ANACOSTIA

RIVERWALK TRAIL
KENILWORTH AQUATIC GARDENS SEGMENT

Project Overview
Construction has started on the much-anticipated
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Segment of the Anacostia
Riverwalk Trail, the missing link in an almost 70-mile
network of bicycle and pedestrian trails between the
District of Columbia and Maryland, bringing economic,
health and other benefits to nearby communities.
By connecting Benning Road in the District with
Bladensburg Waterfront Park in Bladensburg, Maryland,
the four-mile segment creates new connections
between communities, the river and its natural
resources while enhancing recreational and
educational opportunities for trail users. At the same
time, the trail increases accessibility to transit stations
and makes bicycle commuting more attractive by
shortening travel times by as much as 30 minutes.
The trail generally parallels the Anacostia River but
passes through both developed and undeveloped areas.
As a result, the trails unique and varied design includes
paved 10 to 12-foot wide asphalt and concrete
boardwalk sections that meander around trees and
wetlands in the Aquatic Gardens and other National
Park Service lands; sidewalks through the Mayfair and
Parkside communities; and raised walkways and five

Milestones
Milestone

Date

Advertised for Construction

Fall 2013

Begin Construction

Spring 2014

Complete Construction and Open

Fall 2016

bridges over Anacostia River tributaries as it passes

between the District and Maryland near U.S. Route 50.
In all, the design is sensitive to the Park Services
stewardship and environmental goals while also
maintaining consistency with the character of the
overall regional trail network.
Within the District, the segment is part of the planned
28-mile Anacostia Riverwalk Trail that will connect 16
waterfront neighborhoods to the Anacostia River,
Southwest Waterfront, Nationals Park, Washington

Navy Yard, RFK Stadium, National Arboretum, and

other popular destinations.
To date, more than 15 miles of the Districts trail are
open and heavily used. This new portion of the trail will
link to more than 40 miles of trails in Maryland that
travel throughout the Anacostia River Tributary System
and connect to numerous schools, businesses, libraries,
museums, shopping centers and Metro and MARC
transit stations.
The segments $22.1 million construction costs are
being funded through a $10 million U.S. Department of
Transportation TIGER Grant, combined with $3.9
million from the District of Columbia,
$4.7 million of the Districts Highway
Trust Fund from the Federal Highway
Administration and $3.5 million from
Marylands Cycle Maryland Bikeways
Program. The trail will be maintained
and operated by the District, National
Park Service and Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Commission.
Other trail partners include the U.S.
Department of the Interior, Federal
Highway Administration, National
Park Service and Prince Georges
County (Maryland).

More Information
The Kenilworth Segment of the Anacostia Riverwalk
Trail is one of a series of transportation, environmental,
economic, community and recreation projects included
in the District of Columbias larger Anacostia
Waterfront Initiative, or AWI Program. From the Tidal
Basin to the citys northeast border with Maryland, the
30-year, $10 billion AWI is transforming the shores of
the Anacostia River into a world-class waterfront.
For more information, visit anacostiawaterfront.org/
KenilworthSegment. To join the projects community
contact list or ask questions, please email
ddot.awi@dc.gov or call 202-741-8528.

Home to more than 800,000 residents,

43 species of fish and more than 200
species of birds, the restoration of the
Anacostia River Watershed and the
development of the Anacostia
Riverwalk Trail has twice been
identified as a priority project for the
Obama administration under the
Presidents Americas Great Outdoors
(AGO) initiative and the Urban Waters
Federal Partnership (UWFP). Both
initiatives seek to reconnect
Americans to the great outdoors and
revitalize urban waterways in under-
served communities across the
country.

Trail segment map showing completed and future Riverwalk Trail pathways
through the National Arboretum, Kenilworth Gardens and the River Terrace.

Updated: 8/25/2015