Lincoln Memorial Grounds Softball Fields
National Mall and Memorial Parks
The Lincoln Memorial Grounds Softball Fields, also known as the Henry Bacon Ball Fields, are two ball fields just north of the Lincoln Memorial and west of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
The Lincoln Memorial Grounds Softball Fields offer athletic opportunities such as baseball, softball, and kickball for small-group and team-play on both a casual use and competitive use basis.
For softball, the fields include backstops, infields, and outfields. Bases and pitcher's plates are not provided. The nearest restrooms are located at the Lincoln Memorial. A gift shop and food kiosk are also located nearby.
Reservations are available for one-hour time slots, from 7:00 AM to 8:30 PM during the designated athletic season.
Need to Know
Need To Know
The following regulations apply to the use of the Lincoln Memorial Grounds Softball Fields:
Do not alter, damage, or remove park resources or facilities.
Do not dig holes or attach any item, including signs or banners, to park trees, plantings, benches, backstops, fences, light standards, or any other park landscape element.
Do not use fields within 48 hours of significant rainfall, or when the ground is not firm enough to preclude damage.
Do not play during rain, and do not play on the fields if you see visible signs of standing water.
The park prohibits attaching any item, including signs or banners, to park trees, plantings, benches, backstops, fences, light standards, or any other park landscape element.
You may only mark playing fields with cones.
You may not close roads or restrict traffic. Unload and load equipment only from the street curb. Equipment must be hand carried or carted to the event site. Participants must find and park in available legal parking spaces only. The park prohibits parking or driving vehicles on any grass or sidewalk.
The reservation does not give groups exclusive use of the area, including sidewalks and roadways. You may not interfere with the pedestrian traffic or block entrances, sidewalks, nor driveways or impede vehicular traffic. All areas must remain open to the general public at all times.
The park prohibits alcoholic beverages, balloons, glass beverage containers, grills and possession of illicit substances.
You must have a copy of the reservation confirmation email available on-site at the time of use (printed or downloaded to a mobile device).
The park prohibits evening play, use of lights to illuminate areas, or use of generators - including those that are battery operated.
You may set up a maximum of two 12'x12' (3.7 m x 3.7 m) tents. Do not place tents within the drip-line (root zone area) of trees or other vegetation and stake them to the ground using stakes no longer than 10' (3 m). No tents or canopies larger than 12' x 12' (3.7 m x 3.7 m).
You must pre-register all participants before the organized play. The park prohibits collection or acceptance of fees on site.
Leave no trace - Place any trash you create during use of the area in the nearest trash receptacle or remove it from the area for proper recycling or disposal.
Important Notes:
You may only play full-contact rugby on Hains Point or the Raoul Wallenberg Mixed Use Fields. The West Potomac Park Mixed Use Fields and the Lincoln Memorial Grounds Mixed Use Fields (JFK Hockey Fields) cannot currently accommodate rugby without unacceptable levels of turf damage. You may play touch-style rugby without scrums, rucks, or mauls on any mixed use field.
Play softball and baseball only at fields with backstops (S1-S12 at W or E Potomac Park or Lincoln Memorial).
Please contact the National Park Service Division of Permits Management at (202) 245-4715 for additional information. In the event of disputes, contact the United States Park Police, (202) 426-6710.
Contact Information
1100 Ohio Dr. SW Washington DC 20242
Phone Number
(202) 245-4715
