The Robert M. Krughoff Pickleball Center
WDCP helped build five new, dedicated pickleball courts in Southeast DC. In July 2018, a group of mostly seniors from Capitol Hill began playing pickleball on an abandoned, dead-end roadway just south of Garfield Park. Robert Krughoff and Margaret Crenshaw were the driving force behind the development of these courts.
In 2023, Washington DC Pickleball, in collaboration with the Capitol Riverfront BID, formed a stakeholder group to permit the road for public use through the DC Department of Transportation. After three long years of work, DDOT approved the permit, paving the way for the construction of five state-of-the-art pickleball courts with semi-permanent nets. The Krughoff Pickleball Center ensures access to open free play on dedicated courts.
Court renderings courtesy of the Capitol Riverfront BID
Robert Krughoff on the Courts he helped create in 2018
An Advisory Committee has been established, consisting of representatives from all major stakeholders, including players from Garfield Park, Friends of Garfield Park, Capitol Hill Village, the office of Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, and ANC 6B.
Community Input
The Garfield Players with Margaret Crenshaw (seated on the right) in 2020
Timeline and Construction
Work on the pickleball courts was part of of the Garfield Connector Project. The Connector was a DC-funded project that created a safe pathway under the 295 overpass and encourages interaction between Capitol Hill communities, stretching from Garfield Park to Navy Yard.
Virginia Avenue, where the pickleball courts are located, was repaved. Semi-permanent nets have been installed, and a storage bin is provided for additional equipment.
The Courts created by Robert and the Garfield Players