The Anacostia Riverwalk Trail in Bladensburg, Md. A new segment will finally connect Bladensburg with the portion of the trail that runs through D.C. (Photo by Mr. T in DC)

A phalanx of officials from the District, Maryland and the federal governments introduced today the designs for a missing segment of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. While complete along the 40 miles that run through Maryland, the trail gets a bit patchy in D.C., especially approaching the border between the District and Bladensburg, Md.

Construction will begin next year on the four-mile Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens segment, the officials said today. When finished, it will connect Bladensburg Road NE in the District with Bladensburg Waterfront Park, in Maryland.

The project is being jointly funded by the District, Maryland and the U.S. Department of Transportation. The new segment will complete a 20-mile trail through the District that snakes past landmarks including the National Arboretum, Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, Nationals Park, the Washington Navy Yard and the Southwest Waterfront.

Of the $15 million to be spent on completing the trail, $3.5 million will come from D.C.’s coffers, $1.5 from a bicycle path fund launched last year by Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and the remaining $10 million from a Transportation Department grant.

Attending today’s announcement were D.C. Mayor Vince Gray, O’Malley, Deputy Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and Donna Edwards (D-Md.).

Work isn’t scheduled to begin until next spring. For now, here are some sketches—featuring pedestrians!—of what the finished segment will look like:
Anacostia Riverwalk Trail – Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Segment Designs