Here's the issue I have with the fence: the bodies that govern youth baseball have been pushing to require fields to have an outfield fence. And it has nothing to do with how the game is played. Youth baseball is declining in popularity. But DC is like most places in the US that for historical reasons baseball has an outsized access to fields -- public fields. When those fields have fences across the outfield, they can't be used for other sports. Youth baseball is pushing the fences as a way of cutting off competition from other sports.

The DC government should be calling bullshit on this, but instead they enable it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Internet Archive is down right now. The old location of the DPR fields archive was at:
http://dpr.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dpr/page_content/attachments/DPR%20Athletic%20FIeld%20Inventory_0.pdf

Here's a link to the inventory:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uAjnGktN3AHfRfEzkFar4_NTqZaAeeFC/view?usp=sharing

Note that many of the fields that are listed as "RECTANGULAR FIELDS (MULTI-USE)" on that list are combination baseball/rectangular, and baseball is given priority. Just spot-checking I see Riggs-LaSalle, Jelleff and yes, Ft. Reno on that list.

OP - thanks - I'll take a look. I'm actually very curious about this - I have kids who play soccer and Ultimate so we deal with these issues too. Do the new soccer fields at at the old RFK fall into this? I didn't see them listed.

I don't believe they are managed by DPR, I think it's Events DC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DPR should be renamed the Department of Baseball. DPR has roughly 110 fields in its inventory and slightly under two thirds of them are reserved for baseball or other "diamond sports." The last time DPR released information on the makeup of its permit applicants, less than 15% of the participants played diamond sports, yet they get the lion's share of the space. The other 85% of the players play "rectangle" sports -- soccer, lacrosse, ultimate -- and have to fight for the scraps.

DPR has a number of multi-configuration fields that can be used as either a diamond or a rectangle. DPR systematically privileges baseball on those fields, even though the demand is overwhelmingly in the opposite direction.

Zing OP. You didn't expect this response did you!

Ha! No, I didn't. And that is definitely an issue that needs to be addressed. If it's true. I have kids that use those rectangular spaces as well. Can you provide info? Because when I went to check - the link was not found. https://dpr.dc.gov/page/dpr-athletic-fields

My argument here though was that DPR has an agreement with NPS to use that land for the baseball field. The community funded the batting cage which takes up a much smaller amount of land. Also, the reason there isn't an outfield fence is that NPS won't let us put one up. The field would be in much better shape if NPS/DPR worked with Wilson/Jackson-Reed to do upkeep.

I'm upset about a lack of transparency, a waste of money and a serious lack of communication. I have dealt with both NPS & DPR on issues such as schools, field permits and playgrounds - it shouldn't be that hard and things like this shouldn't happen. And, I think more of Reno should be turned over for field use so we can have some more rectangle sports.

Actually, the agreement is to use the land as a multi-purpose field. With the outfield fence it can't be used for any other purpose.

Actually, no - it does not specify. But given that it is with Wilson - it is up to them to decide how to use it. And do you really have an issue with such a large high school having playing fields for it's kids?

Is Wilson (Jackson/Reed) a party? I thought it was just DPR and NPS.

What I have an issue with is the land grab by baseball to prevent other public use of a public asset. Especially when baseball is already way, way over-represented in the DPR field inventory.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DPR should be renamed the Department of Baseball. DPR has roughly 110 fields in its inventory and slightly under two thirds of them are reserved for baseball or other "diamond sports." The last time DPR released information on the makeup of its permit applicants, less than 15% of the participants played diamond sports, yet they get the lion's share of the space. The other 85% of the players play "rectangle" sports -- soccer, lacrosse, ultimate -- and have to fight for the scraps.

DPR has a number of multi-configuration fields that can be used as either a diamond or a rectangle. DPR systematically privileges baseball on those fields, even though the demand is overwhelmingly in the opposite direction.

Zing OP. You didn't expect this response did you!

Ha! No, I didn't. And that is definitely an issue that needs to be addressed. If it's true. I have kids that use those rectangular spaces as well. Can you provide info? Because when I went to check - the link was not found. https://dpr.dc.gov/page/dpr-athletic-fields

My argument here though was that DPR has an agreement with NPS to use that land for the baseball field. The community funded the batting cage which takes up a much smaller amount of land. Also, the reason there isn't an outfield fence is that NPS won't let us put one up. The field would be in much better shape if NPS/DPR worked with Wilson/Jackson-Reed to do upkeep.

I'm upset about a lack of transparency, a waste of money and a serious lack of communication. I have dealt with both NPS & DPR on issues such as schools, field permits and playgrounds - it shouldn't be that hard and things like this shouldn't happen. And, I think more of Reno should be turned over for field use so we can have some more rectangle sports.

Actually, the agreement is to use the land as a multi-purpose field. With the outfield fence it can't be used for any other purpose.

Actually, no - it does not specify. But given that it is with Wilson - it is up to them to decide how to use it. And do you really have an issue with such a large high school having playing fields for it's kids?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Internet Archive is down right now. The old location of the DPR fields archive was at:
http://dpr.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dpr/page_content/attachments/DPR%20Athletic%20FIeld%20Inventory_0.pdf

Here's a link to the inventory:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uAjnGktN3AHfRfEzkFar4_NTqZaAeeFC/view?usp=sharing

Note that many of the fields that are listed as "RECTANGULAR FIELDS (MULTI-USE)" on that list are combination baseball/rectangular, and baseball is given priority. Just spot-checking I see Riggs-LaSalle, Jelleff and yes, Ft. Reno on that list.

