Aerial view of Anacostia River and Park/NPS

Local organizations, District of Columbia, state agencies, and the National Park Service staff have joined forces to launch the Year of the Anacostia. The Year of the Anacostia is a yearlong invitation to honor history, celebrate progress and enjoy the Anacostia River and its surroundings while envisioning an inspiring future.

Throughout the year, organizations are invited to host events, activities, programs, and projects along the Anacostia River to celebrate the ecological restoration, economic growth and community unity that surrounds the Anacostia watershed.

“The Anacostia River is a natural treasure in the nation's capital,” said Scott Kratz, director of the 11th Street Bridge Park, a project of the Ward 8 non-profit Building Bridges Across the River. “And in 2018 we have a wonderful confluence of anniversaries and events to celebrate the Anacostia River, its history and the communities that line its banks.”

In 2018, Anacostia Park, a national park in the heart of Washington, D.C., that offers fun, learning and inspiration on the banks of the Anacostia River, turns 100 years old.

“Thanks to the vision of those who came before us, Anacostia Park was preserved for us and future generations to enjoy,” said Tara Morrison, superintendent of Anacostia Park. “As we honor the park’s history, we have the opportunity to unite and uplift Anacostia Park into the signature park it was destined to be.”

Next year, the nation will commemorate the bicentennial of the birth of Frederick Douglass, whose historic home lies in the heart of the Anacostia neighborhood; officials also will mark the completion of D.C. Water’s Anacostia River Tunnel, which is expected to substantially improve the water quality of the river; D.C. Department of Energy and Environment and the National Park Service will make a final decision on the most effective way to clean up the Anacostia riverbed; and Major League Baseball will host its All-Star game at Nationals Park on the banks of the Anacostia.

“I truly believe that there is a vibrant future ahead for Anacostia River,” said Brenda Richardson, Ward 8 resident and interim managing director of the Earth Conservation Corps, a nonprofit that leads community focused projects for at-risk youth. “As we unite to celebrate the Year of the Anacostia, my hope is to encourage young people to appreciate and care for the natural resources that are right in their backyard, so that future generations can enjoy the Anacostia River in ways we couldn’t.”

Throughout 2018, you are encouraged to Find Your Park and be a part of the Year of the Anacostia. For more information, visit www.yearoftheanacostia.com.