Kingsman Field to Be Closed for One Year, for Renovations

Michael Herman, 1300 block of D Street NE, submitted the following update on Kingsman Field, which lies west of Kingsman Elementary School, to questions sent to him by Marc Borbely, 536 13th St. NE, along with the preliminary plans sketched out by city contractor The Temple Group in May.

Mr. Herman said he participates in the North Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association (NLPNA) but is not an official spokesperson for the group. He also said his understanding of the project is based on specifications shared in May, which are subject to change.

He also pointed out that the May plans include use of a plot owned but not used by Pepco, which the community had asked that Pepco donate for the field but which Pepco has not yet donated, as well as use of a alley property that he said City Council member Sharon Ambrose (Ward 6) was seeing through, but he said there has been a hold-up on that, as well.

Who came up with these plans?

The plans were drawn up based on an RFP [request for proposals] from the city for renovation of the field according to their specified amenities.

Was there any neighborhood involvement?

The North Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association has always been a steward of the field. Formerly, neighbors maintained it after the school was closed.

The field was used by Kingsman school when it was occupied. Up until the riots in the 60s, there was a Safeway there. It was never clear whether or not the school truly owned the property. When Kingsman was put on the block, the NLPNA worked to keep the field a public space for the community.

The current transformation was spearheaded by the soccer and baseball leagues that play there in the summer. Susanne Wells was one of the principal players in moving the project along.

This past April, fliers were distributed to all households surrounding the field announcing a meeting with the field design team, The Temple Group. Several neighbors attended that cold, rainy April morning, and some minor adjustments regarding the placement of temporary fencing, placement of the fountain, and configuration of the access gates were voiced and added to the plans.

Are these essentially the city's latest preliminary plans — pending acquisition of the two sites you mentioned?

These were put out on request from NLPNA. We also asked that the final plans be posted on-site so that neighbors can keep involved. This has not yet been done.

The plans should be considered preliminary, as they show both the alley plot and the Pepco plot incorporated into the design. The final design will be determined by funding and time, as well as the use or non-use of the two aforementioned plots of land.

The field will be completely fenced in during renovation (one year), and then the eastern end will be opened again with no fence. NLPNA has asked that access to the basketball court behind Kingsman not be impeded during this time, so that kids and adults can play there.

What agency in the city is doing the planning, and why?

When the field was formally disconnected from the Kingsman School property, care and maintenance, and I suppose actual ownership, was transferred to D.C. Parks and Recreation. This is the agency conducting the renovation.

What has Sharon Ambrose's involvement been?

Second-hand, I was told that Sharon Ambrose's office worked to have the square dead-end of the adjoining alley ceded to the field. That space is supposed to retain the mulberry tree that grows there to provide a shaded sitting area when sports games are held.

What's the timeline for reconstruction, and what are the next steps?

The field will be graded flat for soccer. The baseball diamonds will stay and be spruced up, with new seating for the players. The trees planted under the guidance of NLPNA will remain around the perimeter of the field. The mulberry in the northeast quadrant against the Kingsman School land will also stay, to provide shade for spectators. The three maple trees by the Pepco property will also be retained, again for shade.

Since the soccer league plays on two small fields, they will use mobile goals; there will be no fixed goals. Pop-up irrigation sprinklers will be installed, as well as a water fountain. The field will be covered with sod, which should sit for one year before the field is made accessible to the neighborhood.

The edge of the field along the alleys of 13th Street and E Street will be cleaned of weeds and debris. There should be room for plants to be added, but it is unclear whether the city will do this, or whether neighbors will contribute more attractive landscaping than what is currently growing there.

When the work is done, the fence along the eastern edge will be removed.

Anything else folks should know?

The field has long been a casual place for children to play, for joggers to run and exercise, and for dogs to exercise.

Up until now, most sports teams and most dog owners have been very diligent in keeping the field clean.

In a year, the field will be renovated, and Kingsman School will be open. It is hoped that the field will get a lot of use from the neighborhood and the school, and a lot of respect to keep it clean, safe and inviting for everyone in the neighborhood. §