Why We’re Looking Forward to 2022

During these last 20 months, it’s been helpful to look forward to key 11th Street Bridge Park milestones. Read below to hear about what excites us most in 2022.

Completing Design!

In January, we’ll have drilling equipment in the field taking soil samples as we finalize our engineering drawings. And this spring, we’ll go in front of two important federal design agencies for the last time – the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission. Once we receive final approval, we should be at 100% design by late spring when our partners at the District Department of Transportation will start the process to solicit our builder. Moving forward!

Celebrating all Things Anacostia

Save the date for Sunday, April 10, 2022 when we’ll host our 8th annual Anacostia River Festival – a partnership with the National Park Service and the National Cherry Blossom Festival. This year’s event will be in person and showcase canoeing, fishing and a giant stage featuring the music and sounds of D.C. along the banks of the Anacostia River. We’ll set up a big stage and work to make sure everyone can enjoy the event in a safe way. We will once again partner with Don’t Mute DC to identify and book local Go Go bands along with neighborhood high school marching bands. Can’t wait to celebrate with you all!

Designing with Equity

For the last seven years, we’ve been implementing our community driven equitable development plan ensuring the same tens of thousands of residents who have shaped this project can stay and thrive in place. This work continues in 2022 with a brand-new pilot covering closing costs for graduates of our Ward 8 Home Buyers Club. We’re working to preserve east of the river businesses and last year built out new websites for several black owned businesses in partnership with the Anacostia Business Improvement District. This year we are excited to launch an ad campaign bringing more attention to their beautiful sites. Finally, we’ll kick off our 21st construction training program in early 2022 and convene four similar park projects from Grand Rapids, Buffalo, San Francisco in Dallas to learn from each other. 

Bridge Park Plots

In 2022 we will announce our seventh Bridge Park Plot, urban farms created in collaboration with local non-profits and communities of faith. These farms located in neighborhoods around the Bridge Park site support our annual C.R.I.S.P. CSA – weekly fresh fruits and vegetables distributed to residents. Registration for our spring CSA session will open in May. We’ll also launch monthly workshops including this free Teas & Tinctures program on Saturday, January 15. And in March, we’ll once again host a mushroom inoculation workshop – stay tuned!

Finally, we want to hear from you! Please reach out with questions, ideas or suggestions to help shape your park. I can be reached at scott@bridgepark.org. Until then, wishing you and your family a happy and healthy new year and look forward to seeing you in 2022!