| Anacostia Waterfront Initiative
On March 22, 2000, Mayor Anthony A. Williams, on behalf of the District of Columbia, and over a dozen federal agencies signed the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), creating a partnership that will govern the creation of a new vision and legacy for the Anacostia River and its waterfront communities.
The Initiative envisions a new, energized waterfront for this millennium, one that will unify the diverse waterfront areas into a cohesive and attractive mixture of commercial, residential, recreational, and open-space uses. The Initiative will coordinate waterfront development and conservation, develop enhanced park areas, and provide greater access to the waterfront from neighborhoods on both sides of the river, as well as from the Mall, Capitol Hill, and Downtown.
Mayor Williams has mobilized his administration through the DC Office of Planning to work with the General Services Administration, the National Park Service, and other partners to develop a comprehensive plan for the Anacostia Waterfront. Over 90 percent of the riverfront is publicly owned by the Department of Defense, the National Park Service, and the District of Columbia. The MOU signing begins an ambitious effort incorporating a broad range of activities:
- Community workshops addressing river-wide opportunities
- A Southeast Neighborhood and Southeast Federal Center workshop organized by the General Services Administration and its Center for Urban Development and Livability
- Dialogue with the Southeast community to create a broad vision for the Waterfront
- Short- and long-range plans for the Poplar Point, Anacostia Park, and RFK Stadium areas, working in conjunction with the National Park Service
- A riverwalk plan, produced with the help of the Department of Transportation, that connects the various environments along the river to surrounding neighborhoods and the rest of the District
- Local labor force development through the "Bridges to Friendship" and related programs
- A plan that coordinates various strategies into a single vision for the Anacostia waterfront
- An Anacostia Waterfront Summit that wraps up all of the activities of the Initiative
The Anacostia Waterfront Initiative, together with concurrent private and community efforts, creates a waterfront that rivals all other great urban waterfronts and enhances the District of Columbia's reputation as one of the most beautiful national capitals in the world.
Riverwalk
The Riverwalk and Trail are major components of the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative. The U.S. Department of Transportation has provided funds to plan a thoroughfare suitable for walking, biking, and other recreational activities adjacent to the Anacostia River. The Riverwalk and Trail will give all of the District's residents easy access to the Anacostia riverfront.
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