Georgetown Waterfront Park

Georgetown Waterfront Park is a 10-acre urban park located along the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.'s historic Georgetown neighborhood. Completed in 2011, the park stretches from 31st Street NW to the Key Bridge, providing a vital link in 225 miles of parkland along the Potomac River from Cumberland, Maryland to Mount Vernon, Virginia.

The park features a mix of green spaces and hardscaped areas designed to complement Georgetown's historic character while offering scenic river views. Gently sloping grass hills and shade trees create pastoral areas for relaxation, while a wide riverfront promenade allows visitors to stroll along the water's edge. The park's curved pathways trace the natural bend of the Potomac, offering panoramic vistas of Theodore Roosevelt Island, the Key Bridge, and the Kennedy Center.

At the foot of Wisconsin Avenue, the park widens into a plaza with several notable features. An interactive fountain provides a popular splash area for children in warm weather. Nearby, a set of river stairs leads down to the water, doubling as seating for events like rowing regattas. A decorative steel pergola offers shade and references Georgetown's industrial past.

The park incorporates several sustainable design elements, including rain gardens and bio-engineered shoreline stabilization. Native plants are used throughout to create wildlife habitat and filter stormwater runoff before it enters the river. Nearly 80% of the former paved areas were replaced with permeable green space during the park's development.

Georgetown Waterfront Park serves multiple purposes for the community. It provides much-needed open space in a dense urban area, offers recreational opportunities like biking and kayaking, hosts community events, and helps protect the Potomac River ecosystem. The park has become a beloved gathering place for both local residents and visitors to enjoy nature and river views in the heart of the nation's capital.