Frontline Parks:
Leading examples of urban parks creating economic, environmental and social capital through innovative partnerships

Potomac River Waterfront Park

In the shadow of some of the country’s most recognizable monuments, and above traffic on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge sits a new gem in the Washington D.C. metropolitan region. Nestled in Prince George’s County, Maryland, the Potomac River Waterfront Park welcomes tourists and locals alike.  The park sits along the shores of the Potomac River in Oxon Hill.  A hiker/biker trail winds its way up and over the busiest interstate in America (I-95) onto a landscaped superstructure, then connects onto the deck of the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge, linking trail systems in Maryland and Virginia.  As they follow the trails, visitors can stop and enjoy sweeping views of the capital city. Three hundred sixty degree panorama overlooks provide opportunities to take in the familiar sights from a new perspective.

A Modern Park for Modern Needs

Developed in cooperation with The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), The Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the park was ten years in the making.  With almost 250,000 trips generated since opening in June of 2009, the park is incredibly popular.  Construction was challenging due to permitting, soil conditions, tight staging areas and the need to keep 200,000 vehicles traveling through the site each day.   Straddling Interstate 95, this connects a huge metro region comprised of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.  This extremely complex, multi-jurisdiction effort was completed on time and under budget. The park provides recreational opportunities where none existed and is incredibly popular.

For more information about the Potomac River Waterfront Park, please visit the M-NCPPC at www.mncppc.org

 

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