TESTIMONY BEFORE THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON
LIBRARIES, PARKS, AND RECREATION
HARRY THOMAS, JR, CHAIRMAN
ON
THE FY 2008 BUDGET FOR THE DC DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
TESTIMONY SUBMITTED ON
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2007
PRESENTED BY
THE EASTLANDGARDENS CIVIC ASSOCIATION PANEL:
MR. GREG RHETT, PRESIDENT
MS. ROCHELLE FRAIZER GRAY, LIAISON-DPR COMMITTEE CHAIR
MS. SHARITA C. SLAYTON, VICE CHAIR, ANC 7D (SMD 7D02)
REVERAND, KEITH D. KITCHEN,
PASTOR, ZIONBAPTISTCHURCH OF EASTLANDGARDENS
The Honorable Committee Chairman Thomas and Councilmembers, Schwartz, Mendelson, Wells, Catania, and other distinguished members of the Council; Thank each of you for all you do in behalf of the city in this important legislative role. I am Greg Rhett, President of the Eastland Gardens Civic Association. With me today are fellow members of our community who have been specifically selected to address the concerns of residents residing within our community and those who have a stake in the future of our community; Ms. Rochelle Frazier Gray, Commissioner Sharita C. Slayton, and Reverend Keith Kitchen. We are pleased to be here to participate in this important budget and financing discussion. While there are many elements to this hearing’s agenda, we only want to speak briefly about your consideration ofFY08 funding appropriated and budgeted for the Kenilworth-ParksideRecreationCenter.
The 10 acre Kenilworth-Parkside recreation center site opened in 1973 and features an outdoor pool, tennis courts, a football field and a track that was two lanes of bumpy gravel, six outdoor basketball hoops on concrete courts, and a handball wall. Since the center opened in 1973, let’s just say that far less money, time and energy have been applied to maintenance, upkeep, and modernization than was realistically needed.
In recent years, Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee's D.C. subcommittee, sought to use the vast federal acreage near our recreation center to build a $5 million federally funded, 20-field soccer complex, but her efforts were blocked by our neighbors who argued that the community would be better served by a multi-use facility. We and Senator Landrieu successfully negotiated a compromise, and the federal grant was approved by Congress. Today, that $5M is being applied to renovating and building a new football/soccer field with lighted scoreboard, new bleachers, and stadium lights. The gravel track will be replaced by a regulation, all weather, six-lane track, a high school baseball diamond, repaved basketball courts and parking lot, and a concession stand complete with bathrooms and a storage shed. The new baseball field will be used by the Spingarn and H.D. Woodson high school teams.
Unfortunately, today, we are here to say that our center, in size and scope has been thoroughly outgrown by the size of the population that it must serve.
Ladies and gentlemen, our community recreation facility has quickly evolved into a major regional servicing hub. However, utilization of the center facilities is by no means limited to only the residents of EastlandGardens. Practically seven days a week the center services the needs of approximately 2,314 family units (which equates to approximately 7,000 residents within our immediate area):
350 Family Units within EastlandGardens
464 Family Units within Kenilworth Courts (Apts and Townhomes)
170 Units within the new Lotus Square Apartments
100 Units within the Parkside Townhomes
660 Units within the Paradise Townhomes, and
570 Units within the Mayfair Apartments/Condos
Plus a Public/Private Development Partnership has put up approximately $500M to build additional units of family housing within the Parkside portion of our area:
120 Units in the plans for Pollin Memorial Apartments
2000 Units in the plans for completing the Parkside Community Townhomes project
Plus the city is building the MinnesotaAvenueGovernmentCenter to house the Department of Employment Services and the Department of Human Services.
Within this same Servicing Area, our recreation center provides facilities, programs and services for approximately 1,300 students who attend 3 different schools within our immediate area:
Cesar Chavez Public Charter Middle/High School (700 students)
Thomas Elementary School (300 students), and
KenilworthElementary School. (300 students)
Additionally, the Kenilworth-Parkside Recreation center also serves more than 200 Senior Citizens per week, and houses DPR sponsored daycare services for more than 30 children each day. Our center also serves a plethora of teens, preteens, young adults and adults, each day, via various programs and activities.
As good neighbors, we have developed a very positive working relationship with the staff and management of the DPR:
In November 2006, when the city needed a home operating base for Project Harvest, we not only agreed to host the this project, but, also many of our neighbors joined in as volunteers and contributors. We have agreed to allow our center to become the permanent host for this wonderful program that feeds thousands of District residents during the Thanksgiving season.
When the DPR and MPD needed a facility that could be utilized to host Ward 7-wide and citywide tournaments and late night activities for District teenagers, again, our neighbors not only agreed, but became active volunteers and contributors.
When the city needed a place to hold its annual Citywide Senior Citizen Picnic, our neighbors not only agreed, but, again have become active volunteers and contributors.
When the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission and DPR needed community support in land use negotiations with the National Park Service and the United States Senate and Congress, EastlandGardens residents gladly stepped to the plate.
Of the $5 million in federal money allocated a few years ago, the commission has only about $3.2 million remaining because much of the money was spent on studies and planning during the project's fitful stops and starts. The city's parks and recreation office is chipping in $1.3 million for the renovation toward the $4.5 million total. But, this has proven to not be enough. We had to put off completion of the planned baseball field, due to the lack of funds.
Today, our direct appeal for additional funding for the Kenilworth-ParksideRecreationCenteris on behalf of the more than 7,000 residents that currently and will very soon populate the region that is served by our center.
Although the Council, thanks to the efforts of former Ward 7 Councilmember Gray, has appropriated approximately $10M towards the renovation of the Kenilworth-Parkside facility, we come to you today to say that this amount is not enough. In meetings with neighbors and stakeholders, we determined that this community needs and deserves a brand new facility.
