The 5pm Post – Grand Opening of The Yards Park

Photos Courtesy of Vikrum Aiyer and the office of the Mayor

This looks awesome! Between this and the Georgetown waterfront development we’re finally getting some sweet river front options. From a press release from the office of the Mayor:

Nestled between Nationals Park and the historic Navy Yard, The Yards provides residents with additional outdoor green space along the water to visit and enjoy. The new park includes a public marina, a terraced riverfront performance venue, a quarter-mile long boardwalk with shops and eateries and a biking and jogging trail.

“The Park at the Yards is one of the key pieces in demonstrating the District’s commitment to the work of the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative,” said Deputy Mayor Santos. “It re-affirms Washington, D.C.’s place on the world’s stage of the best waterfront cities and will expand the ability of all District residents to partake in the beauty and vitality of the Anacostia River.”

The new waterfront park is just one part of The Yards, the largest economic development project currently under construction in the District. The $1.5 billion plan calls for 5.5 million square feet of retail, housing, office and civic space on 42 acres of land along the Anacostia River. With the participation of the District, the U.S. federal government, Forest City Washington and MacFarlane Partners, The Yards will include 2,800 units of residential and affordable housing, 1.8 million square feet of office space and 400,000 square feet of retail space. Phase 1 of The Yards is slated for completion in 2013.

Lots of great activities this weekend. From Capitol Riverfront BID:

“I’d like to let you know about the YARDS PARK GRAND OPENING on Friday, Sept. 10- Sunday, Sept. 12th. The Yards Park, DC’s new waterfront destination and a centerpiece of the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood, opens to the public for a weekend celebration. The Yards Park is like no other place in the region and offers the DC Region a new destination to enjoy the outdoors and the river. The Yards Park is 5.5 acres, which is the size of about four football fields, and cost $30 million. The Park design reads as a series of unique rooms—from the great lawn to the sculptural bridge, the waterfall/canal basin to the overlook and terraced steps– and provides for a variety of experiences within the Park.

The free event includes a variety of live bands on the boardwalk stage including 3 under the Eighteenth Street Lounge label and the local Red Lobster Buffet band; children’s activities such as a ship moonbounce, face painting, balloon hat making, crafts, a rock climbing wall, and more on Saturday; ArtWhino Beautiful Minds exhibit; beer gardens by Capitol City Brewery; free VIDA fitness classes on Saturday; Trapeze School demos; fireworks; doggie social and contests and much more!”

More photos including a full list of weekend activities plus a rendering of the completed project after the jump.