The National Park Service is requesting $11.8 million to upgrade D.C. parks east of the Anacostia River. The funding would help chip away at a $405 million maintenance backlog in National Capital Parks – East.

“What we’re looking to do through the project is replace or rehabilitate tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds, picnic pavilions, restrooms, and also including things like fencing, lighting, and water fountains, ” says Tara Morrison, park superintendent.

The funding request comes as some in the city have been critical of the park service for lack of investment in parks east of the river. A report released in May by George Washington University highlighted a gaping funding disparity in D.C.: the National Mall parks have a budget roughly 80 times greater, per acre, compared to national parks east of the Anacostia.

The money would be used for projects in Anacostia Park, Fort Dupont Park, Kenilworth Park, and the Parkland area of Shepherd Parkway. The funding for Shepherd Parkway would pay for the design and construction of a new playground, plaza and event space. NPS floated a concept plan for the project in 2020, which envisions transforming the 1.25-acre strip of land along Malcolm X Ave. SE with space for movie nights and concerts, community and family events, and outdoor education. Currently the park has few amenities, besides an aging play structure and a handful of benches.

In Anacostia Park, the money would pay for the design to rehabilitate the skating pavilion — the only roller-skating rink in a national park. NPS will seek additional funding down the road for the construction phase.

The proposed funding is subject to approval from Congress. It comes from the Great American Outdoors Act, signed into law by President Trump in 2020. The law provides $9.5 billion over five years to address the maintenance backlog an national parks.

If the funding is approved, NPS will begin community engagement and design on the projects next year, with construction starting in 2025.