West End Friends

Francis Field Renovations
Posted 06/20/11

Francis Field is an athletic field and park located in the West End, on 25th Street NW, between M and N Streets. Its improvement and renovation were undertaken by West End Friends—then known under its original name of Friends of Francis Field—in 2007.

The field is administered by the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation Department (DPR), and is partially owned by the National Park Service. Portions of the field make up a part of Rock Creek Park.

Through the zoning case for the conversion of former office buildings into the West End 25 residences, WEF obtained $350.000 for improvements to Francis Field and sidewalk areas of 25th Street NW. These improvements included an architectural plan, new trees, benches, trash receptacles, a drinking fountain, sidewalk improvements, and the removal of the existing chain-link fence.

In addition to the zoning case renovations, WEF worked with the National Park Service, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2A, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, and the office of District Council member Jack Evans, to have the 1960s-era floodlights removed. The stadium-style lights had been a nuisance to the neighbors for many years. The National Park Service agreed with WEF that the floodlights constituted not only a nuisance, but an inappropriate light pollutant for Rock Creek Park as well. The photo above shows the removal of the lights in June 2010, after other improvements had been installed..

While private funds were used for the renovation of the field, which was completed in 2010, WEF also worked with DPR to develop a master plan for the field, which was also paid for with the private funds. Oculus, a leading landscape architecture firm, developed the plan over a two-year period.

A small version of this master plan is shown at right. (Click to see the full-size master plan in PDF format.) This plan was submitted to Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2A in December 2008, and was approved by the National Park Service and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts in September 2009.

The plan includes additional improvements, and particularly the planting of numerous additional trees at District expense. DPR committed to this plan in 2009 in order to make portions of the field more useful to residents for passive recreation.

After this master plan was approved, DPR also accepted an application made by West End Dogs, a committee of WEF, for an official dog park at the northern section of the field. (See related article entitled Official Dog Park). That plan has not yet been implemented.

The negotiations for the Francis Field improvements and the dog park took place with DPR during the administration of Mayor Adrian Fenty, and under the four different DPR directors who served during that four-year administration.

WEF is continuing to work with DPR under the administration of Mayor Vincent Gray to assure completion of the master plan for the field, and the official dog park, which are now related.