An Important Message From Events DC President and CEO Greg O’Dell
Dear RFK Community Members:
Over the last several days, we have all either seen on television or personally witnessed the mass demonstrations across the country, which were initiated as the result of the tragic death of George Floyd in Minnesota.
The anguish felt by the family, loved ones and friends of Mr. Floyd is unimaginable, but the heartbreak has affected many of us from nation to nation. Events DC welcomes people of all hues, socioeconomic status and national origins to all our venues and believes that injustice and inequality of all forms is reprehensible. We must stand up for one another, commit to confronting unequal treatment and work toward healing. Our organization extends its condolences to Mr. Floyd’s family and hope his death may serve as a catalyst to initiate meaningful change.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 still remains in the backdrop of this tragedy and has truly presented hardship and challenging times in our world, country and city. This global pandemic has affected all of us – our families, our communities and our businesses. We want to thank you for your individual efforts and the care you have shown toward your neighbors and the greater DC community throughout this unprecedented time, as the city that we love, adjusts to a new normal. Together, we will continue to find solutions and overcome the challenges that we will face in the weeks ahead.
Through this newsletter, we want to send a heartfelt message to anyone whose family or friends has been impacted by COVID-19. We also wanted to provide some brief updates on our efforts at Events DC.
Currently, the event operations of our Events DC venues remain suspended given the direction of Mayor Muriel Bowser and public health officials – we continue to have critical staff supporting and maintaining our facilities as necessary. However, we are excited about Mayor Bowser’s phased re-opening that began May 29. Consistent with the ReOpen DC guidelines provided for Stage 1, we will be opening The Fields at RFK to allow open play with appropriate safety protocols beginning on June 10th. On Monday, June 8th, CRYSP (Event DC’s operator of The Fields) will issue a public notice outlining the guidelines and safety protocols for the Phase 1 reopening and use of The Fields. This information will be posted on The Fields website (rfkfields.com) and we will send out a separate advisory to the RFK community stakeholders. For additional information about CRYSP and The Fields at RFK, please visit cryspdc.org.
On April 9, our Board of Directors approved an $18 million hospitality and tourism relief package to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospitality and tourism industry is the backbone of our city’s economy and we are committed to providing support and aid to our local restaurant, hotel and destination partners in helping our city get back on its feet, when the time is ready. This relief package will provide direct support to restaurants, hotels and undocumented workers in Washington, DC, as well as destination marketing efforts.
Recently, Mayor Bowser announced the conversion of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center into a temporary alternate care site — with the sincere hope that it will not be needed. It has been built with the intent of supplementing the District’s hospital system when the existing hospital capacity has been exhausted. In coordination with Mayor Bowser’s office, the District’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) and the DC Department of Health, the Army Corps of Engineers was responsible for overseeing the construction of the temporary site, and MedStar Health is the medical provider, responsible for the operations of the facility. During these extraordinary times, we continue to recognize the critical role that we play in supporting the City by providing the Convention Center as a tool to serve and help our neighbors in need.
Lastly, we continue to work closely with our clients who have either canceled or rescheduled their events and meetings due to COVID-19 to help find alternate dates in the future.
While we may not be able to engage with you in a traditional manner, our team remains active and ready to answer any of your questions or concerns. Our goal is to remain connected to you – our valued friends, stakeholders and advocates.
Remember, in these tough times, we’re all in this together and we can all use our power to effect change. Please continue to take care of yourselves and your families.
Greg O’Dell
Let’s #PlayItSafe: The Fields at RFK Campus Reopening
We are excited to bring our neighbors back to play at the Fields at RFK Campus. The Fields will reopen, for public use, on Friday, June 12, 2020. New procedures and precautionary safeguards to reduce risk for all patrons will be implemented. These guidelines are aligned with the Mayor’s Reopening Order, Phase 1 Guidance for Parks and Open Spaces and CDC recommendations.
For up-to-date information on the reopening and new required health and safety guidelines, please visit https://fieldsrfk.wpengine.com/play-it-safe/ and follow Events DC’s social accounts: Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
For more information or if you have any questions, please email rfkoutreach@eventsdc.com.
