DC Park Aims for Equitable Development

Planners for a new park in Washington, D.C. want to avoid the pitfalls encountered during the development of New York City’s High Line, writes Cari Shane in Fast Company.

The 11th Street Bridge Park, first proposed a decade ago, will transform a defunct bridge into a pedestrian-only park that will connect the two sides of the Anacostia River. Scott Kratz, head of the 11th Street Bridge Park project, says he and his team want to avoid the “eco-gentrification” that drove up housing costs and displaced residents near the High Line.

“One of the most important ideas behind the project was to make sure that the Black community east of the river benefited from the added value that the park would bring,” such as programs that help renters become homeowners and small business owners buy their properties. According to the article, “In total, $86 million has been invested on the equitable development side of the bridge park project. That includes $14 million in charitable donations raised by the bridge park and an investment of $72 million from the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a federally certified nonprofit that serves low-income communities throughout the U.S.”

The article details the plan for the park, designed by Dutch firm OMA and U.S.-based landscape architecture studio Olin. Construction is expected to begin in early 2024.