Media Contact: John A. Stokes, (202) 673-2195

On Monday, January 19, 2009, to commemorate the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and to honor his memory, the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) will be hosting service projects from 8 am to 12 noon at DPR locations across the District.

“The Department of Parks and Recreation is proud to help answer the call to community service put forth by President-elect Obama and Mayor Fenty," said Clark E. Ray, Director of DPR.  "By each of us giving just a small amount of time to serve our community, together we can make a large and positive impact."

Residents are encouraged to participate in DPR's King Day of Service projects, project locations are listed below.  Advance registration is encouraged by using the contact information provided.

Initiated by Congress in 1994, the King Day of Service builds on that that legacy by transforming the federal holiday honoring Dr. King into a national day of community service grounded in his teachings of nonviolence and social justice. The aim is to make the holiday a day ON, where people of all ages and backgrounds come together to improve lives, bridge social barriers, and move our nation closer to the “Beloved Community” that Dr. King envisioned.

Department of Parks and Recreation - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Projects

Location: Bald Eagle Recreation Center, 100 Joliet Street, SW
Project: "Deep clean,' painting, and neighborhood clean-up.
Contact: Rob Washington, (202) 645-3930

Location: Benning Park Community Center, 53rd and Fitch Sts., SE
Project: "Deep clean" and neighborhood clean-up.
Contact: Elijah Fagan, (202) 491-2518

Location: Columbia Heights Community Center, 1480 Girard Street, NW
Project: "Deep clean" and neighborhood clean-up.
Contact: Gail Oliver (202) 409-6600
Note: Volunteers are no longer needed at this site, please consider volunteering at another project.

Location: Joe Cole Recreation Center, 1200 Morse Street, NE
Project: "Deep clean" and neighborhood clean-up.
Contact: Mark Williams, (202) 251-2166

Location: Kennedy Recreation Center, 1401 7th Street, NW
Project: "Deep clean" and neighborhood clean-up.
Contact: Pam Pugh, (202) 671-4794

Location: King Greenleaf Recreation Center, 201 N Street, SW
Project: "Deep clean" and neighborhood clean-up.
Contact: Henry Moton, (202) 645-7454

Location: Marvin Gaye Park Clean Up, Participants will gather at 53rd and Fitch Sts., SE, then move to park.
Project: Park clean-up.
Contact: Libby Morris, (202) 727-5432

Location: Raymond Recreation Center, 915 Spring Road, NW
Project: "Deep clean" and neighborhood clean-up.
Contact: Vince Cain, (202) 316-2291
Note: Volunteers are no longer needed at this site, please consider volunteering at another project.

Location: Rosedale Recreation Center, 17th and Gales Street, NE
Project: "Deep clean" and neighborhood clean-up.
Contact: Gayle Ward, (202) 316-4210

Location: Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th Street, NE
Project: "Deep clean" and neighborhood clean-up.
Contact: Raphael Marshall, (202) 724-4468

Location: Trinidad Recreation Center, 1310 Childress Street, NE
Project: "Deep clean" and neighborhood clean-up.
Contact: Anthony Higginbotham, (202) 727-1293