Did you know that the waterfront along the Anacostia River in Washington, DC, includes more than 1,100 acres of public open space? That's larger than Central Park in New York! Find out how to take advantage of the resource in your back yard by finding an event below or planning your own trip to Anacostia Park.
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This map highlights the destinations along the Anacostia River in Washington, DC and Bladensburg, MD.
Anacostia Park
Just a 20-minute walk from the United States Capitol, Anacostia Park is one of the largest green spaces in Washington, D.C.
It borders the Anacostia River, where Nacotchtank people fished for over 10,000 years before the first colonists arrived; today, residents of nearby Wards 7 and 8 cast their lines in the same water. Elsewhere on the park’s 1,100-plus acres, friends and neighbors meet up for barbecues, baseball teams face off for the win, and laughter and music echo through the skating pavilion.
Marvin Gaye Park
Marvin Gaye Park is a 1.6-mile-long area of Ward 7 in northeast Washington, DC. Formally called Watts Branch Park, the area was officially rededicated as Marvin Gaye Park on April 2, 2006, on what would have been the singer's 67th birthday. One of the playgrounds is designed in the shape of a piano and has equipment shaped like musical notes. The park also features a splash pad, community stage, performance plaza and winding bicycle trail that runs throughout the park. (Wikepedia)
Oxon Run Park
There is a stunning hidden treasure quietly nestled in the heart of Ward 8. The span of Oxon Run Park is from Southern Avenue and Mississippi Avenue, S.E. to Oxon Cove. It is the largest city park in the DC Department of Parks & Recreation inventory. This lusciously green 3-mile, 128 acres is adorned with towering majestic trees that include the “Legacy Cherry Blossom Trees” and Magnolia Bogs.
Kingman & Heritage Park
Kingman Island (also known as Burnham Barrier) and Heritage Island are islands in Northeast and Southeast Washington, D.C., in the Anacostia River. Both islands are man-made, built from material dredged from the Anacostia River and completed in 1916. Kingman Island is bordered on the east by the Anacostia River, and on the west by 110-acre (45 ha) Kingman Lake. Heritage Island is surrounded by Kingman Lake. Both islands were federally owned property managed by the National Park Service until 1995. They are currently owned by the D.C. government, and managed by Living Classrooms National Capital Region. Kingman Island is bisected by Benning Road and the Ethel Kennedy Bridge, with the southern half of the island bisected again by East Capitol Street and the Whitney Young Memorial Bridge. As of 2010, Langston Golf Course occupied the northern half of Kingman Island, while the southern half of Kingman Island and all of Heritage Island remained largely undeveloped. Kingman Island, Kingman Lake and nearby Kingman Park are named after Brigadier General Dan Christie Kingman, the former head of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. (Wikipedia)
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens is a National Park Service site located in the north eastern corner of Washington, D.C., and the Maryland state border. Nestled near the banks of the Anacostia River and directly west of the Baltimore–Washington Parkway, Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens preserves a plethora of rare waterlilies and lotuses in the cultivated ponds near the river. The park also contains the Kenilworth Marsh, the largest remaining tidal marsh in Washington, D.C., and an adjacent recreational area.
The park is under the administrative portion of National Capital Parks-East of the National Park Service. The total area of the park is about 700 acres (2.8 km2) large and constitutes the water gardens, Kenilworth Marsh, ballfields, and recreational facilities. The gardens have since been listed on the National Register of Historic Places and also designated a Category II Landmark by the Joint Committee on Landmarks of the National Capital. Portions of Kenilworth Marsh have also undergone restoration in 1992-1993, adding 32 acres (130,000 m2) of tidal marsh out of what was mud flats. (Wikipedia)
PICNIC ALONG THE ANACOSTIA
Whether you spread out a blanket in the grass or use the park's picnic tables and grills, cooking out or picnicking in a park is a fun way to spend some time with friends and family. Many parks allow you to bring your own charcoal grill, or use one of the park's grills. Good areas to grill out or have a picnic include Anacostia Park, Bladensburg Waterfront Park, and many more parks throughout the watershed.
