Section 10-A807. PROS-1.4 MEETING THE NEEDS OF A GROWING CITY

 

807.1The addition of thousands of new jobs and households over the next 20 years will increase demand for programmed parks, open space, and recreational activities. Existing parks will accommodate more users, particularly in neighborhoods where high-density infill development is planned. New parks will be needed to serve new and growing communities. Given the built out character of the city, finding land for such parks will be difficult and expensive. The District must seize opportunities for parkland dedication on its largest redevelopment sites and take steps now to ensure that parks are provided elsewhere as the city grows. 807.1

 

807.2Presently, the District Department of Parks and Recreation operates approximately 3.5 acres of parkland for every 1,000 households in the city. If 55,000 households are added in the next 20 years, almost 200 acres of new parkland would be needed to sustain this ratio. The 100 acres of new parks planned at the Southwest Waterfront, the near Southeast, Poplar Point, Hill East, and elsewhere along the Anacostia River will meet some of this demand. Additional parkland will be needed to serve growth and development in the north central and northeastern parts of the city, where a substantial amount of additional housing is planned in an area with a dearth of public parks. Substantial areas for new parks should also be designated in the reuse plans for any large federal sites that are transferred to the District or used for private development in the future. 807.2

 

807.3Creating new parks in built-up neighborhoods will be more challenging. There is competing pressure to use public land for other purposes, particularly revenue-generating uses like housing and office development. The city does not have a dedicated funding source for parkland acquisition (such as an impact fee) and capital improvement funds are typically used for new facilities rather than to buy vacant land. Acquisition may occur through a variety of means, such as donations and grants. Open space may also be set aside within new projects through development agreements and planned unit development amenity packages. Such open space should be usable and accessible and address open space needs of the area. 807.3

 

807.4Policy PROS-1.4.1: Park Acquisition

 

Acquire and improve additional parkland to meet the recreational needs of existing and future residents. This should occur both through the expansion of existing parks, and the development of new parks. 807.4

 

807.5Policy PROS-1.4.2: Acquisition Methods

 

Use a variety of methods to acquire and improve parkland, including easements, donations, land purchases, and park set-asides on new development sites. Recognize the impacts of new development on the need for additional park and recreational facilities, and mitigate impacts through dedication of parkland or in-lieu payments. 807.5

 

807.6Policy PROS-1.4.3: Parks on Large Sites

 

Include new neighborhood and/or community parks on large sites that are redeveloped for housing and other uses that generate a demand for recreational services. The potential for such parks to enhance the connectivity of parks and open spaces throughout the city should be an important planning and design consideration, particularly where multiple large adjacent sites are being redeveloped. 807.6

 

807.7Policy PROS-1.4.4: Parks on Surplus Land

 

Acquire and convert abandoned or tax delinquent land, surplus rail or road rights of way, and other land not in productive use into recreational use where feasible and appropriate, particularly in parts of the city that lack adequate access to parkland. 807.7

 

807.8Policy PROS-1.4.5: Park Amenities on NPS Land

 

Where consistent with other policies in the Comprehensive Plan and NPS plans, and where supported by nearby neighborhoods and needs assessments, encourage federal government projects that would provide new recreational amenities such as soccer fields, picnic areas, and trails serving District residents on national parkland. 807.8

 

807.9Policy PROS-1.4.6: Parks in Employment Growth Areas

 

Provide new parks and open spaces in areas of expected employment growth. Small pocket parks, plazas, and other open spaces should be created in the vicinity of the New York Avenue Metro Station, the Southeast Federal Center, the east end of Downtown, and the South Capitol Street Corridor to provide visual relief and space for outdoor seating and passive recreation. 807.9

 

807.10Action PROS-1.4.A: Park Impact Fee

 

Study the feasibility (including potential fiscal and economic effects) of adopting a park impact fee that would require residential developers to help cover the cost of parkland acquisition and improvement. Such a fee would be based on a standard amount per dwelling unit or square foot, with the proceeds used to acquire or improve nearby parkland. 807.10

 

807.11Action PROS-1.4.B: Mixed Use Zones

 

As part of the review of the city’s zoning regulations, revise the provisions for mixed use zones to consider requirements for useable recreation space or payments in-lieu to meet recreational needs. 807.11

 

See also the Educational Facilities Element for polices on the use of school recreational facilities and lands.

 

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.