Media Only Contact: John A. Stokes, (202) 673-2195
On Friday, October 3, 2008, at 5:30 pm, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser, Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr., DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Acting Chief of Staff Saundra Ratliff, and Allen Y. Lew, Executive Director, Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization, will join the community for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Premier Athletic Field at the Riggs LaSalle Community Center, 501 Riggs Road, NE. This is DPR's first Premier Athletic Field and is also the largest multi-use artificial turf athletic field in the District of Columbia.
Immediately following the ribbon cutting ceremony, a pep rally will be held for the Lamond Riggs Steelers, a 40-year-old community organization which fields 9 youth football teams, comprised of over 250 local children and youth. The two Lamond Riggs cheerleading squads will perform during the pep rally.
The $3.4 million Riggs LaSalle Premier Athletic Field project converted the existing football/soccer field, 60-foot baseball diamond, 90-foot baseball diamond to a new FieldTurf artificial turf playing surface, with inlaid game lines and markings. The baseball diamonds feature colored artificial turf infield cut-outs, using brown turf along the base paths and a combination of green and brown colored turf in the interior of the infield.
Other improvements made during the project include:
- Lighting improvements
- New seating for 500 spectators
- New pressbox
- New scoreboard
- New and repositioned dugouts for field safety
- New goal posts
- Improved Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access
- Repairs and additions to existing fencing
- New athletic field maintenance equipment
WHAT:
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of DPR's First Premier Athletic Field and Pep Rally for the Lamond Riggs Steelers
WHEN:
Friday, October 3, 2008, 5:30 pm
WHERE:
Riggs LaSalle Community Center, Athletic Field, 501 Riggs Road, NE
VISUALS AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:
- Adrian M. Fenty, Mayor
- Muriel Bowser, Councilmember, Ward 4
- Harry Thomas, Jr., Councilmember, Ward 5
- Saundra Ratliff, Acting Chief of Staff, DC Department of Parks and Recreation
- Allen Y. Lew, Executive Director, Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization
About the DC Department of Parks and Recreation
The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) presents quality urban recreation and leisure services to residents and visitors to the District of Columbia. The agency supervises and maintains area parks, community facilities, and neighborhood recreation centers as well as coordinates a wide variety of programs including sports leagues, youth development, therapeutic recreation, aquatic programming, outdoor adventure, camping, child care services, and senior citizen activities. Adaptive programs and facilities are available for persons with disabilities.