July 24, 2026
Dear Washingtonians,
Our kids and teens have been busy this summer:
- 8,000+ in DPR's summer camps
- 15,000+ employed with MBSYEP
- 400 in Career Ready Early Scholars Program
- Hundreds at DPR outdoor movies
- Dozens in DPR's Lifeguard Program
- Thousands at Late Night Hypes
- And many more at DC Public Schools enrichment programming
So, yesterday’s ribbon cutting at the new Rosedale Recreation Center outdoor pool was a fitting way to celebrate as we close out Parks and Recreation Month and head into the final month of summer before the first day of school. It's a beautiful pool for a beautiful community.
 More than 230,000 people have already visited our outdoor pools this summer. We know many more have also visited our spray parks. This weekend, DPR is hosting another Late Night Hype for teens, they're also expanding Friday and Saturday hours at four rec centers (Deanwood, Emery Heights, Fort Stanton, and Turkey Thicket), keeping them open until 11:00 p.m. on both nights. So, we want you to keep enjoying our great facilities. We also want parents and families to make sure you’re fighting back against the summer slide and keeping your child’s reading skills sharp by having them read for 20 minutes a day!
Enjoy the weekend, DC, and thank you DPR and all the agencies and teams that are working hard to keep our kids safe and happy.
Sincerely,
With one month to go until the first day of school, we know many families are busy getting your children ready for a strong start to the new school year.
To support DC families, this summer, DC Public Library is partnering with Vision To Learn to provide no-cost eye exams and, if needed, free glasses for children ages 3–18 (PreK–12th grade). Appointments, which are happening through August, are limited.
Learn more and book an appointment, while available, here.
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 Earlier this month, Mayor Bowser, the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (FEMS), and healthcare partners recognized the success of the District’s Prehospital Low-Titer O-Positive Whole Blood Program, a groundbreaking initiative that is saving lives and strengthening emergency medical care across the District.
Launched in April 2024, the Whole Blood Program enables specially trained paramedics to administer whole blood transfusions to critically injured and medically unstable patients at the scene of an emergency or while en route to a hospital. Since the program’s launch, FEMS has administered more than 530 units of whole blood to more than 490 patients, with a 93% survival rate among non-traumatic cardiac arrest patients.
Now, the American Red Cross, which partners with FEMS on the Whole Blood Program, is urgently seeking blood donors due to lower than usual summer blood donations. Find a blood donation appointment that fits your schedule by entering your ZIP code at RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS, or on the Red Cross Blood Donor app.
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 The Mubadala DC Open starts tomorrow! The Sports Capital will host some of the biggest names in tennis at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center from July 25 through August 2.
Learn more about the tournament, who’s playing, and how you can get tickets at mubadaladcopen.com.
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