Does the Plan to Revitalize a D.C. Canal Too Much Resemble the High Line?

Controversy over a plan to revitalize the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal in Washington, D.C. has some questioning whether the High Line in New York City is the best model for the adaptive reuse of public space.

1 minute read

July 18, 2019, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Georgetown Canal

Manokhina Natalia / Shutterstock

David Alpert reports from Georgetown in Washington, D.C., where a plan to overhaul the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal has been questioned as an "ill-advised attempt to recreate New York’s wildly successful [sic] 'High Line' park."

"The National Park Service, which controls the canal, has been working with the Georgetown Heritage, the DC government, and Georgetown’s Business Improvement District to create a new plan for the canal," according to Alpert. "Georgetown Heritage, a nonprofit which advocates for the canal’s preservation, calls it 'unlocking the potential' of the canal, which opened in 1831."

A local organization by the name of the Committee of 100 on the Federal City, committed to, in its own words, sustaining and safeguarding the fundamental values of the L’Enfant and McMillan Plans, is leading the criticism of the National Park Service plan.

Among the proposals for the C&O Canal, are plans to return mule-drawn boats on the canal and add more access points to the canal, among other ideas.

Tuesday, July 16, 2019 in Greater Greater Washington

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

People with bikes ordering at food trucks outdoors.

Raleigh Launches Greenway Food Truck Pilot to Enhance Park Experiences

Raleigh’s new Greenway Food Truck Pilot Program brings local food vendors to popular greenway locations to enhance park experiences, support small businesses, and encourage community use of public spaces.

1 hour ago - City of Raleigh

"Units for sale - contact your local realtor" sign in front of homes.

‘Displaced By Design:’ Report Spotlights Gentrification in Black Neighborhoods

A new report finds that roughly 15 percent of U.S. neighborhoods have been impacted by housing cost increases and displacement.

May 19 - Next City

Turquoise blue Pyramid Lake near Reno, Nevada.

Nevada and Utah Groups Oppose Public Land Sell-Off Plan

A set of last-minute amendments to the budget reconciliation bill open up over half a million acres of federally managed land to sales.

May 19 - Inside Climate News

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.