(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser joined District officials and residents to break ground on the new Fort Davis Community Center and park upgrades in Ward 7. The $27.5 million project is the result of a robust community engagement process over the last two years and incorporates the voices and vision of young residents. The project will replace the current recreation center with a modernized, larger facility at the same location.
“The new Fort Davis Community Center represents the kind of investment that brings a neighborhood to life — a place where young people can explore their talents, seniors can stay active and engaged, and residents of all ages can come together in community,” said Mayor Bowser. “This will be a space built to serve the people of Ward 7, hosting athletic programs, community meetings, and everything in between.”
The new 28,960-square-foot facility is double the size of the original building and will include an indoor gym, elevated walking track, commercial kitchen, and multipurpose spaces. It will be ADA-accessible and designed to support a wide range of activities. Upgrades to the adjacent 4.6-acre park will add new outdoor amenities and improvements.
“It is very exciting to mark this milestone on our way to a brand-new Fort Davis Community Center,” said DPR Director Thennie Freeman. “Designed with the input of our youth, we believe that this new building will serve many needs and provide a gathering place for our young people, seniors, and everyone in between for many years to come.”
Amenities inside the center will include:
- Fitness center
- Full-size indoor gymnasium
- Elevated indoor walking track
- Commercial kitchen
- Multipurpose rooms
- Game lounge
Park upgrades will include:
- New entry plaza
- Playground resurfacing and new shade structures
- Expanded outdoor basketball court to regulation size
- Outdoor walking/exercise path (1/3 mile)
- Extended playground with hillside play equipment
- Brittany Everett memorial bench
- Terraced landscaping
“This groundbreaking represents our commitment to building high-quality spaces that meet the needs of every DC resident,” said DGS Director Delano Hunter. “We are proud to begin a project that will serve as a vibrant hub for recreation, connection and community.”
Fort Davis Community Center demolition will begin imminently, but the park will remain open through the fall. Please visit the DGS website for complete details on the project: dgs.dc.gov/page/fort-davis-community-center-modernization.
The Fort Davis project reflects Mayor Bowser’s dedication to delivering world-class parks and recreation centers for DC residents of all ages. Over the past decade, the Bowser Administration has invested over $540 million into facilities across all eight wards. Other recent projects include breaking ground on a new Fort Lincoln Recreation Center and Early Childhood Education Center and opening the new Reservoir Park Recreation Center and Aquatic Center and 6.2-acre park at the long-vacant former McMillan Sand Filtration Site, which opened last year.
The Mayor’s FY26 Budget, Grow DC, builds on this legacy, with $188 million to support modernizations of 22 recreation centers, pools, and parks. Learn more by visiting budget.dc.gov.
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