(Washington, DC) DC Parks and Recreation is pleased to welcome back the District of Columbia Building Industry Association (DCBIA) for its 12th annual Community Improvement Day (CID) that will take place Saturday, October 2nd at the Benning Park Recreation Center in Ward 7.

This site is a thirty-year old, popular recreation center, playground and park that has been fairly well maintained. Benning Park was chosen at the recommendation of DC Parks and Recreation for rehabilitation because the park’s age and use demanded much needed improvements and updating. A significant number of children from the area frequent the park and utilize its recreation equipment.

DCBIA represents real estate developers, building contractors, architects, interior designers, attorneys and trades people. On October 2, more than 500 volunteers from the organization will descend on the park for an 18-hour one-day renovation. The project will bring to reality the designs and plans of a core team of volunteers who, since last spring, have been programming all aspects of a comprehensive renovation project for the recreation center. CID co-chair Matt Farris of Lehman, Smith and McLeish stated that all of the work is designed to improve the facility so that residents can use and enjoy the park to its fullest. And to do this, CID links leading design and building professionals with the network of local Benning Park residents and community groups.

DCBIA began its program of renovating recreation centers in the District in 1993 in an effort to spur interest in volunteerism among its many construction-related members. DCBIA encourages its members to use their design and construction expertise to improve DC communities. For the past twelve years, DCBIA members have made a commitment to revitalize a recreational area in the city as part of a community investment policy and to encourage corporate participation among its many professional members.

This project is valued at nearly one million dollars including professional services, skilled labor, new equipment, products and materials and SKB Architecture and Design.

DCBIA also works in conjunction with DC’s Department of Parks and Recreation to ensure that Community Improvement Day meets city and code requirements. Many employees of this agency also join in the renovation effort. The renovation program, designed by DCBIA members, includes rehabilitation of the recreation center, playground and amphitheater, ball fields and courts, and new landscaping for entire park area.

Details include:

Recreation Center Exterior/ Recreation Center Interior

• Restore mural on wall facing Southern Ave.
• Repair building’s exterior lighting
• Redesign entrance landscaping
• Enhance building entrance
• Construct bench at building entry
• Replace millwork in computer room
• Upgrade kitchen appliances
• Replace basement ceiling tiles

• Install picnic pavilion
  
• Construct shade shelters around playground
• Install picnic tables and seating
• Fix drainage and erosion problems
• Create path at amphitheater edge

• Replace ball field bleachers
• Repair ball field fence
• Repair stairs and planters between courts

• Trim overgrown trees
• Landscape grounds and prune vegetation
• Plant new shrubs and trees
• Repair exterior lighting
• Trash cleanup