An idea that began with a group of parents looking for a place for their kids to play will become a reality.

"Starting this fall (if the permitting process goes smoothly), parking lots north of RFK Stadium are scheduled to be converted to playing fields," reports Bob Coomber.
The story of how the project came to be is remarkable, to say the least. Parents looking for new places for their kids to play soccer came up with an idea to turn the parking lots into soccer fields. "The group of parents decided to call their idea the Capitol Riverside Youth Sports Park, or 'CRYSP,'" according to Coomber. The CRYSP parents got the neighborhood behind it, then their local councilmembers, and then Events DC, the entity that owns the land.
Eventually, the quality of the proposal won out. "The stadium and CRYSP could cohabitate the 190 acres of the RFK site. The city could save money on impervious surface fees by introducing acres of pervious playing fields instead of impervious pavement. Plus, the area is in a floodplain, which means that habitable structures aren’t really an option," according to Coomber.
The designs for the final product have changed some; an international architect eventually joined the team. But, the first item on the list for the future of the site remains playing fields.
FULL STORY: NE DC is turning vacant parking lots into playing fields, thanks to these parents

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico
An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes
Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels
Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions