Park Concessions Amendment Act of 2025

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER BROOKE PINTO
THE JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING
1350 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 106
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20004

November 14, 2025

Nyasha Howard, Secretary
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20004

Dear Secretary Howard,

Today I am introducing the “ Park Concessions Amendment Act of 2025.” This bill marks the
creation of a targeted initiative aimed at revitalizing underutilized recreation centers and parks
across the District. This legislation establishes a seasonal grant program , administered by the
Department of Parks and Recreation (“DPR”), to support local food and drink vendors in operating
at recreation sites during peak months. Through this bill, DPR would provide approved vendors a
grant between $8,000 to $12,000 to operate and sell food and beverages between April 1st and
October 31st at recreation centers, parks, and other DPR facilities in all eight wards.

By incentivizing vendor presence, this program would create more vibrant and welcoming public
spaces that attract residents and foster greater community connections. Many recreation centers
and adjacent parks across the District remain underused,1 despite their potential to serve as hubs
for neighborhood and community activity. Barriers such as limited on-site amenities and lack of
consistent foot traffic often discourage community members from making full use of these spaces.2
By activating these areas with food and drink options, the District can pro mote healthier, more
engaged neighborhoods, while also creating economic opportunities for small vendors and
potentially provide apprenticeship and paid employment opportunities in the hospitality industry,
especially for immigrants, veterans, disconnected youth, people of color, and returning citizens.

Recreational centers and parks function as the heart of community life in residential spaces. They
provide a space where residents can come together, participate in activities, and improve their
overall health and well -being. By investing in local vendors, this legislation would ensure that
District parks and recreation centers are utilized to their full potential, increasing foot traffic while
maintaining the cleanliness our public spaces.

Should you have any questions about this legislation, please contact my Legislative Counsel, Isaiah
Boyd, at iboyd@dccouncil.gov.

1 DPR, District of Columbia Parks + Recreation Master Plan, Vision + Implementation Framework, (January
2015), at 18, 88, available here; DowntownDC, DowntownDC Parks Master Plan: A Community-Led Vision for
Parks & Open Spaces in Downtown DC, (March 2023) available here.
2 George Washington Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention & Wellness, Neighborhood Park
Service: Strategies to Create an Equitable and Activated Park System for the District of Columbia, (May 8, 2023),
available here.

Sincerely,

Brooke Pinto
Councilmember, Ward 2
Chairwoman, Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety
Council of the District of Columbia

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Councilmember Brooke Pinto 4
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A BILL 8
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 12
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To amend the Recreation Act of 1994 to direct the Department of Parks and Recreation to issue annual 18
grants to vendors to provide concessions at Department recreation centers on a seasonal basis. 19
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may 21
be cited as the “Park Concessions Amendment Act of 2025”. 22
Sec. 2. Section 3 of the Recreation Act of 1994, effective March 23, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-246; 23
D.C. Official Code § 10-302), is amended by adding a new subsection (g) to read as follows: 24
“(g)(1) Beginning in Fiscal Year 2026, and on an annual basis thereafter, in accordance with the 25
Grant Administration Act of 2013, effective December 24, 2013 (D.C. Law 20-61; D.C. Official Code § 26
1-328.11 et seq.), the Department shall issue at least 8 grants, of value greater than $8,000 but less than 27
$12,000 each, to individual vendors to provide beverages or light fare at Department facilities, including 28
recreation centers and parks, on a seasonal basis. The grantees shall demonstrate previous experience in 29
providing similar food and beverage services. 30
“(2) A vendor receiving a grant under this subsection shall: 31
“(A) Obtain the required permits to operate and sell food and beverages at 32
Department parks and facilities; 33

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“(B) Operate from April 1st to October 31st during the facility hours set by the 34
Department, for a minimum of 50% of the facility hours set by the Department for that facility; 35
“(C) Accept payment via cash, credit, and debit transactions; 36
“(D) Not sell alcoholic beverages or cannabis products; 37
“(E) Continually ensure that the physical space where vending service is 38
provided and the immediate surroundings are clean and neat; 39
“(F) Handle all trash in a safe and controlled manner to avoid spills and leaking 40
containers; and 41
“(G) Partner with the Department to ensure that their vending services are a true 42
complement to park services and do not hinder park visitors from accessing any Department equipment or 43
amenities. 44
“(3) The Department shall provide to grantees: 45
“(A) Access to a secure, moderate storage space on site; 46
“(B) Access to trash containers used by the Department on site; and 47
“(C) First priority in re-applying for the seasonal grant in subsequent years. 48
“(4) The Department shall: 49
“(A) Select at least one Department recreation center per ward at which the 50
vendors issued grants will operate; and 51
“(B) Work in consultation with ward councilmembers when selecting the 52
Department recreation center in their ward.”. 53
Sec. 3. Applicability. 54
(a) This act shall apply upon the date of inclusion of its fiscal effect in an approved budget and 55
financial plan. 56
(b) The Chief Financial Officer shall certify the date of the inclusion of the fiscal effect in an 57
approved budget and financial plan and provide notice to the Budget Director of the Council of the 58
certification. 59

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(c)(1) The Budget Director shall cause the notice of the certification to be published in the 60
District of Columbia Register. 61
(2) The date of publication of the notice of the certification shall not affect the 62
applicability of this act. 63
Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement. 64
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact 65
statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 66
2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 67
Sec. 5. Effective date. 68
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, 69
action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 70
602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. 71
Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)). 72