Washington Canal Park – a National Model for Sustainability
A new stunning public park on the site of the historic Washington Canal in the heart of DC ’s Capitol Riverfront neighborhood opened to the public in November of last year. Completed in 2012 Canal Park has transformed three empty lots into a sustainable neighborhood gathering place and destination for the entire city. One of the first parks built as part of the District’s Anacostia Waterfront Initiative, Canal Park has been designed as a vibrant social gathering place and an economic catalyst for the surrounding neighborhood. This is one of the first parks established under the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative - a project developed in 2004 with the aim of restoring the environment in the Anacostia River Basin (Anacostia River), one of the three rivers, which bound the U.S. capital.
Canal Park is located in the southeastern part of the city, covering an area of 1.2 hectares between the streets of M and I (in Washington DC, many of the streets, going from east to west, are designated by letters, and from north to south – by numbers. - Ed.). The park is also a model of sustainable design, serving as a pilot project for the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES™) and a candidate for LEED® Gold certification. The most compelling argument for sustainable landscapes, and the slogan splashed across SSI literature, is that Landscapes Give Back. They give back in cleaner water and air, cooler cities, mitigation of climate change (all that sequestering of carbon), resource conservation and regeneration, greater energy efficiency, habitat conservation and biodiversity, lower costs and improved performance from stormwater management, and better living conditions.
The three-block site was once a part of the historic Washington City Canal that connected the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. The canal was paved over in the 1870s and most recently served as a parking lot for school buses. Inspired by the canal’s heritage, Canal Park’s design evokes the history of the area with a linear rain garden reminiscent of the Washington Canal and three pavilions, designed by STUDIOS Architecture, which recall floating barges that were once common in the canal. The park features diverse amenities, including a cafe with outdoor seating, an interactive fountain, an ice skating path, play and performance areas, and sculptures by artist David Hess. Each block is given its own unique identity within a cohesive urban experience.
The Canal Park Development Association, in partnership with the Capital Riverfront Business Improvement District, will host numerous events throughout the year, such as movies and concerts, holiday and seasonal festivals, farmers markets, art expositions, educational and environmental programming, storytelling events, and more.
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Materials provided by OLIN