(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) celebrated the beginning of the District’s outdoor pool season at Randall Pool with the event Jump In, DC. The event included free food, music, giveaways, and the first splash into the Randall Pool of 2023. During the event, the Mayor and DPR announced that all 22 outdoor pools and 33 spray parks will open starting Saturday, May 27.
“We know how much our outdoor pools, spray parks, and public parks mean to all Washingtonians, especially during the summer season. That’s why DPR works tirelessly year-round to keep our parks and facilities beautiful, open, and filled with events and programs that engage residents of all ages,” said Mayor Bowser. “Our parks have something for everyone, and our #1 ranked park system is just another reason why we’re grateful to call DC home. We hope everyone will dive in, make a splash, and stay cool this summer with all the recreational resources and events we offer in the District.”
All of DPR’s 22 outdoor pools will open on Saturday, May 27 and will remain open on Sunday, May 28, and Monday, May 29, from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Pools will operate on a weekend-only schedule (Saturday and Sunday) through Sunday, June 25. Starting Monday, June 26, all outdoor pools will operate on individual summer schedules, six days a week. For more information on outdoor pools, visit dpr.dc.gov/outdoorpools.
DPR opened 16 spray parks earlier this month, and the remaining 17 spray parks will open Saturday, May 27, and will operate daily from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. throughout the summer. As part of Mayor Bowser’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget, DPR will make $5 million in improvements to older splash pads across the District. For more information on spray parks, visit dpr.dc.gov/sprayparks.
“The opening of outdoor pools and spray parks symbolizes the start of summer in DC and the start of DPR’s busy season,” said Interim Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation Thennie Freeman. “As the place ‘where fun happens,’ we are excited that residents can enjoy our pools and spray parks and create family memories that will last a lifetime.”
The event also celebrated that Washington, DC has once again been named the #1 park system in the United States for the third consecutive year by the Trust for Public Land. Twenty-four percent of the land in the District of Columbia is reserved for parks, and DC scores high on park equity metrics with every household in the District within a mile of a recreation center.
During the event, DPR also highlighted the Mayor’s historic $17 million investment in Rec for ALL. Rec for ALL is Mayor Bowser’s initiative to increase and expand DPR’s programming while responding to the District's growing recreation needs. The initiative includes more traditional summer camp slots, expanded hours for recreation centers, community grants for recreation, new programs like kayaking, gymnastics, eSports, and over 1,000 more free slots for Camp Riverview residential camp.
For more ways to engage in summer activities, Mayor Bowser and DPR are inviting residents to celebrate Juneteenth in the District with FITDC’s first-ever Health and Wellness Fair, in partnership with AETNA, that will be held on Monday, June 19 at 9:00 a.m. at Franklin Park. Like all FITDC events, the Juneteenth Health and Wellness Fair is free to attend. Residents from across the District can enjoy an active morning of fitness programming with locally renowned FITDC instructors leading yoga and cardio dance sessions, as well as a health-conscious outdoor festival featuring a live DJ, food trucks, mini massages, group meditation sessions, astrology classes, nutrition sessions, aura photography, and a variety of vendors representing black-owned businesses. To register for FITDC’s Juneteenth Health and Wellness Fair, visit HERE. To learn more about FITDC, visit fitdc.com.