Wheelchair AccessibilityAt Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, we care about providing fun, engaging, and educational spaces to learn about our natural wildlife that are accessible to the whole community. Nearly all of the areas that are available to the public are also wheelchair and mobility-aid accessible. You can listen to the chirrups and trills of the **native** birds while you peruse the Water Lily ponds, bask in the sun alongside the bunches of turtles from the broad viewing platforms at the Boardwalk, and follow the flow of the Anacostia River while walking the River Trail. All areas are equipped with accessibility ramps where needed, and are kept free from obstructions with a wide berth to navigate around in our beautiful natural landscapes. This includes all trails, the Parking Lot, our Picnic Area, the Boardwalk, and the Visitor's Center complex which comprises the Visitor's Center itself, a water fountain and water bottle refill station, and our public Restrooms. Two wheelchairs are available for use, and can be requested at the Visitor Center Information Desk or by calling 202 692-6080 for assistance.
NPS ParkingOur parking lot features standard parking spaces and an accessible aisle with two 14' wide van-accessible parking spaces on either side (four total) of the aisle with plenty of space to accommodate a van equipped with a wheelchair lift. These spaces are marked in blue and white with the ADA accessible parking symbol clearly visible on the pavement. The accessible aisle ends in a curb ramp that allows access to the Garden Trail which leads into the main areas of the park, and is also the path to the visitor’s center. The parking lot is paved, well-maintained, and on an even grade.
NPS Garden Trail: Entrance to the ParkThe Visitor's Center and the rest of the park is accessible via the Garden Trail, which begins at the parking lot in a 42'' wide curb ramp. The trail is surfaced with pea gravel, which has been well-worn and does not shift underfoot. It is no less than 4.5' wide throughout its 150 meters and has a rating of Beginner by the US Park Services standard. The path is free from larger obstacles.
NPS Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Visitor's Center - Access to InsideThe Visitor's Center can be reached via a wheelchair-accessible ramp leading up to the Visitor's Center complex. It is 5.6' wide and 13' long with an incline of 5%. The ramp includes three 90° turns, but with plenty of room to navigate. For our guests who may need seating to rest, there are two backed benches at the top of the ramp. There is also seating inside of the Visitor's Center itself. The doors to the Visitor's Center have accessible low turn-weight door handles of less than 5lbs, and the doorway is 30" wide with a slight threshold. No obstacles or obstructions on the ramp or on the landing. The inside of the Visitor's Center is carpeted and wheelchair navigable.
NPS Information Desk and BookstoreThe information desk is located in the gift shop, on the left-hand side of the Visitor's Center. The information desk is of a single height, that of a half-door; with no lower wheelchair-accessible portion. Please request assistance as needed.Two wheelchairs are accessible for use- please request one here or call ahead of your visit to request one. The office number to request a wheelchair is 202 692-6080. There is also a gift shop and bookstore located inside the Visitor's Center, with materials about and relating to the wildlife found in and around the park, and information about the history of the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens. There are also gifts here, and all purchases go on to continue to support the park. The bookstore is navigable in a wheelchair.
NPS RestroomsWe have publicly available restrooms located directly next to the Visitor's Center. The restrooms are gender-segregated and feature wide-clearance doors. The doors do not require more than five pounds of exertion to open and swing inward.The Men's restroom has one Wheelchair-accessible stall and two standing urinals, as well as one accessible height sink.The Women's restroom has one Wheelchair-accessible stall and 2 standard stalls, as well as one accessible height sink, and one standard height sink.
NPS Drinking Water AccessThere is a drinking fountain with an attached water bottle refill station as well as a pet bowl provided for guests and their pets. It is located in between the entrance to the Visitor's Center and the restrooms, accessible via the accessibility ramp that leads to the Visitor's Center complex. The landing space in front of the water fountain is 64'' x 68'' which allows plenty of room to maneuver.
NPS Picnic AreaThe Picnic Area can be found directly next to the Visitor's Center, and features 30 picnic tables that are spread out with plenty of space in between. While picnic tables cannot be considered "wheelchair-accessible tables", most picnic tables have clear space on either end. Guests may want to note that there are no grills available for use.Restrooms may be found directly next to the Visitor's Center and can be accessed via the accessibility ramp that leads to the Visitor's Center complex.A drinking fountain is also located between the entrances to the Visitor's Center and the restrooms, accessible via the same accessibility ramp that leads to the Visitor Center and restrooms. The path landing space in front of the water fountain measures 64'' x 68''.
