Section 10-A805. PROS-1.2 CLOSING THE GAPS

 

805.1At first glance, the District of Columbia appears to have a more than adequate supply of parkland. There are 12.9 acres of parks per 1,000 residents, compared to 9.0 acres per 1,000 in Baltimore; 7.2 acres per 1,000 in Philadelphia; and 7.0 acres per 1,000 in Boston (Trust for Public Land, 2004). However, most of Washington’s parkland consists of passive Natural Resource Areas. Neighborhood and community parkland is much more limited and amounts to less than one acre per 1,000 residents in many parts of the city. By contrast, suburban communities typically set standards of 4 or 5 acres of active parkland per 1,000 residents. 805.1

 

805.2Even neighborhoods with abundant parkland may lack access to recreational amenities and facilities. Other neighborhoods have parks that are too small to meet local needs. These neighborhoods include areas where significant growth is taking place, straining the ability of the facilities to meet neighborhood needs. Improved access to parks is also needed through improvements to bus service, enhancement to pedestrian and bicycle routes, as well as better security. 805.2

 

805.3Recreational needs are also a function of demographics and density. The need for parks may be more critical in some areas of the city due to:

 

•Limited mobility due to low rates of auto ownership

 

•Larger numbers of children

 

•Larger numbers of apartment dwellers living in housing without useable open space

 

•Denser development patterns without the aesthetic amenities afforded by open space

 

•Larger concentrations of "at-risk" youth who may benefit from programmed recreational activities. 805.3

 

805.4These factors suggest that special attention be given to increasing useable open space in the city’s densest neighborhoods, even where parks already exist. 805.4

 

805.5Policy PROS-1.2.1: Closing the Gaps

 

Achieve a better distribution of parks in all neighborhoods of the city. This will require a priority on improving or expanding parks in: (a) more densely populated neighborhoods with limited open space; (b) areas that are more than ½ mile from a neighborhood or community park (or a federal park that serves an equivalent function); (c) areas where substantial new housing growth is expected, based on the forecasts of the Comprehensive Plan; and (d) areas where the existing recreation centers and parks are in poor condition. 805.5

 

805.6Policy PROS-1.2.2: Improving Access

 

Improve access to the major park and open space areas within the city through pedestrian safety and street crossing improvements, bike lanes and storage areas, and adjustments to bus routes. 805.6

 

805.7Policy PROS-1.2.3: Responding To Community Change

 

Update and improve existing parks in response to changing demographics, cultural norms, and community needs and preferences. Parks should reflect the identity and needs of the communities they serve. 805.7

 

805.8Action PROS-1.2.A: Bus Routing

 

Consult with WMATA to locate more bus stops on neighborhood and community parks, particularly those with recreation centers. Currently only 28 percent of the city’s recreation centers have a bus stop; the District has set a target of increasing this percentage to 50 percent by 2014. 805.8

 

805.9Action PROS-1.2.B: Public Involvement

 

Consult with ANCs and local community groups on park planning and development to understand and better address resident priorities.

 

notation

The provisions of Title 10, Part A of the DCMR accessible through this web interface are codification of the District Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. As such, they do not represent the organic provisions adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia. The official version of the District Elements only appears as a hard copy volume of Title 10, Part A published pursuant to section 9a of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1994, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1 -301.66)) . In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions accessible through this site and the provisions contained in the published version of Title 10, Part A, the provisions contained in the published version govern. A copy of the published District Elements is available www.planning.dc.gov.