Ground Broken On Three Multi-Purpose Recreational Fields on the RFK Stadium Campus

rendering via www.RFKCampus.com

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Bowser today was joined by Events DC, the District’s convention and sports authority, to break ground on the multi-purpose recreational fields that begin the RFK Campus redevelopment plan. Construction will begin in September 2018 and the fields are expected to open for play in March 2019.

“The community has waited a long time to see this land put to good use, and today, we are all proud to get this project started,” said Mayor Bowser. “When these fields are complete, this will be the community space our residents deserve. Here at RFK, Washingtonians will have it all – the amenities of a big city, access to a thriving waterfront, and fantastic outdoor fields and play space.”

The groundbreaking will transform nearly 27 acres of asphalt into three new state-of-the-art artificial turf fields with community amenities.

The recreational fields are part of restoring the RFK complex as one of the District’s original sports and entertainment corridors in the city.

The three multi-purpose recreational and community playing fields will be made of artificial turf and will be available to the public during day and evening hours. In addition, there will be a picnic area and playground, as well as a 2,900-square-foot pavilion with food and beverage stations and restrooms with changing areas.

“Today’s groundbreaking signifies the beginning of the construction for the RFK Campus redevelopment short-term project with three multi-purpose fields,” said Gregory A. O’Dell, President and Chief Executive Officer at Events DC. “During our planning, the community provided us with great input, and we thought hard about how people would interact and connect here. By creating this space, we are bringing in more pedestrian access, investing in transportation infrastructure and opening access to the river. These fields will support youth as well as adults, and inspire not just our residents, but become a beacon for the region.”

At the groundbreaking, Mayor Bowser reiterated her Administration’s desire for the federal government to either transfer the RFK campus to the District or to extend the lease with the removal of restrictions on future use.

While continuing campus programming and construction on the fields, the District will remain focused on advancing the RFK campus redevelopment plan. To learn more about the overall RFK Campus redevelopment concepts, visit www.RFKCampus.com.”

From Councilmember Charles Allen:

“Seven years ago I met with neighbors who had a vision for transforming the parking lots at RFK – from an ocean of asphalt to fields and greenspaces that could better serve DC neighborhoods. And I’ve fought for it ever since.

An entire generation of Washingtonians has grown up with largely empty parking lots dominating a key part of the city along the Anacostia River. Today’s groundbreaking is a milestone moment as the city reclaims this space for its residents. As we’ve seen, when you build an NFL stadium, it means a whole bunch of parking lots that are only used eight days a year. But today, we change that history and begin of a new life for this corner of our city.

I am grateful for the leadership from residents with Capitol Riverside Youth Sports Park who helped create the initial vision for this space, and to Mayor Muriel Bowser and Events DC leadership who recognized the opportunity and are working hard to bring this vision to reality.

In a city squeezed for space to play outside safely, either for organized team sports or simply to play in a park as a family, leaving so much space dedicated to parking for a stadium is a mistake long overdue to be fixed. Soon, District residents living on the east end of the city will have access to a beautiful new park, new playing fields, and more – all right along the beautiful Anacostia River.”