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February 3, 2025
Nyasha Howard
Secretary to the Council
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
Dear Secretary Howard :
Today, alongside Councilmembers Matthew Frumin, Kenyan R. McDuffie, Brianne K. Nadeau,
Zachary Parker, Brooke Pinto, Robert C. White, Jr., and Trayon White, Sr., I am introducing the
“Department of Parks and Recreation Hours Expansion Amendment Act of 2025 ”. Please find
enclosed a signed copy of the legislation.
The Department of Parks and Recreation (“DPR”) provides District residents with access to athletic
fields, aquatic centers, courts, playgrounds, and recreation centers. DPR-managed facilities are a
safe space for young people to have fun and for adults to have access to events and special
programming. When I introduced this legislation last Council Period, many recreation centers were
closed on weekends. Since the bill’s introduction, the Executive has expanded DPR-managed
facilities’ operating hours into Saturday. However, recreation centers remain closed on Sunday,
denying residents the opportunity to take advantage of the programming and spaces that DPR’s
facilities offer.
This bill would extend operating hours at DPR-managed facilities by requiring all DPR-managed
facilities to be open at least 12pm to 5pm on Sundays. These hours would not limit DPR from
extending operating hours beyond those contemplated in this legislation.
Sincerely,
Councilmember Charles Allen, Ward 6
Chairperson, Committee on Transportation & the Environment
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Councilmember Matthew Frumin Councilmember Charles Allen 2
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Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau 6
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Councilmember Zachary Parker Councilmember Brooke Pinto 10
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Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. 14
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A BILL 17
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 22
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To expand the regular operating hours of all facilities managed and operated by the Department 27
of Parks and Recreation. 28
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 30
act may be cited as the “Department of Parks and Recreation Hours Expansion Amendment Act 31
of 2025”. 32
Sec. 2. The Division of Park Services Act of 1988, effective March 16, 1988 (D.C. Law 33
7-209; D.C. Official Code § 10-166) is amended by adding a new section 2b to read as follows: 34
“Sec. 2b. Operating hours. 35
“(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all facilities operated and maintained by 36
the Department of Parks and Recreation, shall be open for at least the following hours: 37
“(1) Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 9 pm; 38
“(2) Saturday, from 9 am to 5 pm; and 39
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“(3) Sunday, from noon to 5pm. 40
“(b) The Department of Parks and Recreation shall establish minimum staffing levels to 41
ensure that the minimum operating hours set forth in subsection (a) of this section do not 42
adversely affect operations.”. 43
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 44
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 45
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 46
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 47
Sec. 4. Effective date. 48
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 49
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 50
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 51
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 52
Columbia Register. 53