October 28, 2022
Dear Washingtonians,
For many children in DC, we are just days away from one of the best days of the year – Halloween! We are calling on everyone in the community to do their part to make this a safe, fun holiday for our kids. We are especially urging anyone who will be driving in the city to slow down and be extra vigilant. Trick-or-treaters will be out on Monday evening as it is getting dark outside. Drive slowly and be aware that our neighborhoods will be filled with excited children.
Parents and families, on Monday and throughout the weekend, please make sure you know where your children are and who they are with. If your kids are going trick-or-treating, make sure they are supervised, that they stay on the sidewalk, and that they are visible (consider attaching glow sticks to costumes).
If you are looking for safe, organized Halloween events for kids, teens, and families, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) are hosting a wide range of activities – trunk or treating, haunted houses, and more. Visit MPD’s website HERE for more information about Halloween Safe Haven events. Visit DPR’s website HERE for more information about DPR Halloween events.
We also know that it’s not just children who enjoy Halloween festivities and that many adults will be celebrating this weekend. So, starting this evening, our Nightlife Task Force, led by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice and MPD, will be out in our nightlife corridors. We will also have our Go Teams out in areas where we expect larger gatherings to happen. The Go Teams are made up of non-law enforcement partners like our Credible Messengers and Violence Interrupters.
A safe Halloween is a happy Halloween — let's work together to make it happen.
Sincerely,
 Registration for Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) winter programs will begin next week:
- Tuesday, November 1: registration opens for aquatics programs
- Wednesday, November 2: registration opens for all other programs
Registration opens on each day at noon.
Winter programs offered by DPR this year include:
- Youth basketball, youth and adult tennis, combat sports fitness, ballet dance, and candle-making.
- Aquatics programs include: Learn to Swim, Aquatic Fitness, Senior Aquatics, and Lifeguard Training.
- Programs that accommodate out-of-school from DC Public Schools such as Winter Break Camp (December 27-30), DCPS Fun Day (January 25, 2023), and Mid-Winter Break Camp (February 21-24, 2023).
- Additional programs specifically for seniors.
DPR will again utilize a virtual “waiting room” on both program registration days in order to manage the high demand for programs and keep the online system functioning smoothly.
For more information and to view the full catalog of DPR programs, visit DPRPrograms.com.
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 This Saturday, October 29 at 8:00 p.m., Washington, DC will host the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) final between the Portland Thorns and the Kansas City Current at the 20,000-seat Audi Field. The game marks the first NWSL championship to be played in Washington, DC. Last year, the Washington Spirit won the 2021 NWSL Championship at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky.
Prior to the game, beginning at 5:30 p.m., the public is invited to attend Fan Fest at Audi Field. Fan Fest is free and will include player appearances, autograph sessions, skills competitions, face painting, and more.
The 2022 NWSL Championship will kick off at 8:00 p.m. and tickets are still available.
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 The Department of Public Works (DPW) will begin collecting leaves from neighborhoods on Monday, November 7. This year, adjustments have been made to the leaf collection program to make it more efficient. Mayor Bowser’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget includes funding for 110 additional seasonal positions—a 50% increase over 2022. The collection schedule has also been adjusted to allow leaf collection crews do collections when most leaves have fallen, with residents still receiving two leaf collection pickups. The first pass for leaf collection will occur when leaf accumulation is lighter, for one week in each section. The second pass will be for two weeks in each section when leaf accumulation is heavier.
Residents are asked to rake their leaves for collection to the curb or into the tree box at the front of their residence—paper bags are not required. To help facilitate the collection process, residents are asked to keep vehicles away from the curb lanes on scheduled collection days.
Leaf Season Collection Tips:
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Check the DPW website to confirm your area’s leaf collection dates and download the MyDPW app to receive customized alerts about leaf collection in your neighborhood.
- Move vehicles from curb lanes to help ease the leaf vacuum collection process.
- Rake leaves to the curbside or tree box at the front of the residence the Sunday before the scheduled leaf collection date.
- Remove all cans, bottles, sticks, toys, and debris from your piles of leaves. These items can damage equipment and prevent safe and proper collection.
- Leaves placed in plastic bags will be collected as trash and not recycled.
- District residents can also bring leaves contained in paper bags to the Benning Road Transfer Station located at 2300 Benning Road, NE, Wednesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- For missed leaf collections, residents can call 311 or visit 311.dc.gov to open a “Leaf Season Collection” service request, but please wait until at least five days after the last day of the designated collection in your neighborhood.
Pumpkin Composting
Beginning the week of November 6, most pumpkins and gourds can be taken to one of nine food waste collection sites in the District for composting, in support of the District’s zero waste efforts. Please note that pumpkins decorated with paint, glitter, or other inorganic matter cannot be composted.
Learn more HERE.
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