Location, Location, Location
They say it’s everything in real estate, and nothing is more real than the real estate problems that continue to face the Potomac Wiffleball League since we were unceremoniously evicted from our birthplace along the Potomac River in early 2008.
For those of you new to the saga, a quick refresher.
From 2005 to 2007 the first five season of the PWL were played at Gravelly Point, the recreation area just north of National Airport. In fact, we were right in the landing pattern and planes would come right over our heads and some players even claimed the jet wash affected the ball. The first year at Gravelly we were totally cloak-and-dagger and operated without a permit. For the next four seasons though, we were legit. The National Park Service (NPS), specifically the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) park division, welcomed us to the banks of the river where we watched the planes and entertained the Duck Tourists as they exited the river. Then…things totally crashed and burned.
The NPS GWMP notified us that “athletic events” on the “athletic fields” at Gravelly Point would be limited to the hours of 6 AM to 9 AM on weekends. Not a type-o. The “athletic fields” could only be used for “athletics” during those three hours each morning. ( Don’t believe me? Read the letter here. ) Well…we fought this with an email and phone call campaign, but we failed. The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner even attended a meeting at the Turkey Run headquarters office of the NPS GWMP, in which an hour long powerpoint was presented showing the long term damage done to the trees and grass by athletic events. Conservation, after all, is the primary function of the NPS, we were told over and over.
What turned out to actually be the problem though, was parking. The lots at Gravelly were way too small, and people would always end up filling the lot, then parking on the grass. This problem wasn’t caused by us, with our small amount of cars. It was mostly people putting boats in the water, using the GWMP biking trail, watching the planes, or illegally flying kites. (Kites + Planes = News at 11.) The park police and park rangers were complaining that too many people were using the park on weekends, and they needed to limit it. The NPS plan for limiting traffic was to get rid the organized athletic events, despite that being an insignificant amount of traffic. (Wiffleball, an occasional rugby match, flag football one time.) However, those organized groups were the only ones that NPS actually had contact with that use the park. Everyone else is a picnicker on a nice afternoon getting out doors, or someone by themselves putting their boat in the water, all non-permit, average taxpaying US citizens and guests using a public park.
So, after two consecutive seasons of three fields and twelve teams, we reluctantly left Gravelly Point. By the time our appeal was lost to the NPS GWMP it was too late to get considered for a field from the DC Parks and Recreation (DCPR) department. Despite much of the land used by DCPR belonging to the NPS (various park divisions), the NPS has delegated all permit issues for their athletic fields in DC to DCPR. It appears to be a partnership that neither entity really likes (if you ask them about each other that is), and doesn’t work particularly well, but that’s what they do.
After striking out with DCPR that year, we went on an all out search for fields. We found a couple of places along the Rock Creek Park (RCP) that were technically picnic sites, but could be used for some mad wiffleball in a really scenic setting, with the creek standing in for the river we were used to seeing as our backdrop. The NPS RCP permit office for special events was contacted, and quickly informed the PWL of the protocol that all NPS sites in DC for athletic events were permitted by DCPR, and that we couldn’t use picnic areas for athletic events. (GWMP is technically not in DC, but VA, and that’s why they don’t follow this same protocol to permit their “athletic fields” at Gravelly Point.)
However, there was a bright spot. The Ranger in charge of permits, (everyone at NPS is either a Ranger or they aren’t worth talking to), noted that there were two fields in the RCP system that were not permitted by DCPR, and in fact were non-permit fields, that could be used on a first come, first serve basis. Ft. Bayard, on Fessenden St at the northwest border of DC with Maryland, and Ft. Reno, also on Fessenden, but next to Tenleytown. After checking out both locations, both of which had very rundown softball fields, the decision was made to move the PWL to Ft. Reno.
