Yards Park

Located along the banks of the Anacostia River in southeast D.C., in an area that was once an annex to the Washington Navy Yard, several blocks east of Nationals Ballpark, The Yards Park is a 5.5 acre public park designed to be the centerpiece of the mixed-use project known as The Yards.

Waterfront Park features recreation areas, landscaped gardens, public art, a pedestrian bridge, and walking paths that connect the site with other developments along the waterfront. The Park also provides a vital link to tourism and leisure use, as it serves as a vital link to the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, which passes through the site.

The project includes many unique features such as a high-end Brazilian hardwood located on the promenade that winds along the river’s edge of the property. The benches are constructed of 400-pound stone with serpentine inserts and are situated amidst the well-landscaped lawn. The bridge has LED lights underneath and along the hand rails. The hand rails, like everything else on the bridge, were custom-fabricated. The Great Lawn features a precast paver walkway and also a dog-run area.

The canal consists of clean water where pedestrians are encouraged to dip their feet. At one end of the canal there is a waterfall feature under which pedestrians can walk along with an interaction water fountain.

Awards

2008 Merit Award, ASLA

2010 Engineering Excellence Honor Award, ACEC Metropolitan Washington

2011 Engineering Excellence Honor Award, ACEC National

2011 “Best New Public Space” Washington City Paper

2011 Excellence in Structural Engineering, Structural Engineers Association

“Your team has fostered a successful and positive working relationship with the architect, Forest City, and the other various and often demanding stakeholders. Your staff has been responsive, professional, and thorough, and has continually demonstrated the technical expertise needed for this complex and challenging project.”

– Gregory B. Spivey, Former VP Construction | Forest City Washington