Permits & Reservations

Permits Limited as part of COVID-19 Response

Permits for picnic and special events must be for groups of 50 persons or fewer. No permits for organized or league team sports are currently allowed.

 

Picnic Reservations

Reservations for Fort Dupont Park may be made online at www.recreation.gov or by phone at 1-877-444-6777 (10:00 am - 10:00 pm ET). The TDD line for hearing imparied visitors is 1-877-833-6777.

The three picnic areas at Fort Dupont that can be reserved are: Picnic area A at Randle Circle, Picnic area B at Randle Circle, and the Historic Earthwork (Lanham Estates) picnic area on Alabama Avenue.

Each of the three areas can be reserved from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The cost for each time period is $65. If you are interested in using the picnic area for the full day, the cost is $130 and you must reserve both the morning and afternoon time period.

The facilities at Randle Circle A have enough space to accommodate 75 people, Randle Circle B can accommodate 50 people. These areas have picnic tables and grills, there are restrooms and a playground nearby. There is no electricity at these locations.

At the Historic Earthwork (Lanham Estates) there is a small shelter, picnic tables, a grill, playground and restrooms. This location can accommodate up to 75 and has no electricity.

Please read the Picnic Regulations before booking.

 

Picnic Rules and Regulations

• All park visitors are responsible for complying with park regulations and public law.
• The applicant is responsible for the conduct of their group and is liable for damages to government property.
• Fort Dupont is an alcohol free park. Alcoholic beverages of all types are prohibited in the park.
• DJs are not allowed in the park.

• You are responsible for cleaning up after your event. Please bring extra trash bags to the picnic gathering. Place bags of trash in the trash containers or beside the containers if the containers are full. Please recycle when possible.
• Amusements such as slides, space walks, pony rides, bouncy castles and other activities that require a structure or use of animals will not be allowed in the park. Be sure to check with the park before arranging for any type of amusement service.
• All fires must be in charcoal grills. Fires are to be extinguished before leaving the picnic area.
• Portable, self-standing charcoal grills may be brought into the park and used in the picnic area.
• Propane and tabletop grills are not allowed.
• Balloons are prohibited in Fort Dupont Park.
• Electric generators and amplified sound systems prohibited in the picnic area.
• Tables and benches are not to be moved from one picnic site to another.
• Solicitation, collection of money and collection of personal information is prohibited on National Park Service property.
• Dogs and other pets must be on a leash at all times. Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets. Pets off leash may result in a fine.
• Vehicles must stay on established roads and park only in marked spaces within designated areas.
• Vehicle parking on the grass is not allowed and the reservation holder may be charged the cost of repairing any damage to lawn areas.
• Permittee may NOT drive on the grass to unload/load.
• Do not attach ribbons, posters, balloons or directional signs to any object within the park.
• Your picnic site is subject to inspection by a park ranger and/or US Park Police before. during and after your gathering. The permit holder is expected to leave the site in clean condition. If not left in satisfactory condition, the National Park Service may recover the cost of cleaning the picnic area from the permit holder.
• The reservation holder is responsible for any damage to National Park Service property that occurs at the picnic gathering.
• Obey all safety regulations and posted signs in Fort Dupont Park.

Park Safety

• Bees and other stinging insects are most active from July through October. Cover all food, including drinks. Avoid wearing cologne or perfume or using scented lotions or shampoos. It is recommended that you wear neutral‐colored clothing.
• Supervise children using playground equipment.
• Report vandalism, damaged equipment or safety concerns to the Park Superintendent’s office at [phone] weekdays 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. In an emergency, contact U.S. Park Police at (202) 610‐7500.

Bills for Damage

The permit holder is responsible for any damages to government property or for any costs incurred by the National Park Service or U.S. Park Police resulting from the permit holder’s event. The National Park Service will issue a Bill of Collection for costs incurred due to vandalism, negligence or other actions by a permitted group or individuals in the group.

 

Special Park Use Permits

A special use permit is required for activities that provide a benefit to an individual, group, or organization rather than the public at large. These activities require some degree of management from the National Park Service if there is the potential for interference with visitor use, congestion of a highly visited area, or possible impact on park resources. Special Use Permits are required for organized group activities and special events.

What events might need a Special Use Permit? Any presentation, program or display which is recreational, entertaining or celebratory in nature will need a Special Use Permit. Any sports activities including organized runs and walks will need a Special Use Permit. If you are planning a demonstration you will need a Special Use Permit

What do I need to do to have a special event in Fort Dupont Park?
Apply for a permit via the permits office at the National Mall and Memorial Parks. To speak to a specialist, call [phone].

How long will it take for my application to be processed?

Please do not wait until the last minute to apply for your permit. The amount of time needed to process each application can range from a 5 business days to a 4 weeks. Please be as detailed as possible on the permit application to speed the process along. Some events will require logistical planning meetings before the permit can be approved. In these cases, our office will contact the applicant to set up the meeting(s).

The use of Fort Dupont Park for any permitted activity is conditional and any violation of National Park Service regulations may result in the immediate expulsion from the park. The complete list of park regulations can be found in Code of Federal Regulations (CFR 36).