Nearly 950 young football players are suiting up across 42 D.C. teams this fall, with 121 coaches running the city's recreation league season.
Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Director Thennie Freeman, a Ward 7 resident, detailed the fall lineup in The Washington Informer on Monday, Sept. 21. Citywide football games run on Saturdays, and the agency's tennis, hockey and skating programs are expanding alongside them.
"You don't have to be a star to be in our show," Freeman wrote.
At the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, a partnership with DC Public Schools is introducing about 525 fourth-graders from 21 schools to tennis this month. DPR also runs Tiny Tots tennis for its youngest players and tournaments for experienced competitors.
Fort Dupont Ice Arena drives winter expansion
DPR's ice programs are growing fast. At Fort Dupont Ice Arena in Ward 7, the agency is launching affordable hockey programs for children as young as 7. A DC Public Schools partnership will bring Learn to Skate programming to as many as 3,500 fifth-graders this winter.
The arena reopened in December 2025 after a $39 million renovation that added an NHL-size ice surface, modernized locker rooms, a concession area and a new skate rental area. At the reopening, the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation and the Washington Capitals donated 314 pairs of hockey and figure skates. DPR also launched grants of up to $235,000 per organization for learn-to-skate, figure skating, hockey skills and competitive youth hockey programs at the facility.
Fort Dupont is home to the Fort Dupont Cannons, the oldest Black hockey program in North America. Neal Henderson, a former semi-professional hockey player and 2019 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, founded the Cannons in 1978. The arena has produced two Olympic speed-skating champions.
Girls' programs and growing demand
DPR said it is exploring an all-girls hockey program at Fort Dupont. Freeman described it as an aspiration, writing that "every girl deserves the chance to discover a sport, find her people and see where her talent can take her."
Demand is outpacing supply. DPR's gymnastics program grew so popular the agency switched to a lottery for spots. Its Citywide Cheer program fields competitive teams that travel nationally.
What's next
Winter program registration opens Wednesday, Nov. 4, according to DPR. A full list of programs is available at DPRprograms.com. Reduced-rate registration for qualifying D.C. residents requires pre-approval through dpr.dc.gov/reducedrates.
