FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON (June 21, 2021) – The Episcopal Center for Children (ECC) and Maret School, two private, nonprofit organizations, have executed a long-term lease for up to 50 years that will allow Maret to use the grounds behind the ECC’s buildings, as well as the smallest of its four buildings.

This agreement does not preclude ECC from working with additional partners who might seek to use its remaining available space. The ECC ceased operations of its therapeutic school in 2019, remains committed to its mission of serving children and families with special needs, and plans to start an afterschool enrichment program next year.

As part of the agreement, Maret will develop the space to create multisport fields for athletic play. The fields will be used by Maret students, but the school is committed to sharing and expanding the limited field space in the District. It is Maret’s intention to make the fields available not only to the ECC but to several District-based youth and athletic organizations, many of whom have already expressed a strong desire to use the new fields.

The ECC property includes many wonderful trees that will be retained and maintained. There are trees in locations on the ECC grounds where the proposed sports fields will be. Some of these are diseased and need to be removed. Some are in good condition and will likely be moved to other locations on the ECC grounds. Additional trees and landscaping are planned around the sports fields and perimeter of the ECC’s grounds.

During the summer months there will be preliminary site and engineering studies to help craft a plan for the fields. As part of the field planning process, Maret has met with and will continue to work with the appropriate city agencies regarding mobility, trees, zoning, and related matters. Plans will be shared with the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 3/4G in late summer/early fall. After that, an application will be submitted to the District’s Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA). Maret and ECC look forward to collaboration with the neighborhood, the ANC, and District throughout this process.

About the Episcopal Center for Children
The Episcopal Center for Children (ECC) is a nondenominational, nonprofit organization that has been dedicated to serving the needs of children and their families for the past 125 years. In June 2019, the ECC suspended operation for its K-8 therapeutic school for children with emotional challenges from the greater Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. The Board of Directors continues to be committed to its longstanding mission of serving children in determining plans for the ECC’s future.

About Maret School
Maret School is an independent K-12 day school located at 3000 Cathedral Avenue, NW. Maret is an inclusive community that embraces diversity of perspective, experience, identity, circumstance, and talent. The school has been a part of the District of Columbia since its founding in 1911 and has always sought to foster meaningful connections across the city.

Media Contact Information
For ECC: Ami Neiberger-Miller, ECC, [email protected]
For Maret: Carolyn Law, Director of Communications, Maret, [email protected]