Hello All.  If you, or your neighbors, have an interest in summer camp programs run by the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), its time to apply! Below is some helpful information from DPR.  I hope you find something you like.  Please be advised that space may be limited.  The early bird gets the worm!

DPR Summer Camps 2008 run from June 23 - August 15, 2008, Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.  All camps will be closed on Friday, July 4.  Some camps may have special events and trips beyond regular hours.  Registration for DPR Summer Camps began on March 3, 2008. 

DPR offers a diverse array of exciting urban recreation and camping opportunities for youth ages 3 to 17; including sports camps, aquatic camps, therapeutic camps, and other day camps.  DPR also offers Discovery Camps for youth ages 6 to 13, and Little Explorers Camps for youth ages 3 to 5.  Camp Riverview is DPR’s premier overnight residential camp located on the shores of the Potomac River in Scotland, MD. 

DPR has partnered with the District Department of Employment Services to host a number of exciting teen and specialty camps.  Before and After Care will be available at many camp locations from 8 – 9 am and 5 – 6 pm. For more information or questions, contact DPR’s Camp Central Office at (202) 671-0295 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Links for camp programs, registration and more information:

- Register for DPR Summer Camps 2008
- Aqua Day Camps
- Discovery Camps
- Little Explorers Camps
- Residential Camp - Camp Riverview
- Sports Camps
- Therapeutic Recreation Camps
- Summer Camp Scholarship Rate Application and Worksheet

Great news for fans of Rumsey Pool! We just got this notice from the Department of Parks and Recreation: 

March 6, 2008
DPR Continues Aggressive Schedule of Work at Aquatic Facilities

The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) continues their aggressive schedule of repair, renovation, and preventive maintenance work at DPR Aquatic facilities across the District.  Today DPR announced the reopening of one facility ahead of schedule and a scheduled temporary closure of another.

On Monday, March 17, 2008, the William H. Rumsey Aquatic Center, located at 635 North Carolina Avenue, SE, will reopen ahead of schedule after closing on February 4, 2008, for renovation and preventive maintenance work and repairs. 

“I am very proud to say that thanks to the diligence and hard work of DPR staff and our contractors, we’re reopening ahead of schedule,” said Clark E. Ray, director of DPR, “The closure of Rumsey Aquatic Center had been scheduled for at least 45 business days, but here we are just over 30 days later and open again for swimming.”

Work at the Rumsey Aquatic Center included the renovation of the men’s and women’s locker rooms, which saw the replacement of the floors, lockers, showers, painting, and other repairs.   Preventive maintenance work was also performed on the center’s electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and plumbing systems.  Other general interior and exterior repairs were also completed.

On Monday, March 17, the Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren Street, NW, will temporarily close for scheduled repairs and maintenance work.  The facility will reopen on Monday, March 24, 2008.

During the temporary closure of Takoma Aquatic Center, DPR will be offering expanded hours at Turkey Thicket Aquatic Facility, 1100 Michigan Avenue, NE, (202) 576-9236.  Expanded hours will be Monday – Friday, 6:30 am to 9 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm.

Registrants of programs and classes that were to be held at Takoma Aquatic Center during this temporary closure are being rescheduled at other nearby DPR Aquatic Centers.  Registrants that would prefer to opt out of rescheduled classes or would like additional information about the closure can contact DPR at (202) 673-7647.

Sincerely,
Clark E. Ray
Director
Department of Parks and Recreation

On Saturday, February 9, 2008, approximately 500 pre-screened job applicants from Southwest/Near Southeast attended a Jobs Fair held at the Greenleaf Recreation Center to fill 1600 jobs offered by the Washington Nationals and their vendors.  There were approximately 2,500 total applicants attending the event without the benefit of the pre-screening.

An additional Job Fair was held on February 21, 2008 in which a slightly lesser number of pre-screened and total applicants showed up in hopes of obtaining the unfilled positions left over from the first Job Fair.

