News Release

Share your thoughts on updated design concepts for Anacostia Park

Date: June 5, 2024
Contact: [e-mail]

WASHINGTON— The National Park Service (NPS) invites the public to share their thoughts on revised design concepts for the future of Anacostia Park. From June 25 to Aug. 30, you can provide feedback and help shape the park's future. This is your final chance to voice your opinions on the design plans.  

Anacostia Park, an expansive park spanning over 1,100 acres along the shores of the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C, offers numerous recreational and outdoor opportunities including a skating pavilion, playgrounds, picnic areas, fishing, tennis courts and multi-use sport fields. The NPS is currently looking at ways to improve the area of Anacostia Park between the 11th Street Bridge and south of the CSX tracks, just past the Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion.

Get Involved and Share Your Ideas

Public meeting on June 25: Join us to learn more about the improvement efforts, see the design plans, ask questions and share your feedback.

Information table at community events: Throughout the comment period, we’ll have events where you can drop by to see the plans and provide your input.

Design Concepts

The NPS has developed three design concepts based on earlier ideas from the community. Elements of each design may be removed or added to another design, based on this round of feedback. Here are some highlights: 

• Better transportation access: Improved connections between park entrances, neighborhoods and within the park

• Shaded picnic areas: More intimate gathering spaces with shade

• Sports fields: Multi-use fields for soccer, baseball, kickball, ultimate frisbee and more

• Increased water access: Potential new beach area, fishing pier and kayak/canoe launch

• Enhanced recreational facilities: Upgraded tennis courts and new multipurpose courts for pickleball and tennis

• New facilities: Multipurpose pavilion, outdoor classroom and an adult fitness area

• Tree-lined promenade: Seating areas for festivals, community events and performances

• Flood resilience: Improved natural hydrology and drainage

How to get involved

Public participation is vital to the planning process. The NPS is committed to hearing from more voices in the community about what they love about Anacostia Park and want for the future of this culturally significant and beloved community space. There are several ways to get involved.

Online Materials

Visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/anacostiadcp to view the design concepts and meeting materials. The recorded presentation will be available online after the June 25 public meeting.

Schedule of in-person opportunities to comment:

• June 25 – Hybrid In-Person and Virtual Public Meeting

  • Time: 6:30 - 8 p.m.

  • Location: Anacostia High School auditorium, 1601 16th St SE, Washington, DC 20020

    • Parking is available in the school parking lots and there is street parking available.

  • Virtual participants may join via Zoom: https://jsallc.zoom.us/j/86903268666?pwd=RxBNqmU5al2aRpfgjp7Z2EQbxjDN9y.1  

    • Webinar ID: 869 0326 8666, Passcode: 549797; or join by phone at [phone], code: 86903268666#

• June 29 – Late Skate at Anacostia Park*

  • Time: 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.

  • Location: Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion, 1500 Anacostia Dr, Washington, DC 20020

• July 6 – Community Fishing*

  • Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

  • Location: Anacostia Park Boat Ramp, 1500 Anacostia Dr, Washington, DC 20020

• July 6 – Information Table at the Skating Pavilion*

  • Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

  • Location: Anacostia Park Roller Skating Pavilion, 1500 Anacostia Dr, Washington, DC 20020

• July 13 – Information Table at the Skating Pavilion*

  • Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

  • Location: Anacostia Park Roller Skating Pavilion, 1500 Anacostia Dr, Washington, DC 20020

• July 20 – Information Table at the Skating Pavilion*

  • Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

  • Location: Anacostia Park Roller Skating Pavilion, 1500 Anacostia Dr, Washington, DC 20020

• July 20 – Lotus and Lily Festival*

  • Time: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

  • Location: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20019

• July 21 – Lotus and Lily Festival*

  • Time: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

  • Location: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20019

• July 27 – Community Fishing*

  • Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

  • Location: Anacostia Park Boat Ramp, 1500 Anacostia Dr, Washington, DC 20020

• July 27 – Information Table at the Skating Pavilion*

  • Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

  • Location: Anacostia Park Roller Skating Pavilion, 1500 Anacostia Dr, Washington, DC 20020

• July 27 – Late Skate at Anacostia Park*

  • Time: 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.

  • Location: Anacostia Park Roller Skating Pavilion, 1500 Anacostia Dr, Washington, DC 20020

*All outdoor events are weather dependent.

In 2021, the NPS developed the vision and goals for the project with public input and in 2023 preliminary design concepts were shared with the public for feedback.

Submit comments:

To provide comments online or get additional information on the project, visit: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/anacostiadcp.

If you prefer to mail your comments, make sure they are postmarked by Aug. 30 to receive consideration. Mail comments to:
National Capital Parks-East
Attn: ANAC DCP / Superintendent   
1900 Anacostia Drive SE
Washington, DC 20020

Please Note: Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.