Fort Stevens Recreation Community Project proposal

DCI is exploring a partnership with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to enhance the existing facilities at Fort Stevens Recreation Center. This includes revitalizing the current athletic field into a regulation-sized synthetic turf field and building a shared indoor multipurpose recreation space.

As part of this proposal, the indoor space would be designed to support a range of school and community uses. During the school day and after school, it could be used for sports teams, physical education, and after-school programs. It would also provide space for larger activities such as school gatherings, performances, and community meetings.

The proposal also includes lower-level support spaces, such as parking, secure storage for sports equipment, small office areas, and space for maintaining the facility and grounds.

Overall, the goal is to improve a space that is already used by both students and the community, while expanding opportunities for athletics, arts, and recreation.

Our public school students – 1,000+ who are Ward 4 and 5 residents – rely heavily on Fort Stevens as their primary athletic field space because our campus has limited athletic facilities. As a long-time user of the field, DCI is exploring an opportunity to invest in improvements that would benefit both our students and the broader Ward 4 community.

No. The project does not request capital funding from the District government. DCI would privately fund the proposed improvements through its capital budget and private fundraising. 

Yes. Fort Stevens would remain a DPR site open to the public. The goal is to improve the space while ensuring it continues to serve both community members and students.

As part of this proposal, DCI is requesting access to the space primarily during after-school hours, while keeping it available for community use at other times.

Proposed DCI Use:

• Weekdays, 3:00–7:00 p.m.: After-school programs, practices, and games

• Occasional daytime use (9:00 AM–3:00 PM): PE and school activities (not daily)

• Periodic events: Performances, games, and school events

• Late summer: Tryouts and preseason practices

Proposed Community Access:

• Available evenings after 7:00 p.m., weekends, and non-school days

• Final scheduling would be coordinated with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to ensure fair, shared access

This proposal reflects how DCI currently uses the Fort Stevens field and is intended to balance student needs with community access.

The proposal focuses on revitalizing the existing athletic field and exploring the possibility of building a shared indoor multipurpose recreation facility that could support athletics, arts programming, and community gatherings.

The proposal includes converting the grass field to a regulation-size synthetic turf field. We are also proposing to add dedicated bleachers and new field lighting to allow for year-round usage of the field. Community input will be an important part of informing the direction of this design, particularly around field lighting.

These improvements would enhance durability and safety for athletic programming an additional three months out of the year for students and residents. Any field improvements would follow DPR and District environmental requirements.

Several amenities would remain unchanged, including the playground, splash pad, tennis and basketball courts, and the DPR-managed recreation center building, including current programming.

As part of this proposal, a new indoor multipurpose facility is being explored rather than expanding the existing recreation center. The proposed facility would be approximately 83,000 square feet in total, including about 28,000 square feet of indoor space and 55,000 square feet for parking and storage.

We recognize that the trees and green space at Fort Stevens are important. As an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, sustainability is central to our mission, and any proposal would prioritize responsible site design that minimizes environmental impacts and follows all DPR and city environmental requirements, including LEED certification. DCI is also working with a professional arborist to help guide responsible planning.

The project is currently in its early exploration and community input phase. If the proposal is approved in spring 2026, the projected timeline could include design and permitting later in 2026, construction beginning in 2027, and potential completion in 2028.

DCI has been working for several years to find ways to expand or improve its facilities to support its growing student body. During this time, the school explored several potential options across the city:

• Walter Reed campus (2021–2024): DCI engaged with the DC government about using space there, but the District chose to pursue non-educational uses for the site.

• U.S. State Department properties (2021–2025): DCI inquired about surplus federal properties, but those sites have been reserved for future embassy and mission use.

• Expanding the current campus (2022–2024): DCI explored growing its existing campus, but this is not possible due to the site’s historic designation.

Because these options were not feasible, DCI continues to have a need for nearby athletic and community space. Fort Stevens is one of the few proximate sites that could help meet this need. As one of its primary users, DCI is now exploring a potential shared-use approach in partnership with DPR and the community.

Community input is an important part of this process. You can take our short survey to share your feedback, sign up to receive updates, and learn about opportunities to stay involved as the proposal evolves.