Photo courtesy of Maryland.gov.
At THI we believe that just because a river runs through an urban area, it shouldn’t be valued any less than its rural cousins. Healthy urban streams can be a huge asset to a community and all life is dependent upon that resource.
The Anacostia River is the “other” river running through our nation’s capital. Although not as well-known as the Potomac, the Washington Post reports that the Anacostia is becoming a major fitness destination. The Post describes the enthusiasm of Lee Cain, director of recreation for the Anacostia Watershed Society, like someone referring to a rock star on the verge of releasing a hit album.
“It’s about to blow up,” says Cain, describing the popularity of the Anacostia riverfront. The 24-year-old nonprofit organization is devoted to restoring the Anacostia with a “confluence of projects is set to make the banks and waters of the Anacostia some of the most attractive real estate in town for folks looking to exercise.”
None of it would be possible without the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, a path that’s beckoning cyclists, joggers and strollers to wind their way along both sides of the river. The D.C. Department of Transportation has opened 12 miles of the 20-mile project, and work is about to begin on the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens segment, a four-mile stretch that will connect Benning Road to Maryland’s Bladensburg Trail. That’s likely to be the most scenic part of the route and the most significant: It will link the D.C. trail to more than 40 miles of trails in Maryland.
