The DC Department of General Services recently made waves on social media with the announcement of the $49 million Fort Lincoln Campus Improvement Project in Ward 5. The project touts a dual-purpose facility that merges recreation with early childhood education. According to the DC Department of General Services, the 44,000-square-foot development will house a sophisticated recreation center alongside a dedicated early childhood education center, fulfilling a promise made by Mayor Muriel Bowser in 2019.

The project's expansive scope includes an early childhood education center, a full gymnasium with an elevated walking/running track, racquetball courts, a fitness center, a demonstration kitchen, a senior lounge, and multipurpose rooms. After all, this inclusion will be balanced with arts & crafts rooms, a tech/teen lounge, and additional parking spaces, according to the Department of General Services. The 20-acre Fort Lincoln Park is also set for upgrades, featuring a new playground, repairs to a damaged brick and picnic pavilion, and new play elements in the Old Fort Play Area, complete with ADA access and revamped outdoor tennis courts.

"Today marks a historic moment for our community, as we break ground on a long-awaited project," DGS Director Delano Hunter stated, as per the DC Department of General Services. The team leading this endeavor includes the Capital Construction Services Project Team and Project Manager Michael Etherton, alongside the DC Department of Parks and Recreation Team with Brent Sisco at the helm; the construction is in partnership with MCN Build + STUDIOS Architecture.