The Department of Parks and Recreation's (DPR) Athletic Permits Office handles all aquatic permit applications aquatic centers and outdoor pools. The first step to reserving any of DPR’s aquatic facilities is to find a facility that meets your needs. DPR handles aquatics permits on a first-come, first-serve basis. Prospective permit holders must submit their Permit Application Form at least two weeks prior to the planned event. If the applicant receives a notice of availability or invoice in response, the applicant is required to submit payment for the event at least one week prior to the event. If the applicant fails to meet either requirement, DPR will charge permit holders a fee equal to 15% of the total cost of the permit in order to cover incidental costs associated with late permits. DPR reserves the right to cancel any permit for which it has not received payment after the one-week deadline.

• Complete a Permit Application Form requesting the facility.

Location

The Permit Office has moved to the first floor of the DPR Central Office located at 1250 U Street, NW.

Office Hours

In order to better serve you and more efficiently process permit requests, the permit office shall have the following hours:

• Office Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00am-5:00pm Closed Saturday and Sunday.
• Walk-Ins: Customers may drop off permit applications or submit payments any weekday between 9:00am and 5:00pm. For general concerns, questions, or comments, the office will provide walk-in hours from 9:00am and 5:00pm.
• Discussing a Permit/Application Request: Customers whom wish to discuss any permit issues (Approval, Denial, Pending Request,) or general questions concerning a permit can schedule a meeting or conference call (202) 671-0297 or email: DPRpermits@dc.gov.

Summer 2013 Aquatics Permitting Window
Monday, January 21 – Friday, February 1

The Aquatic Permit Office of the Department of Parks and Recreation will be accepting permit applications for the 2013 Summer season between Monday, January 21 and Friday, March 1, 2013.

Please note: There will not be any permits issued for the Deanwood Aquatic Center.

What is a group?

A group is defined as ten (10) or more people.

For safety reasons, we will limit groups that have a majority of children under the age of eight (8) years old, to 15 children plus chaperones/counselors. This will be 20 children and 5 adults to accompany the children in the water. (25 total in group)

We will limit groups that are majority children and youth over the age of nine (9) years old, to 25 plus children and youth chaperones/counselors. However they will have to remain with the guidelines as listed below (maintaining a 1:6 ratio). That being 25 children will need 5 active adults present.

Counselors must be age 14 and older.

Permitted Groups

1. Groups of ten or more MUST have a permit for admission to the pool.
2. Permitted groups, including camps and day cares, must follow the required chaperone to child ratios. Please consider these ratios in your program planning.
3. Because of the high demand for pool space, groups must limit their requests to visiting no more twice weekly.
   (For a large camp (50+) program, we will consider giving multiple time slots during a trip, however no more than 25 persons may be in a group at the same time (includes children and adults). Example: Joe Smiths’ Camp of 100 kids can potentially swim (given space) in this schedule. 1 groups of 25 persons in one hour, the next group of 25 in the next hour, etc.

Chaperone/Parent to Child Ratios

Children 8 and under, 1:2

• There must be one adult for every two children who are 8 years of age and under.
• Adults must be in swim attire.
• Children 8-years old and under must have a responsible person in the water with them and within arm’s reach at all times.

Children and Youth, ages 9 and older, 1:6

• There must be one adult for every six children.
• Adults must be at poolside, in swim attire, supervising the children.

The Permit Application

1. The website link to the DPR permits page is: DPR.DC.GOV. Click on the Facilities and Permits on the left hand side.
2. Please complete the online application and submit.
3. Please include all information, you may use the notes field to add additional information regarding your request. Include the name of the organization, a contact name, an email and a phone number. Also include the number of children and their ages.

Permitting Process

1. Provided that the application is submitted to the Permits Office on time, DPR will, in scheduling groups at the pools for the 2013 summer swim season, schedule groups in the following order:

• Department of Parks and Recreation Summer Programs  
• DPR Partners (Organizations that have executed a DPR Partnership Agreement)
• Community Organizations serving DC youth  
• Organizations serving DC adults

2. All permit applications that are submitted during the permitting window will be considered equally at the end of the permitting window.
3. All applications received after the permit window closes on February 1 will be placed on hold and not be processed until AFTER March 8, 2013 and will be then be processed on a first come, first serve basis.
4. Summer aquatics permits will be issued the week of February 25, 2013.
5. Make sure to have your permit with you when you arrive at the pool each time.

  DPR Permit Office
  1250 U Street, NW
  Washington, DC 20009

  Phone: (202) 671-2597
  Fax: (202) 673-4358
  Email: DPRpermits@dc.gov