Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens: A birder's paradise
Anacostia is one of those areas both Washingtonians and tourists tend to avoid due to a poor historic safety record, but in reality it is one of DC's best kept secrets. Situated along the Anacostia River, the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Garden is a designated flood plain segregated by the government to create a wildlife and nature sanctuary as it had likely existed for millenia.
Kenilworth is part of the National Audubon Society and is the only national park focused on aquatic plants. The entire park is 77 acres of marsh, featuring mud flats and an easy, peaceful 1.5-mile river trail that visitors can hike along. Artificial ponds were created to encourage growth of aquatic plants, such as lily pads and lotuses, which peak in spring and cover the entire area with bright color. Many migratory birds return here year after year, including herons, shorebirds, rails, sparrows, orioles and rusty blackbirds, among many others. It's a prime spot for bird enthusiasts, and even regular visitors get caught up in the search for different avian species.
The gardens were created by Walter Shaw in 1880, who purchased the land from his in-laws and cultivated the aquatic gardens with white water lilies from his home state of Maine. In the 1920s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wanted to take the gardens over for flood control, without paying a dime. The Shaws lobbied hard and in 1938, Congress purchased the gardens and turned it into a park. The gardens have remained unchanged since.
People can visit the gardens by foot or even arrive by canoe. Every fourth Saturday of most months, volunteers gather in the morning to help clean up debris and trash, clear invasive plants and pull out autumn debris from the ponds. Major events include Earth Day, Public Lands Day and Lily Festival.
HelloWashingtonDC Tip: Recent efforts to continue preserving the land include a 5 cent surcharge on plastic bags in all Washington stores that sell food in an effort to reduce plastic bag waste in the Anacostia River. It's encouraged citizens and commuters of Washington to bring reusable bags. Remember that when you go shopping, especially in D.C. grocery stores.
Posted by Rin-rin Yu
