Are most DCPS school fields closed to the public?

[Anonymous]

Perhaps OP could assemble a dedicated group of neighborhood folks who are willing to ensure that if the public would like to use the playground in the afternoons and on weekend, then the public will be responsible for cleaning and maintaining it. That would likely mean creating a "Friends of XXXXX Playground" that would be willing to dedicate time and funds to the cause. IF the school doesn't have the funds to support these activities, cleaning and additional wear and tear, then you can offer to provide that for them. But please don't expect the school, which is focused on educating their kids with a set/limited amount of funds, to pay for this service for you. If it's not worth the time/cost for you, then use a different playground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps OP could assemble a dedicated group of neighborhood folks who are willing to ensure that if the public would like to use the playground in the afternoons and on weekend, then the public will be responsible for cleaning and maintaining it. That would likely mean creating a "Friends of XXXXX Playground" that would be willing to dedicate time and funds to the cause. IF the school doesn't have the funds to support these activities, cleaning and additional wear and tear, then you can offer to provide that for them. But please don't expect the school, which is focused on educating their kids with a set/limited amount of funds, to pay for this service for you. If it's not worth the time/cost for you, then use a different playground.

This seems like a good option and is done at most public DPR parks already which suffer from the same and worse problems.

So sad to just say, too bad, drive to UNW. Mean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just went through this with our newly renovated school.

https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/Track%20and%20Field%20Policy.pdf

Thanks. Curious if your school closed post-renovation too?

The playground was never open to the public before the renovation. Post-renovation, the community started a petition to have it open to the public. That petition was sent to the ward Councilmember and to DCPS. The school community, including admin, were against it considering there are several playgrounds within walking distance of the school, and there was already a problem with litter from folks that jumped the fence to hang out there. The issue finally came to a head with DCPS making the decision to have it open after hours and on weekends.

Why no petition to can access prior to renovations? Oh, because it's brand new? People kill me.

[Anonymous]

According to folks from DCPS, they plan to eventually have all school playgrounds open to the public even though they have no budget for maintenance. As of now, the school is responsible for maintaining the grounds and paying custodians over-time to lock/unlock the gates. DGS would be responsible for replacing/repairing equipment, which we all know takes forever. They took a year to replace a badly designed slide that was flinging kids off mid-slide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is really a shame. Maybe the neighbors who would like to use the field or playground could talk to the principal about doing a clean up every Monday morning or something? I agree that these facilities should be open to the public when school is not in session, but I also understand that the schools don't have the staff to deal with a lot of litter, vandalism, and the other problems listed above.

Don't be ridiculous, and the next child who is injured by a needle, broken class, or gets an eye infection! Unfortunately, schools don't have enough money for copy paper or basic supplies and you want them to organize and take on additional responsibilities. Welcome to the world we live in

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps OP could assemble a dedicated group of neighborhood folks who are willing to ensure that if the public would like to use the playground in the afternoons and on weekend, then the public will be responsible for cleaning and maintaining it. That would likely mean creating a "Friends of XXXXX Playground" that would be willing to dedicate time and funds to the cause. IF the school doesn't have the funds to support these activities, cleaning and additional wear and tear, then you can offer to provide that for them. But please don't expect the school, which is focused on educating their kids with a set/limited amount of funds, to pay for this service for you. If it's not worth the time/cost for you, then use a different playground.

Use a different playground, park, rec center or area of grass ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps OP could assemble a dedicated group of neighborhood folks who are willing to ensure that if the public would like to use the playground in the afternoons and on weekend, then the public will be responsible for cleaning and maintaining it. That would likely mean creating a "Friends of XXXXX Playground" that would be willing to dedicate time and funds to the cause. IF the school doesn't have the funds to support these activities, cleaning and additional wear and tear, then you can offer to provide that for them. But please don't expect the school, which is focused on educating their kids with a set/limited amount of funds, to pay for this service for you. If it's not worth the time/cost for you, then use a different playground.

Use a different playground, park, rec center or area of grass ...

