Athletic Facilities Project Webpage

This webpage has been created to keep the community informed about construction-related activity for the Maret Athletic Facilities Project taking place on the grounds of the Episcopal Center for Children (ECC).

The Episcopal Center for Children (ECC) and Maret have entered into a long-term lease that will allow Maret to use the grounds behind the ECC's buildings, as well as the smallest of its four buildings, to create a multi-sport field and baseball diamond with an adjacent parking lot and team rooms. This partnership helps support ECC's mission of serving children with emotional challenges and their families. Maret plans to share the new fields with the ECC, DCPS, youth-based sports organizations in the District, and neighbors.

Aerial view of baseball and multisport fields

MARET PROJECT MANAGER

Please contact the project manager with any questions or concerns related to construction activity.

PROJECT MANAGER
Johnny Seikaly
202-333-3424

For general inquiries about the project not related to construction, contact us at ecc-maretfields@maret.org.

ANC 3/4G TASK FORCE

Jenny Backus, Chair
Mike Osborne, Chair
Marek Gootman
Jim Nash
Bruce Sherman

Task Force Webpage

CALENDAR

This calendar identifies scheduled meetings and events, as well as key construction and pre-construction activities related to the Athletics Facilities Project.

January 24, 2023—Maret Neighborhood Forum Re: Tree Work, Presentation Deck
January 23, 2023—ANC 3/4G Meeting; Maret presentation on upcoming tree work
January 18, 2023—Task Force Meeting (public); TF-Update #2
December 5, 2022—Task Force Meeting; TF-Update #1; pre-construction surveys begin
November 28, 2022—ANC 3/4G votes to approve Task Force Members
November 14, 2022—ANC 3/4G Meeting: pre-construction surveys announced
September 12, 2022—ANC 3/4G: Maret update, including tree work

Key Facts: Tree Preservation, Removal, and Replacement

Why can tree transplant and removal begin on the ECC site before the BZA written order is issued?

The tree removal and transplant work is separate and apart from the BZA order. The BZA does not govern tree work. It is governed by DDOT's Urban Forestry Division (UFD). The work on the trees can be completed once appropriate permits have been obtained and without any special exception approval or public review process. However, Maret has worked to actively engage the public throughout the process, including posting our tree preservation plan and tree transplant plan on our project website in February of 2022.

Does Maret have the necessary permits?

When will tree removal and transplanting begin?

How many trees on the ECC site could be impacted by construction?

How many of these trees will remain on the ECC site?

80 of these trees (55% of the total) will remain on the site.

Four (4) of these trees are classified as heritage trees and will be transplanted by a nationally recognized expert tree firm, Environmental Design Inc.
Seven (7) of the trees will be maintained in place and Maret will take the necessary steps to protect them during construction.
The ring of 12 Apostle Trees will be protected during construction to ensure they are not harmed.
The remaining 57 trees will be protected as needed during construction.

How many of these trees will be removed and what condition are they in?

66 trees will be removed.

29 are considered to be dead, in critical or poor condition, or are invasive species (8 total invasive trees).
31 are considered to be in fair condition.
The 59 trees in fair condition or worse represent 40% of the total number of trees on site.
Only six (6) of the trees being removed (5% total) are considered to be in good condition.

NOTE: Maret’s current tree removal permits include 61 trees. There are five (5) trees on the site that are slated for removal, but because they are not considered heritage or special trees, their removal does not require a permit.