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 located 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. The Lincoln Memorial Grounds Softball Fields are comprised of two softball fields with 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 conditions apply to the use of the Lincoln Memorial Grounds Softball Fields:
- The alteration, damage, or removal of park resources or facilities is prohibited. No holes may be dug and no item, including signs or banners, may be attached to park trees, plantings, benches, backstops, fences, light standards, or any other park landscape element.
- No fields may be used within 48 hours of significant rainfall, or when the ground is not firm enough to preclude damage. No playing during rain, and no playing on the fields if visible signs of standing water are present.
- Marking of playing fields can only be accomplished through the use of cones.
- No road closures and/or traffic restrictions are permitted. Unloading and loading of equipment must take place from the street curb only. Equipment must be hand carried/carted, to event site. Participants must find and park in available legal parking spaces only. No parking or driving of vehicles permitted on any grass or sidewalk area.
- Groups do not have exclusive use of the area, including sidewalks and roadways. No interference with the pedestrian traffic and no blocking of entrances, sidewalks, nor driveways is allowed. No impeding vehicular traffic permitted. All areas must remain open to the general public at all times.
- Alcoholic beverages, balloons, and glass beverage containers, are prohibited.
- The use or possession of illicit substances is prohibited.
- The use of grills is prohibited.
- A copy of your reservation must be available on-site at the time of your reservation.
- No evening play, use of lights to illuminate areas, or use of generators - including those that are battery operated.
- A maximum of two 12'x12' tents may be used. Tents must not be placed within the drip-line (root zone area) of trees or other vegetation and must be staked to the ground through the use of stakes no longer than 10'. No tents or canopies larger than 12' x 12'.
- Participants must be pre-registered if participating in organized play - the collection or acceptance of fees on parkland is prohibited.
Leave no trace - any trash generated during use of the area should be placed in the nearest trash receptacle or removed from the area for proper recycling or disposal.
Important Notes:
- Full-contact rugby may only be played on the Raoul Wallenberg Mixed Use Field and the Hains Point Mixed Use Field. 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. Touch-style rugby played without scrums, rucks, or mauls, may be played on any mixed use field.
- Softball and baseball should only be played on fields with backstops (S1-S12).
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