PADDLE THE ANACOSTIA
You can launch a canoe, kayak or other boat and explore the Anacostia River! The gentle flow of the Anacostia and forested shoreline of the river’s northern reaches make it a fantastic place for canoe and kayak adventures. Several APACC member organizations offer free paddle events, or you can bring your own boat to the river and launch from several locations.
PLAY ALONG THE ANACOSTIA
Let your kids run free in the many parks and playgrounds along the Anacostia River corridor! You can even get a workout while your kids get theirs.
HIKE THE ANACOSTIA
The woods and meadows of the Anacostia corridor can provide a refuge from the bustle of the city. Find trails in Kenilworth Park, Kingman and Heritage Island, the US National Arboretum, or follow one of the many Heritage Routes in Maryland. Maryland Milestones offers many resources for Anacostia trail explorers in Prince George's and Montgomery counties
SWIM IN ANACOSTIA PARK
While the Anacostia River is on its way to being a swimmable, fishable river, it isn't quite there yet. In the meantime, the Anacostia Pool and Recreation Center provides an outdoor swimming pool along the banks of the Anacostia River and offers swimming lessons, water aerobics and other activities for residents during the summer. The pool is operated by the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and opens every year on Memorial Day weekend.
FISH THE ANACOSTIA
The Anacostia River is a beautiful place to fish. Fishing has long been a popular sport on the Anacostia River – just be sure to get a license and practice catch and release! It is currently highly advised by the DC Department of Health to limit consumption of fish that you catch from the Anacostia River. You can get a fishing license online for a small fee from the Department of Energy and Environment website. Good areas to fish include Diamond Teague Park, Anacostia Park and streambeds in the tributaries.
VIEW WILDLIFE ON THE ANACOSTIA
Anywhere along the Anacostia River Trail, you might spot some interesting wildlife. The Anacostia River and the plants along its banks provide food, water, and shelter for a number of wild animals. Keep an eye out for animals that use the water and the shoreline like ducks, geese, shorebirds, herons, and muskrats, as well as exciting birds of prey like bald eagles and osprey. Dawn and dusk are the best times for wildlife sightings. For your safety and theirs, never approach or feed wildlife. Good areas to find wildlife include Kingman Island, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, the US National Arboretum and more!
BIKE THE ANACOSTIA
The Anacostia RiverWalk Trail offers over 15 miles of separated, multi-use trails along or connecting to the Anacostia River in DC and Maryland. A bulk of the ARWT features wide multi-use paths that are perfect for walking, bicycling, running or your preferred non-motorized mode of transit.
YOGA, MEDITATION AND MINDFULNESS IN NATURE
There are many ways to center yourself, relax, work out or experience spirituality on the Anacostia River.
FREE BOAT TOURS OF THE ANACOSTIA RIVER
Anacostia Watershed Society and the Anacostia Riverkeeper both offer free boat tours of the river! Head to their websites to learn more about when the tours are offered.
FREE CONCERTS ALONG THE ANACOSTIA
There are several free concert events throughout the year along the Anacostia. Check out upcoming concerts and other events in Anacostia Park on Eventbrite.
RUN ALONG THE ANACOSTIA
There are over 60 miles of connected trails along the Anacostia River and its tributaries throughout the District of Columbia and Maryland. You can find a map of the river trail here, and a map of trails in Maryland here.
Free 5K community runs - Anacostia parkrun offers free weekly timed runs.
Maryland Milestones has an interactive map of trails and destinations in the upper watershed.
FREE ROLLER SKATING
Anacostia Park is the only National Park with a pavilion dedicated to roller skating! You can rent skates for FREE starting Memorial Day through Labor Day with a government-issued ID. Learn more about visiting the pavilion.
GOLF ALONG THE BANKS OF THE RIVER
Langston Golf Course is an historic public 18-hole golf course named after John Mercer Langston, the first African American elected into public office. Langston Golf Course is located on Benning Road in northeast DC, at the end of the DC Street Car Line. The facility is celebrated as landmark of African American golf heritage. Langston also contains a driving range on Kingman Island and is home to the Langston Grille, known for its all-day breakfast! Learn more at Langston Golf Course.
WORSHIP BY THE RIVER
The Anacostia River waterfront parks can be beautiful venues for spiritual gatherings. If you are planning a large event, you may need a permit.