#DCTogether: Support of Local Eateries
H Street and Barracks Row eateries have begun their Phase 1 reopening. This phased approach allows eateries to open safely to their patrons, adhering to new safety protocols. During Phase 1, each eatery will be required to implement new guidelines, requirements, and rigorous safeguards to reduce potential health risks, for all patrons.
Find more information on the reopening of H Street eateries HERE, and Barracks Row eateries HERE, with a glance at their outdoor dining, curbside and front door pick-up, or delivery options.
#DCTogether: Connecting Community Non-Profits to Community Grant Program Funding
We are excited to launch the FY21 Events DC Community Grant Program, which provides financial support to non-profit organizations dedicated to connecting with youth through sports, performing or cultural arts in the District of Columbia.
Realizing the critical importance of supporting local non-profits in the District, for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21), Events DC has increased funding amounts from $250,000 per year to $500,000. During two grant cycles, ($250,000 in the first cycle and $250,000 in the second cycle), Events DC will award one-year grants to qualified non-profit organizations that demonstrate need and meet certain eligibility requirements.
We are seeking applications from organizations that work to enhance and enrich the lives of DC youth through structured programs and activities. Given the impacts of COVID-19, Events DC will accept applications for funding to support operational relief efforts, new or existing programs, and/or programs that propose to engage youth in the areas of sports, cultural or performing arts through virtual programming.
Applications for the initial FY21 semi-annual grant cycle will be due no later than August 1, 2020. Applicants will be notified of their award status by October 15, 2020.
Information sessions on the grant program and how to apply will be held on June 23, July 7 and July 21 via Zoom webinar. For more information about the grant program, please visit http://www.eventsdc.com/AboutUs/Community.aspx. To RSVP to attend a Zoom webinar, please email communitygrants@eventsdc.com.
Did You Know?: DC Streetcar Arrives At The Fields at RFK Campus!
DC is proud to be connecting its neighborhoods by the DC Streetcar. Did you know that the Oklahoma Ave. and Benning Road Stop on the DC Streetcar is a short walk from The Fields at RFK Campus? With a commitment to safety, the DC Streetcar is one of the most efficient ways to access The Fields at RFK year-round.
The DC Streetcar connects Union Station to Oklahoma Avenue along H Street NE and Benning Road and provides direct access to some of the District’s most treasured neighborhoods and landmarks like RFK Campus, Capitol Hill, the DC Armory, and The Fields at RFK. The DC Streetcar runs approximately every 12 minutes, Monday through Thursday from 6:00 AM until midnight; Fridays until 2:00 AM; Saturdays from 8:00 AM – 2:00 AM and Sundays and holidays from 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM. You can follow the DC Streetcar to find out when the next streetcar will arrive at your stop.
Every stop along the corridor is just steps away from a variety of amenities including sporting goods stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, salons and much more. Whether you need to grab a bite, refresh on snacks for the team, or buy a pair of new cleats, the 2.4 mile DC Streetcar line conveniently connects to everything you might need for a day at The Fields at RFK. And, when hunger hits, the H Street NE Corridor is home to fantastic eateries with menus that range from local favorites to delicious international cuisines like Asian, Caribbean, Ethiopian, Indian, Mexican and South American. The restaurants in the corridor are among the best in the city and boast amazing amenities like big screen televisions to watch our hometown teams or outdoor patios to spend a moment catching up with friends and family during the warmer months.
Each DC Streetcar vehicle carries up to 160 passengers at a time, whether standing or sitting, and accommodates strollers, wheelchairs, and bikes. Small pets are also welcome if they are in a carrier. The DC Streetcar is a “modern streetcar” with air conditioning and low-floors that allow for faster and easier boarding.
For more information about the DC Streetcar, safety guidelines and schedule, please visit dcstreetcar.com, follow @DCStreetcar on Facebook and Twitter, or email ridewithus@dcstreetcar.com.
