The Blue Skye Construction team was proud to be a part of transforming the old community center in DC’s Ward 5—a one-story building constructed in 1947—intro a sprawling 16,000 square-foot multi-story community center.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser cut the ribbon on the Edgewood Recreation Center, which was a $21 million investment and broke ground in January 2018. Located at 301 Franklin Street in NE, this community center was completed in December 2019 and is the only Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) center with a garden on the roof to grow produce.
Inside the newly constructed space, there’s a 2,500 square-foot fitness center for people of all ages and abilities, a kitchen designed to teach culinary classes (and cook with veggies from the rooftop garden!), a tech lounge, basketball court, and multi-purpose rooms, including classrooms, a reading room, and meeting rooms.
Outside, there’s an amphitheater, a splash pad with a waterfall, playground, tennis and basketball courts, walking trails, picnic and grill areas, and a baseball and softball field. The facility also incorporated more than 100 new trees in its design, along with recycled building materials, to have a more eco-friendly impact. There are also outdoor solar charging stations for technology and an on-site parking lot.
Not only does the building incorporate American Disability Association (ADA)-compliant routes for community members, but it also has a natural gas-powered generator, on which the facility can run indefinitely. This means the building can help support communities in the event that they lose power, and is the first DPR center of its kind with a natural gas generator.
“Growing up nearby, I used to spend a lot of time in the old Edgewood fieldhouse, including attending preschool there,” Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie says. “Now, I am so proud to celebrate the grand opening of this new, state-of-the-art Edgewood Recreation Center. This new facility is an investment in the Edgewood community and will provide people of all ages with a place to gather and engage in athletic, fitness, social, and cultural activities.”
The facility is also Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certified, which means the building meets sustainability standards across different categories, such as energy savings, water efficiency, reduced emissions, and indoor environmental quality. LEED Silver is one of the higher certifications LEED offers.
Edgewood Recreation Center also has a new security system to promote a safe environment in the community and monitor activities. “Seeing the smiles on the residents faces as we opened the building was more than worth all the hard work it took to get it done,” said Melissa Wyant on our team at Blue Skye Construction. Blue Skye Construction was proud to be a part of this project to support the Ward 5 community and to continue our work to empower DC neighborhoods!