OP - thanks - I'll take a look. I'm actually very curious about this - I have kids who play soccer and Ultimate so we deal with these issues too. Do the new soccer fields at at the old RFK fall into this? I didn't see them listed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm still pissed off at Wilson baseball for unilaterally putting up a fence at Reno a few years ago without asking DPR or NPS for permission, which effectively made the field unusable for any other purpose. And DPR acceded when they did that instead of making them take it down.

OP here again refuting yet more misinformation.

From the official baseball folks:
"The fence is permitted and we followed all of the required steps.  It was not unilateral and was signed off by and approved by NPS.  The fence has gone up each year since the field opened for a period from approximately Mar 1 - June 30.  One year we did not put the fence up because it was damaged and during COVID the fence remained up because permits for removal were not being granted and we were not allowed by the city to have gatherings of volunteers."

https://imgur.com/nth791f

The document you posted is a permit application, it wasn't signed by anyone at NPS.

Until a few years ago the fence was required to be taken down on Fridays so that the field could be used for rectangle sports on the weekend. I was there the first year Wilson refused to take it down. DPR had no idea what was going on, and they just knuckled.

I've dealt with Mitch Gore and I've found him to be a bully and a jerk. Waving around an unsigned permit application and pretending it shows permission is typical. The fence was a total land grab, it kept others from using the field even when baseball wasn't using it. It's laughable that baseball is now trying to get public support after treating their neighbors this way.

Not been my experience - I have heard many tales of the fact that the baseball team can't practice hitting because the Ultimate Frisbee or some other team is using the outfield. And obviously, there are many issues around this. I think the central issue with not just Ft. Reno but across the city is the lack of transparency from both DPR and NPS. The fact that the biggest high school in DC does not have adequate field space - not to mention so many other more pressing academic needs - is not right. And often the only way you can get permits for the various fields depends on who you know. Not right either. We could use more fields, more sharing of land by NPS, and a better system for using the fields.

In the meantime, does this negate the fact that DPR tore down a batting cage that has been in use for years without at least letting Wilson baseball save it? And of all the structures and uses of that land - it was took up the smallest footprint and allowed the baseball team to practice hitting and not take up the whole field.

And exactly which organization are you working with or what is your stake in it? Would like some transparency there since you feel so free to tarnish all baseball players with your experiences.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Internet Archive is down right now. The old location of the DPR fields archive was at:
http://dpr.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dpr/page_content/attachments/DPR%20Athletic%20FIeld%20Inventory_0.pdf

Here's a link to the inventory:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uAjnGktN3AHfRfEzkFar4_NTqZaAeeFC/view?usp=sharing

Note that many of the fields that are listed as "RECTANGULAR FIELDS (MULTI-USE)" on that list are combination baseball/rectangular, and baseball is given priority. Just spot-checking I see Riggs-LaSalle, Jelleff and yes, Ft. Reno on that list.

Message from Tom Quinn, the ANC rep for that area, was posted on the Chevy Chase Chatter FB group:

DPR leases the field from NPS and per the terms of the lease is not allowed to have anything permanent on the site.
Apparently relatively recently NPS advised DPR that the city was in violation but did not advise DPR to remove anything yet and was planning to work with DPR to resolve the issues.
But apparently DPR didn't wait, nor did they check with the baseball program and at least according to the baseball folks they destroyed all the equipment too.

Anonymous wrote:The Internet Archive is down right now. The old location of the DPR fields archive was at:
http://dpr.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dpr/page_content/attachments/DPR%20Athletic%20FIeld%20Inventory_0.pdf

Here's a link to the inventory:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uAjnGktN3AHfRfEzkFar4_NTqZaAeeFC/view?usp=sharing

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm still pissed off at Wilson baseball for unilaterally putting up a fence at Reno a few years ago without asking DPR or NPS for permission, which effectively made the field unusable for any other purpose. And DPR acceded when they did that instead of making them take it down.

OP here again refuting yet more misinformation.

From the official baseball folks:
"The fence is permitted and we followed all of the required steps.  It was not unilateral and was signed off by and approved by NPS.  The fence has gone up each year since the field opened for a period from approximately Mar 1 - June 30.  One year we did not put the fence up because it was damaged and during COVID the fence remained up because permits for removal were not being granted and we were not allowed by the city to have gatherings of volunteers."

https://imgur.com/nth791f

The document you posted is a permit application, it wasn't signed by anyone at NPS.

Until a few years ago the fence was required to be taken down on Fridays so that the field could be used for rectangle sports on the weekend. I was there the first year Wilson refused to take it down. DPR had no idea what was going on, and they just knuckled.

I've dealt with Mitch Gore and I've found him to be a bully and a jerk. Waving around an unsigned permit application and pretending it shows permission is typical. The fence was a total land grab, it kept others from using the field even when baseball wasn't using it. It's laughable that baseball is now trying to get public support after treating their neighbors this way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid's only joy is playing baseball on this one particular field?

+1 sounds like your kid has other problems beyond playing baseball. Like being a weird isolated loser.

Wow...mean trolls are out in force. Never said it was their only joy. Just a joy - please reread

Your post says they are taking away any joy, implying that there is none left.

The Internet Archive is down right now. The old location of the DPR fields archive was at:
http://dpr.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dpr/page_content/attachments/DPR%20Athletic%20FIeld%20Inventory_0.pdf