Our Mission

To provide increased opportunity, education, and inspiration to the young people of Washington, DC and the surrounding area through ice skating and educational activities.

Welcome!

The Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena (Friends of FDIA), a not for profit 501[c]3, was formed in the summer of 1996 in response to the pending closure of the ice arena by its former owner, the National Park Service. Parents and friends organized and took over the management of the arena, revitalizing the facility that is located in the heart of Ward 7 in Southeast DC.

During the past twenty years, Friends of FDIA has initiated and overseen major repairs, including a new addition to house offices and an educational meeting room complete with eight computer workstations, a refurbished lobby and concession stand, and an expanded skate shop.

In addition to bricks and mortar support, Friends of FDIA created the Kids On Ice® (KOI) program, providing subsidized figure skating, hockey and speed skating lessons to youth in Washington DC Metropolitan area. This program is unique in that all three types of skating are Olympic sports, it offers programming to both boys and girls, and parents can choose from either a team sport or an individual sport.
The FDIA is the only public indoor ice arena located in Washington, DC.

History

In 1996, in response to the pending closure of the ice arena by its former owner, the National Park Service. Parents and friends organized and took over the management of the arena, revitalizing the facility that is located in the heart of Ward 7 in Southeast DC.

The original Fort Dupont Ice Arena facility had an extended walkway and closed off windows. All exposed gravel was once the exterior of our current facility.