Physical / Mobility

At Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, we care about providing fun, engaging, and educational spaces to learn about our natural wildlife that are accessible to the whole community.

You can listen to the chirrups and trills of the native birds while you peruse the Water Lily ponds, bask in the sun alongside the bunches of turtles from the broad viewing platforms at the Boardwalk, and follow the flow of the Anacostia River while walking the River Trail.

There are ramps and room to navigate with a wheelchair or mobility device. This includes all trails, the parking lot, picnic area, boardwalk, the Visitor Center, and restrooms.

Wheelchairs for Loan

Two wheelchairs are available for use, and can be requested at the Visitor Center Information Desk or by calling 202-692-6080 for assistance.

 

Parking Lot

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Parking

• 2 standard accessible spaces
• 2 van-accessible spaces
• The parking lot is paved, well-maintained, and on an even grade.

 

Entrance to the Garden Trail and Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

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Entrance to the Park

The Visitor Center and the rest of the park is reached by way of the Garden Trail, which begins at the parking lot. See below for more information about the trail.

 

Visitors Center at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

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Visitor Center

Entrance

There is a ramp leading to the entrance of the Visitor Center. The rap is:

• Length: 13 feet
• Width: 5.6 feet
• Slope: 5%

The entrance to the visitor center is 30 inches wide.

Benches

There are 2 benches at the top of the ramp. There is also seating inside of the Visitor Center.

 

Bookstore

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Information Desk and Bookstore

The information desk is located in the bookstore. Staff are available to answer questions and help you plan your visit.

The bookstore has items about the wildlife found in and around the park as well as the history of the gardens. There is room in the bookstore to navigate around with a mobility device.

 

Ramp to restrooms.

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Restrooms

Located next to the Visitor Center. There is a ramp leading to the restroom entrances.

Mens

• 2 standing-height urinals
• 1 larger stall intended for wheelchair users
• 1 lower height sink

Womens

• 2 standard stalls
• 1 larger stall intended for wheelchair users
• 1 standard height sink
• 1 lower height sink

 

Water fountain at Kenilworth

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Drinking Fountains

Between the restrooms and the Visitor Center, there is a drinking fountain, water bottle filling station, and a pet bowl.

 

picnic area at Kenilworth

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Picnic Area

Located next to the Visitor Center.

• 30 standard picnic tables spread out in the grass
• no grills available
• ground may be uneven

 

bench in front of the ponds

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Benches

Benches and picnic tables can be found throughout the park.

 

wayside at Kenilworth

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Self-Guided Tour

This tour has thirteen stops. The stops include historic pictures, facts about the park, information about native wildlife and conservation efforts.

Visitors are welcome to bring binoculars and cameras to use during their visit but are not allowed to take or touch any of the natural resources including lotus seed pods, turtles, plants, fish etc.

Maps for this tour are available in the visitor center. A visit to the park typically lasts two hours. Visitors are encouraged to explore the park on their own. The main areas are:

• The Garden Trail
• The Ponds trail system through Lily and Lotus Ponds
• The boardwalk winding through the tidal marsh
• viewing ponds behind the visitor center and picnic area

The trails are wide and mostly level. This area is vulnerable to flooding.

 

Garden Trail

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Garden Trail

The Garden Trail winds along the edges of the marsh giving a beautiful and up close view of some of the wildlife that can be found in the protected areas of the park. Some areas closer to the edges of the marsh may become less accessible after heavy rain or flooding. There is no railing to designate the edge of the water.

Trail Information

• Length: less than 500 feet
• Average width: 5 feet
• Minimum width: 4.5 feet
• Surface: compacted gravel
• Average running slope: 5%
• Maximum running slope: 10%
• The trailhead is connected to the parking lot via a curb ramp that is 42 inches wide.

 

Ponds Trail

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Ponds Trail

The Ponds Trail is a network trail that weaves through a matrix of different sized lotus and water lily ponds. There are four entrances for this trail. There are information boards throughout the trail about the different types of aquatic plants here. In addition to the flora, different times of the year bring different species of water birds, migratory birds, and even the occasional muskrat! This trail connects to the Tidal Marsh Boardwalk.

Trail Information

• Length: 0.5 mile
• Width:
• Surface: compacted gravel and natural grassy dirt
• Benches: approximately every 100 feet

 

Boardwalk

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Boardwalk

The boardwalk travels through marshes and has excellent views of the surrounding lands. The entrance to the boardwalk trail is located off of the Ponds Trail.

Trail Information

• Length: 0.25 mile
• Width: over 7 feet wide
• Surface: wooden planks
• Average running slope: less than 5%
• Maximum running slope: 10% by the first viewing platform, though this section is avoidable
• There are handrails on the viewing platforms and the section of the trail that pass through the marsh. There are some sections without handrails.

 

Anacostia River Trail Sign

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River Trail

This trail runs alongside the Anacostia River and intersects with the Anacostia River Trail at its end. The trailhead is located next to the northernmost Ponds Trail entrance, right above the end of the Garden Trail.

Trail Information

• Length: 0.5 round trip (out and back)
• Width: at least 4.5 feet
• Surface type: dirt
• Running slope: 5-10%