NPS Benches and seatingWe provide seating in the form of benches and picnic tables that can be found throughout the park and trails to allow a place for guests to rest, or just to sit and take in the scenery. Backed benches can be found in most areas, including next to the entrance to the Visitor's Center. Picnic tables are not considered wheelchair-accessible tables. Although, most picnic tables have clear space on either end.
NPS Self-Guided TourThis tour has thirteen "stops". Each stop presents information about the garden and park. It includes historic pictures and facts about the park as well as documented information about native wildlife and conservation efforts. Visitors are welcome to bring binoculars and cameras to use during their visit but are not allowed to take or touch any of the natural resources including lotus seed pods, turtles, plants, fish etc. Maps for this tour are available in the visitor center. A visit to the park typically lasts two hours during which time you can learn about the history of Kenilworth by reading our exhibits, view the restored marsh and native flora/fauna from our boardwalk, and take a leisurely walk around the Lotus and Water Lily ponds. Visitors are encouraged to explore the park on their own, the main areas with tour stops being the Garden trail leading to the greater Park area, The Ponds trail system running through the Lily and Lotus Ponds, the Boardwalk winding through the tidal marsh, viewing ponds behind the Visitor’s Center, and the Picnic Area, for when you need to take a rest or have a snack. All paths and trails are wheelchair and mobility aid accessible, but they are not paved and all visitors are encouraged to explore the gardens and park with a buddy. Paths tend to be clearly marked, but paths surrounded by grass and dirt may be more difficult to traverse during or after periods of heavy rainfall, and they may become harder to navigate than usual, as this area is especially vulnerable to flooding.
NPS Garden TrailThe Garden Trail winds along the edges of the marsh giving a beautiful and up close view of some of the wildlife that can be found in the protected areas of the park. Some areas closer to the edges of the marsh may become less accessible after heavy rain or flooding. Visitors with vision impairments should be cautious around the end of the ponds, as there is no railing to designate the edge of the water. The trailhead is connected to the parking lot via a 42'' wide curb ramp directly in front of the accessible aisle. The Garden trail is surfaced with well-worn pea gravel, is 150 meters long, an average of 5' wide (4.5' wide at its most narrow point) and has a downhill slope entering the park, averaging 5% that can increase to up to a 10% slope in certain places. It features several picnic tables off the right side of the trail that provide seating and serve as a rest area for guests. There are also two foot tall wire and plastic board signs with historical information about the park as you enter along the edge of the trail, so please be cautious if you are using a vision support cane.
NPS Ponds TrailThe Ponds Trail is a network trail with a pea gravel and natural grassy dirt surface that weaves through a matrix of different sized Lotus and Water Lily ponds, with a perimeter loop that is ½ mile in length. There is no designated trailhead for this trail, and it has four different entrances that range from the top of the main park area near the end of the Garden Trail, down to the far end of the Picnic Area which is to the right the Visitor's Center. There are information boards throughout the trail that give information on the different types of aquatic plants living there. In addition to the flora, different times of the year bring different species of water birds, migratory birds, and even the occasional muskrat! Guests will also find benches along the trail, approximately every 30 meters, that provide seating for those who wish to take a rest or desire to just sit back and take in the beautiful wildlife and landscapes. Some of these benches are on a pedestal and some are not so please be cautious when approaching them. At the far bottom-corner of the trail system is where the entrance to the Tidal Marsh Boardwalk can be found.
NPS BoardwalkThe Boardwalk extends ¼ mile long, deep into the marshes, and features two raised viewing platforms that give an excellent view of the exciting and diverse quagmire that surrounds them. The entrance and beginning of the Boardwalk can be found at the bottom corner of the far edge of the Ponds Trail. It is constructed of neatly joined wooden planks, no less than 7.24' wide, with a 5% incline along the entire length, except for a small avoidable portion that reaches a 10% incline on approach to the first viewing platform. This portion can be avoided by approaching the platform from the other direction, which is the longer way around. There are handrails for support surrounding both viewing platforms as well as on both sides of the Boardwalk for the portions that pass through the marsh. Two 20 meter stretches of the Boardwalk cross through an island-like area, for which there are no handrails.
NPS River TrailThe River Trail is a 1/4 mile linear trail rated "Easy", that runs alongside the Anacostia river and intersects with the Anacostia River Trail (ART) at its end. The trailhead is located next to the northernmost Ponds Trail entrance, right above the end of the Garden Trail. This dirt trail is an average 5' wide, 4.5' at the most narrow point, and has an incline ranging from 5% - 10%. Since it is a linear trail, guests wishing to walk this trail must walk back the same distance to return to the main park area, making a round-trip 1/2 mile in length. |
Last updated: April 5, 2024