During Black History Month, Mayor Bowser Honors Legacy of Frederick Douglass at Groundbreaking of Douglass Community Center in Ward 8

(Washington, DC) - Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser joined the Department of General Services (DGS), the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), and Ward 8 residents to break ground on the new Douglass Community Center, marking the latest milestone in an 11-year commitment to delivering modern, world-class recreation facilities in all eight wards.

"We are in the Great Ward 8, honoring our history and celebrating our future," said Mayor Bowser. "Today, we're breaking ground on a new community center. In less than two weeks, we'll be back to cut the ribbon at the new Anacostia Recreation Center at Ketcham. We have several more ribbons to cut this summer in Ward 8. So, one way we're running through the tape in 2026 is by ensuring Ward 8 residents have safe, modern spaces to gather, stay active, and thrive."

The $25 million project will replace the existing facility, originally built in 1969, with a new 13,550-square-foot, one-story, energy-efficient community center and upgraded outdoor amenities across six acres. The modernized campus will include multipurpose rooms, a fitness center, media center, commercial kitchen, playgrounds, courts, a community garden, and a pool and splash pad designed to serve families, seniors, and young people year-round.

"This design-build project allows the District to efficiently deliver a modern facility that replaces aging infrastructure and meets today's standards," said DGS Director Delano Hunter. "DGS is proud to manage a project that will serve Ward 8 residents for generations to come."

The project includes 43% participation by Certified Business Enterprises, representing more than $8 million in contracts, and is subject to the District's First Source law to ensure District residents benefit from construction jobs and workforce opportunities.

Held during Black History Month, the groundbreaking also celebrates the legacy of Frederick Douglass, who lived at Cedar Hill in Anacostia from 1877 until his death in 1895. His residence is preserved today as the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site and stands as a symbol of Ward 8's enduring connection to his legacy.

The modernized community center joins other transformational projects that honor Douglass's legacy. In 2021, the District opened the new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, a $440 million infrastructure project that replaced the original bridge. In 2025, the District also delivered Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health in Ward 8, the first new full-service hospital to open in DC in more than 25 years, fulfilling a commitment to ensure residents have access to high-quality hospital care close to home.

Since 2015, the Bowser Administration has invested more than $600 million in recreation center projects across the city, with over $100 million dedicated to Ward 8 recreation centers alone. These investments have modernized, renovated, and expanded facilities such as the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center (2022), Barry Farm Recreation Center (2019), Anacostia Recreation Center (2019), Ferebee Hope Recreation Center (2021), and Bald Eagle Recreation Center (2017). Projects currently underway or opening soon in Ward 8 include the Anacostia Recreation Center at Ketcham, with a ribbon-cutting scheduled for next Saturday; the Fort Greble Recreation Center, Ferebee Hope Boxing Annex, and the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center expansion, all opening this summer; and the Congress Heights Recreation Center, expected in Spring 2027.

"This is more than a building but a safe, welcoming space for Ward 8 families," said DPR Director Thennie Freeman. "The new Douglass Community Center and aquatic facility, complete with an outdoor pool, will be a place where young people can grow, seniors can gather, and neighbors can truly connect. At DPR, we build community and we can't wait to welcome everyone home."

The Douglass Community Center is part of a broader set of investments in Ward 8 that reflect the administration's long-term commitment to economic growth and quality of life. Since 2015, the District has invested more than $16.5 million in local businesses in Anacostia through programs including the Food Access Fund, Nourish DC, Great Streets, Neighborhood Prosperity Fund, Commercial Property Acquisition Fund, and Small and Medium Business Growth Fund. These programs support local entrepreneurs and strengthen the neighborhood's economic foundation.

Under Mayor Bowser's leadership, DC has also transformed housing opportunities across the city. In Ward 8, $381.2 million in Housing Production Trust Fund financing has supported 35 projects, including key multifamily developments like Hope View Apartments, Maple View Flats, The Clara, and The Bridge, as well as affordable single-family homes and homeownership opportunities like the Ana Townhomes.

Together, these investments demonstrate a comprehensive approach to strengthening neighborhoods, expanding opportunity, and ensuring that Ward 8 residents have access to safe and vibrant communities.

Construction on the Douglass Community Center is expected to be completed in Winter 2027. For more information on this project, visit dgs.dc.gov.

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