Media Contact: John A. Stokes, (202) 673-2195
March is the first month of spring and the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has been hard at work planning programs and activities for all District residents to enjoy. Registration for our week long Spring Break Camps and Spring Break Sports Camps is underway, as is registration for DPR's Summer Camps! St. Patrick’s Day will also soon be here and DPR has several fun programs in the spirit of this long celebrated holiday! In addition to spring break activities, DPR continues to offer great year round programs for the entire family. Visit any DPR center or our website, dpr.dc.gov, and see what the excitement is all about!
"DPR This Month"
By Clark E. Ray, Director, DC Department of Parks and Recreation
With everything from Skating Night to Story Time for Tots to Spring Break Camps, DPR is sure to have an exciting program for kids and adults of all ages!
Taking a quick look back at February, it was certainly a month full of celebration! DPR hosted the highly anticipated groundbreaking ceremony for the new S and T Street Parks, including our first permanent public off-leash dog park; over 850 swimmers competed in “Make Your Mark!” the 23rd Annual Black History Invitational Swim Meet, which including welcoming this year's honorees, Dr. A. Jose Jones, 2008 Sport Diver of the year, and Cullen Jones, 2008 USA Olympic Gold Medalist; and we all enjoyed learning about the history of some of our nation’s most recognized African Americans at our 3rd Annual "Blacks in Wax" program at the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center.
Registration for DPR's Spring Break Camps and Spring Break Sport Camps is underway and spaces for this week long program -- which will run over the DC Public Schools' spring break holiday, March 23-27, 2009 -- are filling up fast. Registration can be completed online or in person at any of the Spring Break Camp locations.
DPR Summer Camp registration also continues during March. This summer, from June 15 to August 21, DPR is offering five two-week sessions, and camping fees are only $100 per session for District residents for most of our camps. We will also offer eight, one-week overnight camping sessions at Camp Riverview, DPR's residential camp located in Scotland, Maryland. Camp Riverview sits along the Potomac River near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, surrounded by 217 acres of woods. If you’re looking for a unique camping experience for your children and the opportunity for them to enjoy outdoor activities they can't find in the city, be sure to make a trip to Camp Riverview part of their summer. Information on all of our summer camps and registration is available online at summercamps.dc.gov. You can also contact our Camp Central office at (202) 671-0295 or visit a DPR center for more information.
Spring will be in the air and a number of our centers will be hosting “Spring Beautification” activities. By volunteering to plant flowers and clean up debris, you can help us to keep your community center in tip top shape! For our resident athletes, we are pleased to present the Winter Citywide Indoor Soccer/Futsal Championships, and our two-day youth Kickball Tournament. For the artists in our city, DPR has a variety of music, photography, and art workshops offered this month. Last but not least, DPR has a number of activities and events celebrating St. Patrick’s Day!
Speaking of spring and summer, this March, District residents can look forward to an early release of the DC Summer Fun Guide. DPR will be combining its spring and summer program offerings into one, easy to reference guide. DPR has also collaborated with other DC agencies such as DC Public Schools, Department of Health, Department of Mental Health, Metropolitan Police Department, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, DC Public Library, Office of the State Superintendent of Education, DC Youth Investment Trust Corporation, and the Department of Employment Services to include a broad spectrum of activities and programs this summer. In 2009, the DC Summer Fun Guide will be your one stop shop for spring and summer fun!
To learn more about any of the events, programs, and services that your DC Department of Parks and Recreation is offering in March, please visit us online at dpr.dc.gov or stop by any DPR center.
Select the link below for DPR's March 2009 Featured Programs and Events:
For information on how to support or contribute to the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, please contact DPR's Office of Partnerships and Development at (202) 671-1462 or DPRpartnerships@dc.gov.