locations in areas that have historically experienced disinvestment, high crime rates, public safety challenges, and limited recreational spaces. The bill also creates a process for residents and school leadership to nominate potential sites, though nominations are not mandatory for participation. During evening and weekend hours, DPR will be responsible for ensuring security and custodial services are provided, either directly or through partnerships with other agencies or third-party providers, to maintain safe and sanitary recreational spaces for public use.

Government Affairs

https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0132