Washington Waterfront Walk
Washington D.C. has waterfronts along the Potomac River, the Washington Channel and the Anacostia River and most of these areas are parklands. In 1997, the National Capital Planning Commission called for connecting these areas from Georgetown to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial grounds, then southwest along the Washington Channel, and then east and north along the Anacostia River to the National Arboretum. The 2003 report, The Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan, prepared by the DC Office of Planning in coordination with District, Federal and Regional partner agencies, has been very important in outlining and achieving a comprehensive approach to the Anacostia River corridor, guiding park improvements and public and private development. In the past 23 years, considerable progress has been made, especially with the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. However, there are still gaps. The Committee of 100 on the Federal City has been very interested in encouraging the completion of this overall connected waterfront concept, what we call the “Washington Waterfront Walk (WWW)”.
The Trust for the National Mall and the National Trust for Historic Preservation are now involved in a program to review and suggest solutions to current problems with the Tidal Basin. This can also provide an opportunity to address the larger waterfront opportunity.
Documents
C100 Letter Townsend Tidal Basin Ideas Lab- May 24, 2020, Kirby Vining
C100 letter to Catherine Townsend, President and CEO of the Trust for the National Mall, dated May 24, 2020, thanking her for her response to the C100 letter to her dated May 12th expressing our concern that the Washington Waterfront Walk concept be included in Trust considerations for the Tidal Basin Ideas Lab. - C100 Letter Townsend Washington Waterfront Walk Concept
- May 12, 2020, Kirby Vining
In its 1997 report, Extending the Legacy, the National Capital Planning Commission called for, "a continuous band of open space [along the District's
riverfronts] from Georgetown to the National Arboretum along the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers". - C100 Comments Comprehensive Plan For The National Capital Federal Elements - Parks Open Space Element
- May 7, 2018, Stephen A. Hansen
We like the new organizational structure, the key principles, the discussion of designed landscapes, and the categorizations of different types of parks and open space with associated policies. We also applaud the emphasis on protection of the L’Enfant Plan, McMillan Plan, and viewsheds. The discussion is intelligent and thorough and the policies will be helpful as criteria in helping the Commission make recommendations and decisions on proposed projects. We have two major and somewhat related concerns:
1. We are dismayed by the lack of specifics, i.e., any plans or objectives relating to specific park and open space needs or issues.
2. The revised “goal statement” (p. 3) to “protect and enhance the parks and open space system” does not include an important concept in the 2004 Element i.e., “ensure that adequate resources are available for future generations.”