We therefore request an additional $10M be budgeted and appropriated to the DPR to meet this urgent need. We request that a total of $20M be immediately budget and appropriated to build a new, 45-50,000 square foot, state-of-the-art recreational Kenilworth-Parkside Recreational facility, which will be the pride and shining light of the District of Columbia. After 34 years of patching and “making due,” it is time to bring the Kenilworth-ParksideRecreationCenter into the 21st Century! This amount and square footage is comparable, in size and scope to what DPR had constructed at Takoma and Columbia Heights centers.
Based upon our research of recently built DPR facilities (appendix A), we know that $10-12M wouldbe an insufficient amount to complete a new center.We have already begun the community planning process with DPR officials. We understand that the Council found a way to underwrite $50M for the VerizonCenter and $700M for a new baseball stadium. The beneficiaries of these funds, for the most part are not District residents and taxpayers. So, by perspective, as your constituents and District taxpayers, we’re not asking for very much.
Our center's infrastructure is more than 34 years old and it simply doesn't work anymore. For those proponents of renovating, think about HD Woodson Senior High School. It also was built between 31-35 years ago, and today has continualdaily problems. The plans and promises for a new school have been on the table for almost 10 years!You just recently spent more than $900,000 just to get the heat back on.So, we are saying, as taxpayers, please do not waste our tax dollars on a patchwork of “re-do’s.” We expect you to use tax dollars wisely.
In that same vain, we have been in a two and one half year fight for something as simple as exterior lights around our center. To date, we have received nothingbut empty promises. For the same period we have also made multiple requests to have the center’s parking lot repaved around the entrance to the Senior’s Room. To date, we have received nothing but empty promises. These are basic safety concerns! The families of our community deserve better!
Thank you for the opportunity to share our thoughts and formally submit this request.
APPENDIX A
EASTLANDGARDENS CIVIC ASSOCIATION
DPR BUDGET HEARING TESTIMONY
MARCH 27, 2007
A list of centersrecently built with square footage, projected building costs and the actual costs, which opened within the last four years:
I. New DPR facilities constructed in 2005
1. Brentwoodis a 4,900 square feet facility. The facility houses multi-purpose rooms, a computer lab and a senior citizen room. Site also received exterior enhancements such as a new outdoor basketball court, site furnishing, and landscaping.
Project cost: $2.1 Million
2. King Greenleaf is 16,500 square feet and houses an in-door gymnasium, senior room, multi-purpose rooms, and fitness center and computer lab.
Project cost: $6.5 million
3. Hillcrest is a 17,700 square foot facility which houses an in-door gymnasium, senior room, multi-purpose rooms, fitness center, computer lab, playground, putting green, enhanced landscaping and other amenities.
Project cost: $ 5.3 million
4. Takoma is 52,000 square feet and houses an in-door Olympic size pool, a concession area, male and female locker rooms, a fitness center,multi-purpose rooms and other amenities.
Project cost: $16.5 million
II. New DPR facilities constructed in 2006
1. Lamond is the District's first LEED certified government facility and is 16,700 square feet. The facility houses an in-door gymnasium, senior room, multi-purpose rooms, kitchen, fitness center, computer lab, and other amenities.
Project cost: $7.7 million
III. New DPR facilities constructed in 2007
1. Trinidadis 21,000 square feet and houses an in-door gymnasium, senior room, multi-purpose rooms, fitness center, computer lab, concession area, locker rooms and game room. Exterior enhancements are scheduled to be completed in mid-April 2007 and will include a playground, landscaping and an outdoor basketball court.
Project cost:$6.7 million
2. Columbia Heightsis a four level 48,000 square foot community center. The facility has an in-door gymnasium which also serves as an auditorium to host community performances, a senior room, multi-purpose rooms, male/female locker rooms, fitness center, computer lab, arts and craft area and a game room.
Project cost: $11.4 million
IV. New DPR facilities constructed in 2004
1. Georgetown - The existing pool was totally refurbished and the pool house was expanded to include additional program space.
Project cost:$ 3.3 million
2. Ft.Davisconsisted of a new addition to the existing facility. The new addition enhanced the facility by adding a senior lounge, computer room, in-door gymnasium, multi-purpose room.
Project cost: $2.5 million
V. New DPR facilities constructed in 2003
1. EmeryRecreationCenter is a 28,000 square foot facility which houses an in-door gymnasium, senior room, multi-purpose rooms, fitness center, computer lab, kitchen, showers for males and females and a game room.
Project cost: $8.3 million.
2. KennedyRecreationCenter is 17,600 square feet facility. Kennedy's amenities include an in-door gymnasium, senior room, multi-purpose rooms, fitness center, computer lab, game room and playground.
Project cost: $ 4 million
3. NorthMichiganRecreationCenter is 17,000 square feet and consists of an in-door gymnasium, multi-purpose rooms and computer lab.
Project cost: $ 3.5 million
4. Parkview consisted of a new addition to the existing facility. The new addition enhanced the facility by adding multi-purpose rooms, arts and craft room, exercise room, and exterior enhancements. Some of the exterior enhancements included a basketball court, ball field refurbishing, and playground equipment and picnic areas.
Project cost: $ 1.2 million
5. Sherwood is 22,000 sq feet and includes an in-door gymnasium, multi-purpose room, computer lab, senior room and exterior enhancements.
Project cost: $ 4.2 million
VI. DPR FACILITIES CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Listed below are centers that are currently under construction with proposed square footage and projected building costs:
1. Riggs LaSalle community center is the only facility that DPR have currently under construction. Construction commences in Dec 2006 and is scheduled to be completed in spring 2008.
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