New Reservation Procedures Announced for West Potomac Park Volleyball Courts

Date: June 10, 2015
Contact: Mike Litterst, 202-245-4676

Washington –Responding to nearly 500 comments about its new reservation system for the West Potomac volleyball courts, the National Park Service today announced updates designed to improve the process and make the distribution of court time more equitable. The changes include:

• Reservations can be made no more than seven days in advance of play.

• Reservations are limited to no more than four courts per individual per day. 

• Four of the 11 courts (court numbers 7-10) will not be available to reserve in advance and will be held at all times for open play as "challenge courts." The challenge courts are open to all on a first come, first serve basis and may not be saved, used for warm up or practicing. 

"These changes come after considerable input from and dialogue with the volleyball community during the civic engagement process," said National Mall and Memorial Parks Acting Superintendent Karen Cucurullo. "We are confident these adjustments to the reservation procedures will provide for more equitable use of the court space for league and open play alike." 

Reservations under the new system can be made at recreation.gov starting on Monday, July 6 at 12 a.m. National Park Service officials will be available at the courts on Tuesday, June 23 from 4-6 p.m. to discuss the new procedures and answer any questions. 

About the West Potomac Park Volley Ball Courts 

A forty-year agreement under which the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation managed volleyball courts in the National Park Service's West Potomac Park came to an end in 2014. In taking over the administration and permitting of the courts, the National Park Service is implementing some changes to the system, including raising the permit fee to $30 for a two-hour period, and implementing an online reservation system. A total of 489 comments were received during a public comment period about these changes;a summary of those comments is available online. 

The new fees, determined through a comparability study of similar court fees in a half-dozen area localities, will be used to maintain the courts to a high standard, including nets, proper lines, sufficient sand and proper drainage;and to defray the cost of managing the reservation system. The National Park Service has completed initial maintenance of the courts;major renovation work will take place from November through March. 

NPS