For both Job Fairs, arrangements were made with the Nationals and their vendors, with the cooperation and assistance of the Department of Employment Services to recruit, pre-screen and process SW and Near SE applicants on a priority basis for the available 1600 jobs.  The Job Fair was a city-wide event purposely held in SW by the Washington Nationals as a community benefit in recognition of the past and future impact of the Stadium on the community.  It was also a plus to the Nationals to employ nearby residents that will be able to walk to the stadium and to build good community relations. 

For those hired from the Job Fair, case management services will be provided as needed, through resources provided by the United Planning Organization, Career T.E.A.M. (Department of Human Services contractor) and the South Washington Collaborative for job retention support over the first season.  These services will include referrals for childcare, job coaching or other job-readiness issues.

Many positions were filled on the spot.  Others were called back several days later for follow-up interviews, and then hired.  The Nationals plan to start training for many of its new employees as early as the weekend following the second Job Fair.  The number of residents hired from the SW/Near SE applicants has not been determined, but it is expected to be large. The actual data will be available within the next few weeks, enabling follow-up case management to be deployed.  Additional immediate employment opportunities will be scheduled to intensify access for the difficult to employ as well as other SW/SE residents desiring part or full time employment.

Beyond these short term employment opportunities, the goal is to plan and achieve a Community Center in SW that will contain a One-Stop Workforce Development /Employment Service, with collaboration among community and city resources to provide wrap-around services.

A very impressive number of resident recruiters and volunteers contributed their time and talents to make the project an outstanding success.  The list includes the SW/SE Community Benefits Coordinating Committee volunteers, South Washington/West of the River Strengthening Collaborative staff, resident leaders of James Creek, Syphax Gardens, Greenleaf Family Housing, their ANC Commissioners Ron McBee and Rhonda Hamilton, Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, and Department of Employment Services, United Planning Organization, Career T.E.A.M. Staff, District of Columbia Housing Authority and all of the Washington National’s staff and vendors.  The teamwork, cooperation, and unity of purpose exhibited by this group produced outstanding results

The planning and execution of this employment initiative was carried out by the Near SW/SE Community Center/Workforce Development Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is an organization supported directly by Councilmember Tommy Wells, as an outgrowth of the community benefits priority setting process which designated a Community Center/Workforce Development initiative as the number one priority desired by the SW/Near SE community The priority setting process was managed under the leadership of the Near SW/SE Community Benefits Coordinating Committee, comprised of leaders and members of  the ANC 6D, the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, the South Washington Family Strengthening Collaborative, church and other community/ resident leaders.

The planning for the 14th St. Bridge Corridor is underway (click here for a larger image of the corridor area to your right).  In the last set of meetings, people in the District and Arlington were asked to state their preference for alternatives to consider in the 14th St. Bridge project.  Expansion of transit, improvement of pedestrian connections and construction of a separated bike/pedestrian crossing were among the popular choices.  An integrated regional bike system and better signage were also big preferences.  The 14th Street Bridge Corridor EIS is a 33-month project that will address the current and future needs of metropolitan Washington D.C. With increasing commuters, travelers, public transit users, pedestrians, and bicyclists; the safety and mobility of this link has become a priority. This project is intended to develop/evaluate alternatives to:

• - Improve safety and mobility for all modes of transportation;
  - Minimize long travel times and delays;
  - Minimize driver confusion and distraction;
  - Improve traveler information;
  - Improve transportation system efficiency/enhance mobility;
  - Optimize public investment
  - Protect/maintain parklands, wetlands and the Potomac River; and
  - Enhance gateway corridor features, aesthetics, and appearance

Interested in the results of the “license Plate” survey across the bridge or a recap of the latest mtgs?  Check out the March 2008 Gateway Gazette or visit the project web site http://www.14thstreetbridgecorridoreis.com for meeting agendas, pictures, presentations and more.