813.1 The contrast between the District's two waterfronts—the Potomac and the Anacostia—has been well documented. Virtually the entire Potomac shoreline north of Hains Point is publicly accessible, with such amenities as the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal towpath, Georgetown Waterfront Park, Thompson Boat Center, and Theodore Roosevelt Island. The shoreline affords stunning views of the District's monuments and picturesque vistas across the river to Virginia. On the other hand, much of the 22 miles of shoreline along the Anacostia River, while inaccessible, is natural and relatively undisturbed. In 2003, the Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan set a visionary and ambitious agenda for the revitalization of the Anacostia waterfront as a world-class destination and the center of 21st-century Washington, DC. The Anacostia Waterfront Initiative (AWI) set in motion a transformation that includes new mixed-income neighborhoods, environmental restoration, transportation infrastructure, enhanced public access, new connected parks, and cultural destinations. Fifteen years after the AWI Plan, the turnaround of the Anacostia waterfront is a national model for urban rivers in terms of environmental restoration, public access, economic development, and inclusive growth.

813.2 Along the Potomac, the District's priority is conserving the federal parklands, retaining public access, and improving access where it does not exist today. Along the Anacostia, the District has created a system of interconnected and continuous waterfront parks that establish access to the river for recreation, from signature locations like Yards Park to improved facilities like Kenilworth Recreation Center, all joined by the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. However, despite these significant achievements, several recreational and open space improvements have yet to be realized. Map 8.3 provides an overview of completed and ongoing projects along the Anacostia waterfront. The Area Elements should be consulted for additional detail.

813.3 Policy PROS-3.2.1: Preserving Waterfront Open Space Recognize the importance of Washington, DC's waterfronts for recreation, public access, ecological protection, and scenic beauty.

813.4 Policy PROS-3.2.2: Connecting Neighborhoods to the Rivers Develop open space linkages between the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and adjacent neighborhoods using stream tributaries such as Watts Branch and Pope Branch as a framework for linear parks between the shoreline and nearby residential areas.

813.5 Map 8.3: Overview of Completed and Ongoing Projects along the Anacostia Waterfront

Source: DC Office of Planning, 2018

813.6

Policy PROS-3.2.3: Linking Residents to Waterfront Park Spaces

Establish stronger multimodal linkages between the waterfront and adjacent upland neighborhoods, including Deanwood, Mayfair, Kenilworth-Parkside, River Terrace, Fairlawn, Twining, Kenilworth, Historic Anacostia, Carver-Langston, Kingman Park, Hill East, Capitol Hill, Barney Circle, Southwest, and Buzzard Point. Maximize public access to the waterfront from these areas through the development of a continued riverwalk and shoreline trail, natural shorelines, green infrastructure along streets, improved public transportation, redesigned bridges and freeways, additional pedestrian access routes, and the extension of neighborhood streets and avenues to the water’s edge.

813.7

Policy PROS-3.2.4: Waterfront Visibility and Accessibility

Improve access to the shoreline parks from across Washington, DC, and reduce barriers to waterfront access created by railroads, freeways, and non-water-dependent industrial uses. However, no freeway or highway removal shall be undertaken prior to the completion of an adequate and feasible alternative traffic plan that has been approved by the District government.

813.8 Policy PROS-3.2.5: Water-Oriented Recreation Provide for a variety of water-oriented activities—including fishing, boating, kayaking, and paddle-boarding—on the District's rivers. Recognize both the Anacostia and Potomac rivers as vital aquatic resources than can accommodate kayaking, canoeing, sculling, fishing, and other forms of water-oriented recreation.813.9 Policy PROS-3.2.6: River Facilities Coordinate with federal and private partners to create a network of facilities along the Anacostia and Potomac rivers that provide water access, recreational equipment, educational space, and other amenities. These amenities must be equitably distributed along the rivers and easily accessible from nearby neighborhoods.813.10 Policy PROS-3.2.7: Shoreline Access On waterfront development sites under District jurisdiction, require public access to the shoreline unless precluded by safety or security considerations. Incorporate natural shorelines where appropriate.813.11 Policy PROS-3.2.8: Waterfront Park Design Waterfront parks shall be designed and planned to maximize the scenic and recreational value of the rivers. Features such as parking lots and park maintenance facilities should be located away from the water's edge, and environmentally sensitive resources should be protected.813.12 Policy PROS-3.2.9: Upper Potomac Waterfront Partner with NPS and other federal agencies to conserve open space along the Potomac waterfront and to protect the wooded and scenic qualities of the Potomac Palisades and adjacent islands and shoreline. Support efforts by NPS and partners to restore, reimagine, and revitalize the C&O Canal National Historic Park.813.13 Policy PROS-3.2.10: Lower Potomac Waterfront Support additional public access to the Potomac waterfront from the mouth of the Anacostia River southward. While general access is currently restricted due to existing uses (such as that by Bolling Air Force Base), the District should identify long-term opportunities for shoreline open space and recreation, in the event that federal needs and use of this land change.

See also the Urban Design Element for additional policies and actions related to shoreline development and aesthetics and the Lower Anacostia Waterfront/Near Southwest Element for additional information about the planned shoreline parks.

813.14 Action PROS-3.2.A: Anacostia River Park Improvements

Work collaboratively with the federal government, the private sector, and community and nonprofit groups to implement the open space improvement plans of the AWI. Planned improvements include:

1. A major destination park at Poplar Point;
2. Restored natural areas at Kingman and Heritage islands;
3. New parks, including recreational fields, around RFK Stadium;
4. Continuous bicycle and pedestrian trails along the waterfront and new pedestrian crossings on the upper reaches of the river;
5. New neighborhood parks and athletic fields within redeveloping areas along the waterfront, including the Southwest Waterfront, Buzzard Point, Near Southeast, and Hill East; and
6. Enhancements to the existing waterfront parks.

For more details on these planned parks, see the Lower Anacostia Waterfront/Near Southwest Area Element and the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative Framework Plan.

813.15 Action PROS-3.2.B: Signage and Branding

Work with NPS to develop and implement a consistent system of signage and markers for the Anacostia and Potomac waterfronts.

813.16 Action PROS-3.2.C: Anacostia River Boating

Develop additional marine facilities, including rowing centers, appropriately scaled boathouses, boat slips, and piers along the banks of the Anacostia River as recommended in the Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan. All new marinas should become Clean Marina Partners. Implement boating access improvements utilizing the Boating Access grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife & Sport Fish Restoration Program.

813.17 Action PROS-3.2.D: Anacostia Riverwalk

Construct new sections of the Anacostia Riverwalk according to the Buzzard Point Vision Framework's riverwalk design guidelines. Work with Fort McNair to extend the Anacostia Riverwalk along the Washington Channel and design it to

include co-benefits, such as enhanced security and flood protection for the base and ecological restoration features, thereby completing a key piece of the District-wide riverwalk system.

SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996 effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996 effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).