Yards Park

One of the best things that’s happened in D.C. over the past decade is the revitalization of the waterfronts along the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. One of our favorite areas is Yards Park, a large park on the banks of the Anacostia with great landscape architecture and views.

The iconic white pedestrian bridge is the hallmark of the park:

Splash Pool

There’s a long 11-inch deep wading pool by the Anacostia River.

At the end of the pool, there are “dancing fountains” with colored lights, and room to walk behind them – a favorite for both adults and kids.

Festivals and activities

There are constant events at the park – including a summer concert series, yoga, and social runs. Some of our favorites are the large festivals held several times a year – most of them free.

Side Yards

Side Yards features a variety of side-show performers. Here are scenes from the Side Yards held two weeks ago.

Light Yards

Light Yards is a display of artistic light installations. The next Light Yards will be on display from December 1 to January 1. While we don’t yet know what it will look like this year, here are some of the past years’ displays:

Noon Year’s Eve

Noon Year’s Eve is a family-friendly event held during the day on December 31st.

Eating

Lots of restaurants surround the park, and there is ample grassy areas for picnics.

Birds and sunsets

Given the site on the Anacostia River, you can see lots of shore birds and great sunsets.

Yards Park was created by a public/private partnership between the D.C. government, GSA, and the Forest City Washington development company, and was designed by landscape architect M. Paul Friedberg. The park is administered by the Capital Riverfront Business Improvement District.

For information on upcoming events, check out the The Yards site and the Capital Riverfront BID.