The District will have ample off-site parking available when the new Washington Nationals’ stadium opens in April 2008, which — when combined with upcoming transportation improvements — should provide smooth access to a revived South Capitol Street area, D.C. planners said Thursday.

Roughly 7,800 spaces, some a block away and others at least a 15-minute walk from the Southeast stadium, should be available on Opening day, said Stephen Green with the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Planning. The spaces — which do not include the 1,225 on-site spots for luxury suite ticket holders — are in an accumulation of public and private surface lots, garages and vacant properties the city has identified as available.