Reimagine Anacostia Park Development Concept Plan

The National Park Service (NPS) has prepared a Development Concept Plan for sections D & E of Anacostia Park, the area of the park east of the Anacostia River between the 11th Street Bridge and the CSX railroad bridge. The plan provides a framework for future development and use of the park. Throughout the development of the plan, the NPS conducted public comment periods and held outreach events to hear from park users, the surrounding neighborhood, and the public about how visitors currently use the space and their ideas for the future of this unique landscape in the heart of DC.

 

Cows wade in the Anacostia River

NPS

Background

Anacostia Park was envisioned more than a century ago when its development was recommended to the US Congress in 1901, and it took more than three decades to construct. Development of the park required seawalls along the banks of the Anacostia River to convert the existing wetlands into uplands that could host the park amenities that many enjoy today. Managed by NPS, Sections D and E of Anacostia Park provide hubs for recreational activities, including maintained sports fields for league play; community activity spaces for picnicking, roller skating, educational use, and special events; and preservation of the natural landscape. Anacostia Park is an important neighborhood resource and is a regional destination for bicycling, fishing, special events, waterfront recreation, and more. More information on the history of this portion of the park can be found here.

In 2021, the NPS developed the vision and goals for the project with public input and an initial set of concept designs were shared with stakeholders for feedback. To address concerns that concepts needed to be rooted in an appreciation for the culture of the surrounding neighborhoods and community desires for the future, the NPS and stakeholder partners broadened community engagement efforts. Additional comment public periods were conducted in 2023 and 2024 to receive community input and listen to concerns from members of Ward 7 and 8.

The NPS has finalized a plan that encompasses the community’s and the NPS’s ideas, vision and wishes for the future of Anacostia Park. The plan includes three concepts that focus on building a strong foundation, planning for resilience, and enhancing park activities. Each concept focuses on the same core design intentions with a few varying amenities unique to the specific plan to address accessibility and connectivity, waterfront activation, active recreation, and community fellowship. Additionally, all concepts provide additional recreational opportunities and passive recreation spaces such as picnic shelters, barbecues and picnic tables, while supporting the health of the park and river.

To get more information and updates on the project: Visit the NPS Planning website or view the full Anacostia Development Concept Plan here.

Next Steps

The NPS will take actions to comply with applicable laws and policies such as the National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic Preservation Act and seek funding opportunities and partnerships to advance conceptual plans to design drawings and construction projects. The final concept designs will be a combination of desired elements from each concept, focusing on implementing the best features from each. Portions of the project are already funded through the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), established under the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act of 2020. Construction on some of the designs is set to begin in 2026.

 

Sections D and E of Anacostia Park are located between the 11th Street Bridge and the area north of Pennsylvania Avenue to the railroad crossing.