For 2008, we used right field of the softball field at Ft. Reno, with the watchtower of the fort replacing the Capitol and the river as our scenic location. Even when some local hooligans came to knock around a few balls or a group showed up to play soccer, we were able to comfortably share the space, and accommodate our two fields, and a diminished number of eight teams. In addition to losing teams, things started off badly at Ft. Reno. The 2008 Spring Season was delayed when NASA, from outer space, discovered high levels of arsenic in the field. It turned out there was no arsenic, or there was an even better cover-up, and the fields were re-opened after several weeks. However, just before the final week of the Summer 2008 season, fences went up all around Ft. Reno for the second time that year. This time, it wasn’t to keep us safe from arsenic, it was so that the DCPR could begin completely rebuilding the field to accommodate a top notch baseball field as well as full size soccer field, and two junior soccer fields.
Just to illustrate the spectacular working relationship between the NPS and DCPR, when the NPS RCP permits office was contacted about the construction when it first went up, they had no idea DCPR was moving forward with the project already. Since the fields have been finished, nearly eight months later than scheduled, DCPR has been fighting with NPS over a way to “secure” the fields to keep out riff raff like wiffleball players, but NPS won’t let them. DCPR also overstepped their agreement for the field construction by installing the professional foul poles against the wishes of NPS. The foul poles are spectacular, but NPS would like to have them removed.
To accommodate the construction, the PWL moved down the hill from where we were playing about 50 yards to the area around the stage used for summer concerts at the park. The ground wasn’t level, the temporary fencing made awkward dimensions for the fields, but it became our home for the next two seasons. In fact, there were some added benefits of the location. The stage is a nice area for people to watch games, and there is also electricity making it easier to score games and run the stats operations of the league.
We knew that eventually, even though it was originally supposed to be done in time for the Spring 2009 season, and wasn’t opened up until November of 2009, that the field construction would be done. Certainly the new playing field surface is not only level, but has quality playing turf and is an ideal location for wiffleball. While we knew it was probably not likely, the PWL hoped to have a fair shot at continuing to use Ft. Reno once it became a permitted area by DCPR.
After the conclusion of the Summer 2009 season, there was a several week delay before the playoffs started. These scheduling issues caused the World Series to be pushed into November, but also allowed DCPR to finish the fields and open them up prior to the playoffs. Since the temporary fencing installed by the DCPR contractors was an integral part of both regular season fields, and it was now gone, the league decided to use the recently constructed and opened outfield of the brand new baseball field for the Division Championship Series and the World Series. Some players complained about the postseason being on a different field than the regular season. However, the regular season field conditions couldn’t be re-created under either scenario and those players are generally crybabies anyway.
The five games played for the playoffs on the new field, despite our playing area being located on turf that was out of play for both the baseball field and the soccer field immediately came to the attention of the DCPR. They had taken down the construction fence, but they hadn’t officially opened up the fields yet, and those fields, from that point on, would be permit only. They were none too pleased the PWL had played five whole games on them, and wanted to let us know we weren’t allowed. “People are very picky about this field, they’re watching it”, a DCPR official told us.
DCPR officials contacted the Commissioner, who immediately apologized for this breach of etiquette, and began a conversation on the future use of the fields, and our desire to work within the DCPR system in the future now that our site, which we had used for two years, had just become a DCPR permitted area. DCPR officials even met the Commissioner at the field location in December to review our field setup, and go over possible logistics. While no promises were made, the PWL left this meeting feeling like DCPR was at least taking us seriously and into consideration. All we wanted now was a permit to play where we’ve been playing for two years.
My kingdom for a permit
In September, and again in January, the PWL applied for a permit for Ft. Reno; either the outfield area of the baseball field, or one of the two junior soccer fields. We did not get a permit issued originally at all, and after we followed up with DCPR, they immediately assigned us to the 10th and Franklin St Park, across from Noyes Recreation Center in NE. They also sent an invoice for our use of this prime piece of real estate totaling $3,412.50.
We gently asked if perhaps we could use the dead space between the outfield of Ft. Reno and the improved grass, out of play for both baseball and soccer, we were told no. When we asked if there might be another location closer to our original fields, or closer to a metro, we were told the only place that could accommodate us was the location we were originally assigned. Basically, you’re out of luck, give us a check for 3 grand, and play on a field with no parking, no metro access, and the only business within a 10 block radius is a two pump gas station.
