After three years, the Departments of Parks (DPR) and Recreation and General Services (DGS) are set to begin construction on the Petworth Playground at 8th and Taylor Streets.

The money for the renovations was passed in 2017, with multiple community meetings, various designs and delays. The community pushed back on DPR on the proposed playground surface this year, asking for sustainable material. After members of the DC Council got involved and a few op-eds on Petworth News, DPR agreed to use engineered wood fiber (EWF) instead of poured-in-place rubber.

DPR sent out an email notifying the community that construction will begin on Monday, May 11th. They say the delay in construction start was from the switch to EWF, but that seems a bit of a stretch of details. Nevertheless, it’s finally set to start. Email below, and a slew up updates below that.

Dear Petworth Community:

On behalf of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the DC Department of General Services (DGS) I pleased to share with you that we will begin the renovation of the Petworth Park and Playground on Monday, May 11th.

The first thing you will notice is a perimeter construction fence being installed to ensure the safety of the community and the contractors. As you are aware, the project had a delayed start as we were updating our construction plans and permits to reflect the community’s request for the installation of Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) as the surfacing base for the playground.

With this delayed start, the park will now be completed towards the end of the summer.

Currently all recreation centers, playgrounds and courts are closed in the District due to the Health Emergency. For more information on the current health emergency please continue to check in on this website: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/

In closing, thank you for your support of the Petworth Park and Playground. For more information on this project and to find the final community presentation form the last meeting visit https://dgs.dc.gov/page/petworth-playground-and-splashpad.

Best,
Tommie
____________________________________
Tommie L. Jones, Jr.
Chief of External Affairs

Featured

Mar 26, 2021

Petworth Park needs you to volunteer

Mar 26, 2021

The Friends of Petworth Park is a non-profit that was formed in 2012 to partner with the Department of Parks and Recreation to help guide the development and community use of the park at 8th and Taylor Streets NW. They need volunteers to keep the organization running.

Mar 26, 2021

May 8, 2020

Petworth Playground renovations to finally start on May 11th

May 8, 2020

After three years, the Departments of Parks (DPR) and Recreation and General Services (DGS) are set to begin construction on the Petworth Playground at 8th and Taylor Streets.

May 8, 2020

Mar 5, 2020

Op-Ed: Parents succeed in getting DC to install a safer surface for Petworth playground

Mar 5, 2020

Thanks to the advocacy of parents in our community, the renovation of the Petworth Playground will include a wood fiber surface instead of a poured-in-place rubber surface. We couldn’t be more excited for the expected reopening this summer. I know my family is going to appreciate the two adjacent playgrounds for different ages, the shade structures and birthday pavilion. The new surface will fit the nature theme nicely. And yes, for the first time, we will have swings!

Mar 5, 2020

Jan 27, 2020

Op-Ed: Why neighborhood parents need to speak-up for a safer Petworth Playground

Jan 27, 2020

So like many parents, I was shocked to see news reports surfacing this past spring that independent testing had found extremely high levels of lead in the synthetic rubber “poured in place,” or PIP, playground surfaces at several DC schools – the same type of surface my kids play on at Petworth Park.

Jan 27, 2020

Oct 2, 2019

Next update meeting on playground enhancements at the Petworth Rec Center

Oct 2, 2019

Learn more details about the proposed playground and splash park changes and other upgrades, and offer feedback to the architects and designers.

Oct 2, 2019

Aug 11, 2019

A look at the proposed designs for the renovation of Petworth playground

Aug 11, 2019

The Department of Parks & Recreation and the Department of General Services held a meeting on Monday, August 5th to share their plans for renovations coming to the playground and splash park at the Petworth Recreation Center.

Aug 11, 2019

Jul 24, 2019

Meeting about updates to the Petworth Recreation Center set for early August

Jul 24, 2019

Two years ago the DC city budget had money set aside for renovations to the Petworth Recreation Center. The DC Department of Parks and Recreation held a series of meetings with the community to discuss what those changes could look like, and sent out surveys.

Now, they’re ready to discuss next steps.

Jul 24, 2019

Dec 19, 2018

Petworth Playground renovations still planned, just delayed

Dec 19, 2018

The playground at the Petworth Recreation Center has been scheduled for renovations since the budget passed in October 2017. The last meeting held by the Department of Parks and Recreation was in May 2018 to review the results of a residents’ survey DPR conducted. So where are we now?

Dec 19, 2018

Jul 27, 2018

How a soccer mini-pitch replaced a basketball court at Petworth Playground

Jul 27, 2018

DPR made a deal with the US Soccer Foundation, who proposed giving money to create a series of hard surface soccer mini-pitches across the city, and the USSF wanted the first one to coincide with the opening of Audi Field. DPR decided that Petworth Playground would be the location.

Jul 27, 2018

May 8, 2018

DPR presents survey results on Petworth Park renovations

May 8, 2018

The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) presented next steps for a $2 million renovation of Petworth Park, located at at 8th and Taylor Street, as well as the results of a survey asking residents about changes they would like to see to the popular outdoor space. The park renovation will take place this fall and winter, following a request for proposal (RFP) and design period which kicks off imminently.

May 8, 2018