Media Contact: Jack Pfeiffer, EOM: (202) 727-1751; John A. Stokes, DPR: (202) 673-2195

Today, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Acting Director, Dr. Ximena Hartsock celebrated the opening of the renovated baseball diamond at Fort Stanton Community Center, 1812 Erie Street, SE.  The Mayor and Dr. Hartsock were joined by members of the community and a baseball team consisting of youth from Moten and Wilkerson Elementary Schools, for the ribbon cutting ceremony at DPR's newest premier athletic field, and the first in Ward 8.

"The opening of this new baseball diamond here at Fort Stanton clearly demonstrates the continuing commitment of the District to provide all of our residents with the very best in recreational facilities and the opportunity to enjoy competition quality athletic fields," said Mayor Fenty.

DPR began capital improvements and conversion of the existing 60-foot baseball diamond at Fort Stanton to a new ‘Patriot’ bermudagrass natural playing surface in 2008.   Additional capital improvements completed at Fort Stanton include installation of new athletic field irrigation and drainage systems, new lighting and an electronic scoreboard.  A new on-site storage facility was also constructed for the storage of new athletic field maintenance equipment, and repairs and additions were made to existing fencing.

“What a wonderful way to begin my first week with DPR by opening our first premier athletic field in Ward 8,” said Dr. Hartsock, DPR Acting Director.  “I look forward to being part of many more events like today where DPR and the community come together to celebrate.”

"The Fort Stanton field represents the outstanding partnership between OPEFM and DPR,” said Allen Y. Lew, Executive Director of the District Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization.  “All of the fields we have helped renovate meet not only the expectation of the Mayor and DPR, but are the types of facilities that residents all across the District deserve."

Bermudagrass is an ideal grass for DPR's natural turf premier athletic fields, as it is warm-season grass which thrives in Washington’s weather and grows very rapidly from mid-spring to mid-fall.  Bermudagrass is drought and heat tolerant, resistant to most pests, and holds up well to heavy use year-round.  Bermudagrass fields also become more whitish-brown in color during the dormant growing season than other grass, but this color change is actually a sign of a healthy bermudagrass field.