Washington DC, October 23, 2018 – The Anacostia Watershed Society and REI, joined by Friends of the National Arboretum, today christened a new dock that will provide more consistent and safer water access to and from the Anacostia River for the National Arboretum.
“As we celebrate 2018 as the Year of the Anacostia, we’ve seen tremendous demand for recreational access and we couldn’t be happier.” said Jim Foster, President of the Anacostia Watershed Society. “The completion of the Anacostia Riverwalk hiker/biker trail, the expansion of docks for canoeing and kayaking, the growth of stand up paddle boarding, and the summer Discovery Series boat trips are all contributing to the Anacostia becoming a valued recreational amenity, which is crucial to its long term stewardship.”
Replacing a smaller dock whose use was by limited by tidal changes, the new dock at the National Arboretum is part of a network of six public access points currently available along the Anacostia River, including:
- Bladensburg Waterfront Park in Bladensburg, Maryland;
- Bladensburg Wetlands, a restored marshland just north of the New York Avenue Bridge;
- Kingman Island, accessible from the RFK Parking Lots;
- The Anacostia Park boat ramp in front of the Aquatic Resources Education Center;
- The 11th Street Bridge Park site, where seasonal docks are accessible through Anacostia Park, and the
- Anacostia Community Boathouse, at 1900 M Street SE.
Installation of the new dock was underwritten by a grant from REI, part of their continued support for outdoor recreation and access to public lands.
“REI is proud to support the Anacostia Watershed Society in their work to revitalize the Anacostia River. Expanding access to the river is a crucial step in the process, and that’s why REI was thrilled to have the opportunity to support the installation of this new dock. The more people that get outside and use the river for recreation, the more people will care about its long-term health.” Seth Benschoter, Outdoor Programs and Outreach Mid-Atlantic Manager.
