D.C.'s First Elevated Park Slated to Open by 2019

By mid-2019, 11th Street Bridge will be reconstructed into an elevated park and civic space with spaces for performances, public art, plazas, play areas, and kayak and canoe launches. The design by OMA + OLIN for the Anacostia River freeway bridge was chosen after a seven-month nationwide competition organized by the Washington D.C. Government and local non-profit, "Building Bridges Across the River at THEARC."

Urban Turf reported that pre-construction will begin this fall with the beginning of the environmental assessment and due diligence for load testing on the old piers. Scott Kratz, the director of the park, told Urban Turf that this process is expected to take two years.

This past May, the City Council approved an amended budge for the fiscal year 2016 that stated, "No funds allocated for the Park may be awarded or disbursed for purposes of construction until at least 50 percent of the total projected construction costs of the project have been raised from private donors."

Additionally, District funds will be prohibited from going towards operations or maintenance of the elevated park. So far, $11 million has been raised for the construction of the park. According to Urban Turf, Washington, D.C. has confirmed $8.35 million over the next few years. The whole project is expected to cost approximately $45 million.

· 11th Street Bridge Park Aims For 2019 Opening [Urban Turf]
· OMA + OLIN Design Chosen for First Elevated Park in D.C. [Curbed DC]
· $40M Elevated Park Needs 50 Percent of Funding from Donors [Curbed DC]