Our park improvement efforts

As part of our mission to provide a safe space for every dog in the neighborhood, we are working actively with our government representatives to set a plan for a meaningful park update.

In May 2022, we worked with Council Member Charles Allen to secure $1.25 million for a park improvement project.

At this time, we are actively working with Commissioners Gove and Wethington and Councilmember Allen to advance the project with the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the Department of General Services (DGS).

On April 23, 2024, DPR and DGS held a community meeting at Rosedale Rec Center to present a design plan and collect community feedback. Kingsman Bark and park pals were joined by Council Member Allen and ANC Commissioners Gove and Wethington. The city presented a design that would update and change the park’s surface/groundcover and fix drainage issues. The city will also install new trach cans, poop bag dispensers, water fountains, benches, and gate latches. The design presented would not change the current footprint or layout of the park, but it will offer much needed enhancements throughout the dog park, basketball courts (plan is to mill, repave and stripe the courts), and adjacent recreational field.

In December 2024, the city held its final community meeting to present a final plan and kickoff the construction phase. The project includes improved drainage and new engineered wood fiber (EWF) ground cover for the dog park - to replace the existing gravel - plus repairs to fencing throughout the park and field, the addition of privacy screening along the alley side fence, new gates, additional signage, new trash and recycling receptacles, new water fountains, an additional shade structure, and the addition of a dog washing station. Additional facilities improvements will include repaired fencing for the baseball backstops, a new accessible entrance for the field on the north end, and the basketball court will be milled and receive sports coating and striping. Finally, the city announced the addition of a pickleball court just west of the basketball court to enhance recreation opportunities.

The city and its contractor have entered into the permitting phase and, depending on how long that takes, they are currently expecting construction to occur from March-May 2025. In addition to the dog park being closed, a majority of the field will be closed during construction.

For additional information about the project, please visit:
https://dgs.dc.gov/page/kingsman-field-basketball-courts-and-dog-park

To sign up for updates about this project, please visit
http://dpr.dc.gov/stakeholder

We look forward to working with our city partners to further engage the community in the coming months.

How you can help now

As Kingsman Bark pushes the project forward with the city, we always need help caring for the park in its current state. While you are in the park, take a few moments to help with ongoing maintenance.