Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens: Ward 7's hidden gem

Looking to connect with nature? Want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city? There is a beautiful destination in Ward 7.  Nestled in Ward 7's northeast Washington, D.C., just south of the Route 50, Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Kenilworth Avenue intersection, you can metro, bike, and canoe to get to the park.  There's no cost to visit or park.

Visitors can enter the Aquatic Gardens at 1550 Anacostia Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20019. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.  

In July, most visitors come to see the lotuses and water lilies.  During the summer, visitors have little trouble with mosquitoes unlike other parts of the city since birds and dragonflies gobble them up.  As you walk among the lily pads and lotuses, you'll encounter the boardwalk that takes you to the Anacostia tributary.  It's an amazing and peaceful place.    I saw different varieties of birds including schools of geese, heron, and cranes on my stroll.  It's a great place to take family or friends on a flat hike without leaving the city's boundaries.  

Ward 7 has a Happy Video

The East River Family Strengthening Collaborative got some Ward 7 neighbors together and made a Happy video.  Pharrell would be proud.

Walmart Rolls on in Ward 7

The Washington Business Journal recently reported a lease has been signed for the Walmart Skyland site in Washington, D.C.'s Ward 7.   The signing of the lease dispels any notion that the project won't go through, paving the way for much needed development in Ward 7.   The Wal-mart is not projected to open until 2017. Some noteworthy facts about the project include that about 22% of the $ 220 million financing is through an EB-5 green card investment and that 476 residential units as well as 324,000 square feet of retail will also be there.

A rendering of the proposed Walmart at Capitol Gateway.

But what about the Walmart at Capitol Gateway (the site that Walmart wanted and was not forced to build)?  The Washington Business Journal reported on the Capitol Gateway site back in September.

Ground breaking allegedly should take place on April 1, 2015 with another alleged commencement of construction to happen in the summer of 2015.  (Unfortunately, a lease has yet to be signed and since it took more than 8 months from the ground breaking for a lease to be signed for Skyland along with the delays, Ward 7 supporters of this project are not holding their breaths.)  Once completed, the site should offer a much needed grocery store, sit-down restaurant, urban farm, and transit oriented housing.