I get how that would be easy if you lived near Powell, for example, and could simply go to Upshur Park instead. But not all neighborhoods have other options in walking distance. I think that's why it has been such an issue in Mount Pleasant. I guess the solution really is "drive west of the park" for those of us who can.

[Anonymous]

Lmao. Powell Rec Center is right there.

Also a little place called rock creek park.

[Anonymous]

OP here: yes, the community is working with the school on a volunteer plan and its good to hear other schools have done that successfully. Its been slow going but I'm hopeful something can be worked out. Thanks for all the responses.

My main question was whether DCPS was moving away from the default rule of keeping school fields open to the public, because Bancroft seemed to imply that was the case and I thought it was the exception rather than the rule. We've been to Eaton, Shepherd, Tubman, and many other fields on the weekend so this was news to me. Sounds like fields are only open in "wealthier neighborhoods " now.

I get that school budgets may have gotten too tight to handle maintenance in other neighborhoods where the vandalism risk is greater.

DPR should step up too. The public parks near Mount Pleasant like Walter Pierce and the Powell Park/16th Street park also lock their fields to the community. In those cases, I think they're reserved for formal sports leagues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps OP could assemble a dedicated group of neighborhood folks who are willing to ensure that if the public would like to use the playground in the afternoons and on weekend, then the public will be responsible for cleaning and maintaining it. That would likely mean creating a "Friends of XXXXX Playground" that would be willing to dedicate time and funds to the cause. IF the school doesn't have the funds to support these activities, cleaning and additional wear and tear, then you can offer to provide that for them. But please don't expect the school, which is focused on educating their kids with a set/limited amount of funds, to pay for this service for you. If it's not worth the time/cost for you, then use a different playground.

Use a different playground, park, rec center or area of grass ...

I get how that would be easy if you lived near Powell, for example, and could simply go to Upshur Park instead. But not all neighborhoods have other options in walking distance. I think that's why it has been such an issue in Mount Pleasant. I guess the solution really is "drive west of the park" for those of us who can.

This was an issue for Powell. Parents pointed out several DPR playgrounds within walking distance(Upshur, Petworth, Hamilton, Raymond). DCPS still made the decision to open it up so I’m sure if enough Mt. Pleasant residents put up a stink they will get access to Bancroft.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lmao. Powell Rec Center is right there.

Also a little place called rock creek park.

It's Upshur park, but that wasn't good enough for the community as they wanted access to their own little island called "Powell Elementary" school playground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dog owners are the reason many schools are closing their grounds on weekends. Too much poop and litter lying around.

Sadly true

This. And not just the playgrounds but dog poop in the grass in front of schools the part that is not locked.

[Anonymous]

My understanding of the way it’s done on the Hill is neighbors have the key and are responsible for unlocking the playground in the morning and locking it again in the evening, on the weekends. For the most part this prevents trashy assholes from ruining the playground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lmao. Powell Rec Center is right there.

Also a little place called rock creek park.

It's Upshur park, but that wasn't good enough for the community as they wanted access to their own little island called "Powell Elementary" school playground.

Not referring to that at all. There is a Powell Rec Center on 16th street near Mt. Pleasant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps OP could assemble a dedicated group of neighborhood folks who are willing to ensure that if the public would like to use the playground in the afternoons and on weekend, then the public will be responsible for cleaning and maintaining it. That would likely mean creating a "Friends of XXXXX Playground" that would be willing to dedicate time and funds to the cause. IF the school doesn't have the funds to support these activities, cleaning and additional wear and tear, then you can offer to provide that for them. But please don't expect the school, which is focused on educating their kids with a set/limited amount of funds, to pay for this service for you. If it's not worth the time/cost for you, then use a different playground.

Use a different playground, park, rec center or area of grass ...

I get how that would be easy if you lived near Powell, for example, and could simply go to Upshur Park instead. But not all neighborhoods have other options in walking distance. I think that's why it has been such an issue in Mount Pleasant. I guess the solution really is "drive west of the park" for those of us who can.

Mount Pleasant - heard of Rock Creek ... get out and enjoy nature as God intended not a man-made playground!