Once again, we started exploring options, and even reached back out to our old, former friends at NPS GWMP, as well as NPS RCP. We are now three and half weeks out from Opening Day, and the Commissioner will be consulting with managers and players soon as we reach a final decision about the location for the Spring 2010 season.
Here are some of the options being discussed, and some that have already been ruled out.
Fields Available
- 10th St and Franklin St NE – Noyes Recreation Center – This is where DCPS put us in hopes that we’d get run over by a car, or lost forever. An open, relatively flat patch of grass. Not a park, not a playground, not a field. Just an open piece of land. A gas station near by might have an attendant, and might be open on Sundays.
- Ft. Bayard Park – similar to the old Ft. Reno, a softball field that wasn’t care for very much, but is level. There is a playground on the opposite side of the park, but no bathrooms. It’s also not on the metro line, and there are only houses around it, no businesses. It’s not available for permit, but we could use it as we originally did Ft. Reno, first come, first serve.
Maybe Available
- Gravelly Point Park – the NPS GWMP has scheduled a meeting this week for all prospective athletic permit holders for its facilities. The PWL will be in attendance, and if we were allowed to return to our original location, would certainly create a tough choice. The metro is a mile walk, and there aren’t any businesses close. But, it is a unique location and where the league got started.
- Ft. Reno Park – Stage Area – where we have been playing the last two seasons. Now that the temporary fences are gone, we could make the fields a little roomier. But, the ground is terribly unlevel, and sinkholes all around are just waiting to claim a broken ankle. This area is not available for permit for an “athletic event”, so we’ve have to go covert again. The free electricity is a major selling point though, and Ft. Reno really has become home.
- Some Guy’s Yard in College Park – we posted an ad looking for open real estate that people would be willing to rent to us. So far the only response has been a guy with a half acre lot in College Park. If it were just a little closer, we’d be all over it.
Not Available
- Ft. Reno Park – Baseball Field – forget trying to use the nice new fields, they’ve been taken by youth soccer and Pokémon leagues. We won’t be able to incorporate the real foul poles like we did in the playoffs, and the professional quality turf doesn’t exist on any of the other options. Assholes.
- Janney Elementary Field – the DC public schools have a separate facility rental process than DCPS and Janney, located across the street from Guapo’s near Ft. Reno would have kept us in the Tenleytown neighborhood. Their soccer field would have been a perfect fit for three fields, but a renovation and construction plan at the school mean the field will be unavailable for the next year.
- Harrison Playground – is a small softball field in the next block down from Ben’s Chili Bowl which could have replaced Steak and Egg as the PWL breakfast of champions spot. The area would have only allowed for two fields, and parking is non-existent. Though, it’s a block and half from the metro. DCPR says it’s not available, but we’re going to drive past it every Sunday during the season because we think they’re liars.
Thoughts…ideas…suggestions? Let us know.
Hardware Collector, Mar 17, 07:30 AM:
Ft. Reno stage area… free power is the shit!
AF, Mar 17, 12:01 PM:
I’m not to keen on Gravelly Point, too much wind(not ideal for wiffleball). Too much noise with the airplane and floods very easily from what I’ve heard. My vote is for the Ft. Reno stage area.
Jon Godfrey, Mar 17, 12:31 PM:
Back in the day I used to play wiffle at Angel Park in Alexandria. It’s just off Duke Street on West Taylor Run Parkway. There is a little league field there and a ton of flat, open grass next to it where you could easily make wiffle fields. Plenty of on street parking but it’s not very close to the Metro. Probably a 0.5 to 1 mile walk to King Street Metro, the closest stop. Give it a look!
Remember when..., Mar 18, 08:17 AM:
…the Washington Post did an article on the league? How covert could we have been at Ft. Reno stage area. Not ideal, but we’ve made it work in the past.
Also, there is an area near Sidwell called “Heart Recreation Center” according to googlemaps. I’ve played baseball there a few times on some of the back fields and nobody has given me problems. Might be worth investigating to see who owns the land.
whoops, Mar 18, 08:18 AM:
HEARST, not Heart.
Tony C, Mar 21, 10:17 AM:
Gravelly point. We can carpool.