Groundbreaking Set For Waterfront Plaza In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Construction of the waterfront plaza off King Street will soon begin. A groundbreaking ceremony is set for Saturday, March 17, from 8 a.m.-9 a.m., at 1 & 2 King Street. The public is invited to the ceremony, which will happen rain or shine.

Located next to the existing Waterfront Park, the new King Street Waterfront Park will encompass the location of the Old Dominion Boat Club, a current park at the foot of King Street and a parking lot.

The project comes from OLIN, the designers of Bryant Park in New York City and will undergo construction in two phases. The first is an interim plaza, scheduled to open this coming fall for the public to enjoy until construction can begin on the final plaza design.

The interim space will offer extensive views of the Potomac River, a lawn area, a multi-use space for events, a marina terrace with movable tables and chairs, a river terrace and a promenade path connecting the existing Waterfront Park with the plaza.

The plaza will change throughout the year to offer seasonal activities. Some of the concepts under consideration include pop-up markets, festivals, live music and a temporary ice rink.

The final plaza would open in 2027 under the estimated timeline. The design will include a interactive water feature, shade structure and other amenities. Construction tentatively won't begin until 2026 when flood mitigation infrastructure is in place.

Community members can learn more about the project at a pre-construction meeting Wednesday, March 7, from 6 p.m.-6:45 p.m. at City Hall, Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, (301 King Street). City staff and the the contractors, Demolition Services and Pivot Construction, will discuss the expected construction timeline and answer questions on the interim park.

See the video below for more about the interim park's features.

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Renderings via City of Alexandria