News Release

National Park Service Statement on Encampments at Burke Park and Samuel Gompers Memorial Park

Date: August 11, 2021
Contact: Mike Litterst, 202-306-4166

The National Park Service (NPS) will close Burke Park and Samuel Gompers Memorial Park (Massachusetts Avenue NW at 11th Street NW) on or about August 18 to remove homeless encampments and provide needed maintenance to the parks. The NPS has received numerous reports of drug activity, violence and unsanitary conditions in these parks, which are located near Thompson Elementary School. The closure and restoration will allow the NPS to address public health and safety issues before the start of the school year. The closures will remain in effect into the fall, while rehabilitation measures are being completed. The work is being coordinated with the DC Department of Human Services (DCDHS), which will provide increased services to those in the encampments before the closure.

While camping in national parks in Washington, DC is prohibited, the NPS has followed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 recommendations and the District of Columbia’s practice of allowing encampments to remain on park land during the pandemic. The NPS is abiding by this recommendation whenever possible; however, it’s our responsibility to consider the overall health and safety of all park users and neighbors and the condition of park resources.

The NPS will remove encampments when it determines that a site poses a significant, continuing, security, health or safety risk. The NPS evaluates each park individually and makes operational decisions based on what we find. Prior to taking any action that would affect people living in encampments we will give individuals ample notice, except in cases of immediately hazardous conditions. The NPS is committed to taking a social services-first approach and will continue to work closely with DCDHS and community partners to connect people living in encampments with resources and housing.