The District’s Office of Planning is inviting residents to step onto the grounds of the former RFK Stadium this April to help shape the future of one of Washington, D.C.’s most significant pieces of real estate. Through a series of community site walks, city planners aim to gather direct input on the redevelopment of the RFK Campus, a process that will culminate in a comprehensive “Master Plan” for the area.
These RFK Campus redevelopment community site walks are designed to move the planning process out of government conference rooms and into the physical space being discussed. By walking the land, residents can better visualize the potential for mixed-leverage development and provide real-time feedback on how the site should integrate with the surrounding neighborhoods.
The Office of Planning is utilizing these tours to guide the transformation of the campus into a vibrant, mixed-use area. According to the agency, the Master Plan process focuses on shaping design, space, and connectivity through a collaborative effort involving both community members and various agency partners.
The Vision for a Mixed-Use Campus
At its core, the redevelopment project seeks to transition the RFK site from a primarily sports-and-entertainment venue into a diversified urban hub. The proposed Master Plan will outline specific opportunities for mixed-use development, which typically blends residential, commercial, and cultural uses to create a more sustainable and walkable environment.
Beyond the buildings, the plan will provide critical guidance on the creation of community amenities. This includes the development of new parks, the preservation or expansion of public spaces, and the improvement of overall connectivity to the rest of the city. For a site of this scale, the balance between private development and public utility is often the primary point of contention and discussion during community engagement phases.
From a public health perspective, the emphasis on “connectivity” and “public spaces” is particularly significant. Urban planning that prioritizes walkability and accessible green space is closely linked to improved community wellness, reducing the “urban heat island” effect and encouraging physical activity among residents.
Site Walk Schedule and Logistics
To ensure a broad range of perspectives, the Office of Planning has scheduled two separate walking tours. These events are open to all community members and will include ASL interpretation to ensure accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
Both events will begin at the Stadium-Armory Metro Station, specifically at the North Exit located at 192 19th St. SE. Participants are encouraged to register in advance to help organizers manage the group size and flow of the tour.
| Date | Time | Starting Location |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, April 18 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Stadium-Armory Metro (North Exit) |
| Thursday, April 23 | 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. | Stadium-Armory Metro (North Exit) |
Registration for the walks is being handled through a digital portal, and residents can find more detailed project information via the official ourrfk.dc.gov website.
Understanding the Master Plan Process
In the District of Columbia, a “Master Plan” serves as a long-term policy document that guides the growth and development of a specific area. Unlike a simple zoning change, a Master Plan looks at the “big picture,” considering how transportation, housing, environment, and economics intersect over several decades.
The current phase of the RFK project is heavily focused on community input. This represents a critical stage since the feedback gathered during these site walks will inform the design guidelines and the types of amenities the city prioritizes. When residents point out specific barriers to access or suggest needs for certain types of public facilities, those observations are integrated into the planning documents that developers must eventually follow.
The collaboration with agency partners ensures that the plan aligns with broader city goals, such as the DC Office of Planning’s overarching vision for sustainable urban growth and equitable development across all eight wards.
What to Expect During the Tours
Participants in the site walks can expect to move through various sections of the campus, discussing the current state of the infrastructure and the possibilities for its reuse or removal. Planners will likely highlight areas earmarked for potential parks or residential clusters, inviting residents to question the scale and placement of these elements.
The goal is to move beyond theoretical maps and engage with the actual topography and atmosphere of the campus. This approach helps prevent the “top-down” planning mistakes of the past, where large-scale developments were implemented without a full understanding of how the local community actually uses the surrounding streets and spaces.
For those unable to attend the physical walks, the city continues to maintain digital channels for feedback, though the site walks offer a unique opportunity for face-to-face dialogue with the architects and planners leading the project.
The next confirmed step in the process involves the synthesis of this community feedback into the draft Master Plan, which will eventually be presented for further public review and official agency approval. Residents are encouraged to monitor the project website for the release of the draft documents and subsequent public hearing dates.
We invite you to share your thoughts on the RFK redevelopment in the comments below or share this article with neighbors who may wish to attend the April walks.
