Things We Take For Granted: Yards Park

image by Claudia Holwill

When I moved to the southeast side of the Hill eight years ago, I remember looking down my street on sunny days and seeing a sliver of water glistening in the sun and thinking how cool it would be to have a river walk there like the one in Old Town. I love being by the water and the river looked so close…but fences and an industrial-type area separated me from a place to sit by the water.

Eight years later, I got my wish. Instead of developers creating a new barrier by installing big buildings with exclusive access, they created Yards Park, and I think they did a pretty terrific job. I usually think of “things we take for granted” as established things that we have forgotten the worth of. Yards Park is new but I sometimes feel like it is already forgotten – or at least still undiscovered – by many. Maybe it’s because it’s on the far end of the neighborhood, or maybe it’s because there are not as many destinations in Near Southeast/Capitol Riverfront (yet) that brings people by there. Whatever the reason, I want to make sure people know that yes, developers do still care about bringing green space back to the city and we have a pretty great new park in the neighborhood.

image uploaded by MudflapDC on Flickr

It has a modern look, and the boardwalk reminds me a lot of a deck on a ship (maybe because the view to the east is a large naval ship?). The terraced lawns along the boardwalk and the rock garden on the west end of the park provide countless spots to sit and day dream, read a book, or chat with a friend. And there is more to come! The buildings around it are still being developed, the east end of the park is still under construction and the “dog run” has temporary fencing that doesn’t do a very effective job of confining dogs. So while it looks great now, it’s going to look even better in a few more months.

If you haven’t stopped through yet, or if it’s been a few weeks since you have, take a walk down there this weekend. Pack a picnic and sit on the grass and watch the river, or bring a book and soak up some of the warm fall sun.

image by Claudia Holwill

My favorite time of day there is the early morning, when the sun is casting long shadows along the foot bridge and walls. The fountain turns on at 8am, and sitting there listing to it when no one else around is one of the most soothing ways you can start a morning. Sunset is also quite lovely there, watching the sun set behind the stadium and South Capitol Street Bridge. Who knew a day would come when you would actually want to sit along the Anacostia River and watch the sun set behind the South Capitol Street bridge? Well, unless you are a former mayor with a thing for crack.