For years, the Potomac River shoreline in Georgetown has been an eyesore. Parking lots, concrete walls, and narrow strips of grass have cluttered what should be a spectacular waterfront vista. Very soon, thanks to years of advocacy and fundraising, this area will be transformed into a unique and inviting national park, open to all.

The Georgetown Waterfront Park will offer a magnificent green space for visitor recreation and contemplation. Cyclists, skaters, and pedestrians will have their own, car-free pathways, and safe, well-lighted river access will be available to all, from individual boaters and kayakers to competitive crews.

The park will curve along 10 acres of the Potomac extending from the Washington Harbour complex to Key Bridge, creating the vital last link in 225 miles of parkland from Mt. Vernon, Virginia, to Cumberland, Maryland.

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A stunning park design—commissioned by the National Park Service from world-renowned landscape architects Wallace Roberts & Todd—has won applause not only from the community, but also from the numerous official bodies that have approved our plans.
The Georgetown Waterfront Park will be the largest park to be created in the Nation’s Capital in 30 years—since the completion of Constitution Gardens on the National Mall in 1976. This new national park will beautify the area, reflecting the city’s history and honoring the importance of the Potomac River to greater Washington.

Wisconsin Avenue Plaza Click on image to enlarge

Great urban parks contain signature elements and spaces. Fundraising is now underway to transform the existing park, from Wisconsin Avenue to the Washington Harbour complex, into the lively centerpiece of Georgetown Waterfront Park. This area, coined the Wisconsin Avenue Plaza, will offer unique spaces for visitors to congregate and enjoy the water.

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The park is designed to be elegant while maintaining a low profile, preserving and gently framing views of Key Bridge, the Kennedy Center, the Potomac, and historic Georgetown.

The interactive fountain will add a playful aquatic feature to attract visitors to the river from Wisconsin Avenue. An arbor above benches and tables will invite visitors to relax by the water. The arbor will support flowering vines, filtering the sunlight over seating areas. Below the arbor, river stairs will descend to the water, forming an amphitheater where people can view activities in the park and watch the finish line of the boat races.

In addition to these elements, the following features will create a distinctive space that Washingtonians, and the nation, can be proud of:

• Gracious lawns surrounded by shade trees and flowering trees that change colors with the seasons
• Park pathways paved in a rich variety of materials, with plenty of benches that encourage visitors to linger in the park
• A new promenade to integrate the shoreline from Key Bridge to Washington Harbour and the Kennedy Center
• Spacious, separate lanes for cyclists and walkers
• Environmentally sound bio-edge spaces that preserve native plants and enhance water quality
• A labyrinth to encourage reflection and contemplation
• Lighting that offers a sense of security during evening visits
• Scenic overlooks for visitors to enjoy river views
  
  
  

In early 2007, construction began on the first section of the park from 34th Street to Wisconsin Avenue. The National Park Service also received approval for the design concepts of the Wisconsin Avenue Plaza from the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts in February 2007.

Construction of the first section of the park is expected to be completed by spring 2008.

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