The Department of Parks and Recreation Field Priority Access Amendment Act of 2025 aims to enhance access to outdoor athletic fields for youth sports leagues in the District of Columbia. The bill establishes a program that allows certified community-based youth sports organizations to have priority access to both Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) fields during peak times for practices and games. To qualify for this priority access, organizations must be non-profits that serve youth, do not restrict participation based on ability, and have provisions for low-income families. The bill also mandates that these organizations maintain the fields' safety and cleanliness.
Additionally, the legislation amends existing laws to create a new permit program for these certified organizations, ensuring they can access fields without incurring significant fees. It reorders the priority for field use, placing certified community-based youth sports organizations higher on the list, and specifies that DCPS cannot charge custodial or security fees for field use. The bill also includes provisions for the suspension or revocation of certification for organizations that fail to meet certain requirements, ensuring accountability and proper field management.