The D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation announced Monday that it will reopen a number of recreation centers and indoor swimming pools across the city this fall.
Beginning Tuesday, October 13, the city will offer outdoor yoga and Zumba classes, sports like tennis and pickleball, and activities for seniors, director Delano Hunter said during a press briefing. DPR will also host learning hubs at six locations, where students can use the internet and take part in supervised independent activities, offer a grab-and-go meal service, and more.
The city will reopen a total of 29 recreation centers across the District to host fall programming other limited services, including 19 fitness centers and six swimming pools. The city will initially open Marie Reed Aquatic Center, Wilson Aquatic Center, Takoma Aquatic Center, Turkey Thicket Aquatic Center, William H. Rumsey Aquatic Center, and Barry Farm Aquatic Center. The department will add a seventh, Deanwood Aquatic Center, by December, per Hunter.
Residents must reserve time slots to use the facilities and adhere to face mask requirements. High-touch services, like gym equipment, will be cleaned after every use.
DPR will also begin issuing a limited number of athletic permits for moderate-contact sports practices and low-contact sports games. “I just want to emphasize that all organized athletic activities require a permit,” Hunter said during the briefing.
Registration for programming, including reservations and permits, will open on Thursday, October 1 on DPR’s website.
The department hosted limited in-person programming for kids during the summer, and Mayor Muriel Bowser cited their success in curbing the spread of coronavirus. More than 1,100 children participated in “some sort of in-person experience for summer camp,” supported by 500 DPR staff members, with no known COVID-19 cases traces back to those programs, she said.
While Virginia and Maryland have moved into Phase 3 of their reopening plans, D.C. has opted to remain in Phase 2, and has not offered a timeline for moving beyond that stage.