Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Transportation Technical Consultation - Washington, DC

U.S. DOT Volpe Center

Total Project Budget: $37,000 (~275 Volpe staff hours split between three employees plus travel for one (1) site visit)
Project Timeline: January 2024 – September 2024
Project Partners: National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways, U.S. DOT Volpe Center, Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, National Park Service Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
Project Deliverables: Park Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements Project Narrative (Project Narrative)

Project Request and Purpose

National Park Service (NPS) Chesapeake Gateways (CHBA) partnered with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Volpe Center (Volpe) to provide technical assistance to the Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens (FoKAG) and the NPS Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens (KEAQ) to bolster their efforts to prioritize current and future needs by facilitating an assessment of prospective bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects and crafting matching project narratives.

Project Purpose: To identify and define bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects that enhance public access to KEAQ and improve internal pathways and implement alternative transportation infrastructure improvements to improve safe, equitable access at KEAQ. KEAQ’s access points are limited, presenting challenges to safe, pedestrian-friendly pathways for residents and visitors. The project explored solutions to increase accessibility, especially for neighboring communities whose access has historically been restricted by physical and social barriers. The project also focused on improving the internal pathway network, including the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail and elevated boardwalks, to enhance resilience against threats such as sea level rise and erosion.

U.S. DOT Volpe Center

Project Background

KEAQ is an NPS site devoted to cultivated water-loving plants, located on the eastern bank of the Anacostia River in Northeast Washington, DC. The park is approximately 700 acres (280 hectares) and is located in the northeastern corner of Washington, D.C., near the Maryland state border. The park is bound by the Anacostia River to the west and Anacostia Avenue NE to the east, adjacent to the Kenilworth neighborhood. KEAQ is a site with a rich and varied natural habitat that features over 45 ponds filled with a variety of water lilies and lotus, tidal marshes, and riverfront. Visitors can explore a 2.6-mile internal trail and boardwalk system that connects the ponds. In addition, KEAQ has a storied cultural history that provides vital experiences and connects the surrounding community and region to nature. FoKAG, whose mission is to connect people to the park through stewardship, engagement, and education in cooperation with NPS, initiated the request to Chesapeake Gateways to seek solutions that increase external multimodal access to KEAQ as well as enhance internal circulation of the park.

The site has experienced a substantial rise in visitation, driven by the completion of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail (ART) and the ongoing popularity of the annual Lotus and Water Lily Festival. However, current access to KEAQ does not provide pedestrian-friendly and safe pathways for the surrounding local community and visitors alike to enter into KEAQ. In addition, the existing network of internal park pathways (e.g. elevated boardwalks, Anacostia Riverwalk Trail) is under threat by sea level rise and erosion.

Project Activities

• Facilitated discussions with National Capital Parks-East personnel representing different aspects of the park’s operations and Friends of KEAQ staff to identify key issues from each individual’s experiences and insights with the park, which included accessibility, safety, and visitor experience.
• Prepped for, facilitated, and conducted a one-day site visit to KEAQ to collect on-site observation data, and information as well as engage in meaningful discussions with key stakeholders. The visit aimed to identify and understand the access issues, needs, challenges, and opportunities within the park.
• Documented observations and considerations, highlighting core themes like Parking and Access, Safety and Accessibility, Infrastructure Enhancements, Wayfinding and Signage, and Vegetation Management. These issues, observed at multiple locations, pose traffic and safety concerns for visitors and park staff.
• Developed specific recommendations to address each issue, such as upgrading playground amenities, adding ADA-compliant paths, constructing designated docking areas, and implementing resilient trail materials. The recommendations were organized into three major projects: Internal Trail System Rehabilitation, Visitor Parking and Entrance Enhancements, and Wayfinding and Interpretive Signage.
• Proposed a comprehensive wayfinding program, including multilingual and interpretive signage to improve visitor navigation and enhance engagement with the park’s ecological and cultural significance.

• Drafted a Bicycle and Pedestrian Circulation Improvements Project Narrative to address the increasing infrastructure demands at KEAQ. The project narrative captures the findings documented throughout the project, focusing on proposed infrastructure improvements designed to enhance accessibility, connectivity, and safety for all users. The project narrative includes two components of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Circulation Improvements – Design (Component A) and Construction (Component B).

U.S. DOT Volpe Center

Project Outcomes

This project sought to enhance the visitor experience by improving accessibility, safety, and infrastructure, ensuring the Gardens can sustainably accommodate their growing interest. The Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Bicycle and Pedestrian Circulation Improvements Project Narrative directly addresses key challenges by enhancing accessibility, safety, and environmental resilience within the Gardens. Through strategic upgrades to pathways, improved connections to regional trails, and ADA-compliant features, the project overcomes barriers that have historically limited access for local communities and visitors with disabilities. These initiatives not only improve equitable access but also incorporate sustainable, climate-resilient materials and designs, protecting KEAQ's natural resources against environmental stressors like flooding and erosion.

The project narrative document produced for this project encapsulate proposed infrastructure enhancements and circulation improvements aimed at optimizing the internal pathway system within KEAQ. Furthermore, the developed project narratives meet NPS Project Management Information System (PMIS) project proposal requirements for submission, review, approval, prioritization, and formulation under available funding sources. KEAQ will be positioned to submit project proposals that meet the eligibility criteria to be considered as part of the National Park Service Budget for a specific fiscal year (FY).

The project serves as a valuable model for similar initiatives, demonstrating how strategic partnerships, multimodal connectivity, and inclusive design can effectively enhance visitor experience and resource protection. Other parks and community spaces could adapt this approach, leveraging partnerships and sustainable practices to meet local needs and support long-term preservation, ensuring accessibility and environmental stewardship.

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  Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

  Contact: Sheena Foster, Executive Director, [e-mail]

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  Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens

  Contact: Michael Commisso, NPS KEAQ Deputy Superintendent, [e-mail]

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  NPS Chesapeake Gateways

  Contact: Wendy O'Sullivan, NPS CHBA Superintendent, wendy_o'[e-mail]

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  U.S. DOT Volpe Center

  Contact: Emily Maciejak, NPS CHBA Portfolio Manager, [e-mail]