Georgetown Parking Lot Gets New Life as Waterfront Park

Below the bustle of Georgetown, and beneath the rumble of traffic on the Whitehurst Freeway and the whine of jets at Reagan National Airport, sits a riverside oasis of manicured grass, holly trees and maroon and yellow pansies.

Once a parking lot for D.C. dump trucks and a depot for storing road salt, the Georgetown Waterfront Park formally opened Oct. 4 at Wisconsin Avenue and Water Street NW.

It is the first of a two-phase, $17.5 million development that will cover about 11 acres along the Potomac River near the Key Bridge, said Bill Line, a spokesman for the National Park Service, which helped build the park and will maintain it.

"What we did . . . was to say that phase one was completed and that phase two construction is now to begin," Line said.

Officials attending the opening ceremony included D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D), Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), D.C. Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) and National Park Service Director Mary Bomar.

The first phase, which covers seven acres, is landscaped with shrubs, trees and metal benches as well as a decorative green and tan cement sculpture resembling a maze.

Three unfinished benches that overlook the river will have scenes of Georgetown etched into their green and white granite, Line said. In addition, attached to a wooden bench is an all-weather public journal that had entries a few days after the park opened.

"Thanks to the people that did this," a visitor named Gala wrote. "Today I came alone, but tomorrow I'll come with my husband to enjoy our time in front of the water. Today I saw a kissing couple, so maybe I'll do the same for next time with my husband. . . . The best park in Washington D.C."

Jenna wrote: "I used to park my car in this park. I think the grass is much nicer."

Another visitor commented: "Nice site. Nice place. Nice people. . . . Nice to be here."

Line said the second phase of the park, expected to be finished in about two years, will have a plaza and steps to the water, where visitors can relax or watch boat races.

"Compared to what it was 25 years ago . . . it's a dramatic improvement," Line said.

The finished project will complete a 225-mile ribbon of parkland extending along the Potomac from Mount Vernon to Cumberland, Md., he said.