Harmony With Our Environment
By connecting residents and visitors to the Potomac River and its shorelines, the Arlington Community Boathouse will inspire an interest in protecting the river from pollution for all who enjoy access. Additionally, early plans for the operation of the facility propose using it to provide access for watershed and river protection organizations.
The upper portion of the boathouse facility would have space to convene groups for instruction and environmental learning and the lower site would house the equipment needed for group exploration and nature study of the river ecosystem. Partnerships would be possible with local and national environmental and conservation groups. During the pre-planning phase, the Foundation has undertaken an intensive survey of trees and other vegetation to help with the protection and restoration of native plant communities during and after construction. Structural design will incorporate state-of-the-art sustainability features including on-site rain-water collection, natural lighting, and other nature-friendly elements.