11th Street Bridge Park
OMA + OLIN
PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE / CIVIC LANDSCAPE
PROJECT OVERVIEW
A Bridge Reimagined as a Platform for Equity
The 11th Street Bridge Park transforms a former vehicular bridge into a vibrant public space spanning the Anacostia River—redefining infrastructure as a tool for connection, equity, and community investment. Stretching the length of three football fields, the park is designed not only as a destination, but as a catalyst for social and economic change.
Developed by OMA and OLIN in collaboration with Building Bridges Across the River, the project reconnects communities historically divided by physical and economic barriers. Through its Community Preservation Plan—backed by over $101 million in funding—the park actively supports workforce development, small business growth, and housing stability to ensure that longtime residents benefit from the investment.
More than a public space, the Bridge Park is a model for equitable development—where design is used to strengthen communities, not displace them.
Where infrastructure becomes opportunity. Where connection creates equity.
THE ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT
Designing for Connection, Culture, and Community
The design of the 11th Street Bridge Park is rooted in both physical and social connectivity. Its signature X-shaped form—inspired by ideas from local youth—creates multiple pathways of movement, culminating in a central plaza that brings people together across the river.
The park integrates a wide range of programmatic elements designed for multi-generational use, including a 250-seat amphitheater, an environmental education center, an urban farm, and spaces for recreation and performance. Features such as a kayak and canoe launch reconnect residents to the Anacostia River, while a hammock grove shaded by over 180 native trees creates opportunities for rest and reflection.
Public art by DC-based artists is embedded throughout the design, ensuring that cultural storytelling is not an addition, but a foundational part of the space. The result is an environment that balances ecology, community, and culture—creating a dynamic civic landscape shaped by the people it serves.
Architecture as a connector—bridging environment, culture, and community.
ARTIST INTERPRETATION
Currents of Connection
“Currents of Connection” reflects the movement of water, people, and culture—translating the spirit of the 11th Street Bridge Park into a layered visual narrative. Inspired by the flow of the Anacostia River, the work explores how connection extends beyond physical space into shared experiences and collective memory.
Through fluid forms, dynamic composition, and interconnected imagery, the installation captures the energy of communities coming together across boundaries. The work mirrors the park’s intention—creating pathways that link people, histories, and futures.
By weaving movement, environment, and culture into a unified visual language, the installation reinforces the idea that connection is not static—it is active, evolving, and deeply human.
Flow together.
Connect deeply.
Build across boundaries.
THE COLLABORATION
Where Architecture and Art Intersect
The collaboration between OMA, OLIN, and artist Dunnie Onasanya transforms the 11th Street Bridge Park into a multidimensional narrative of connection, culture, and equity. Through the integration of architectural design, environmental systems, and artistic expression, the project extends beyond a physical structure into a lived community experience.
The installation reflects the layered intentions of the park—combining architectural imagery, community-driven programming, and fluid artistic forms that echo the movement of the river and the people it connects. This dialogue between design and art reinforces the park’s role as both infrastructure and cultural platform.
Together, the collaboration highlights how design can actively shape more inclusive and equitable futures—ensuring that connection is not only built, but sustained.
A shared vision—bridging communities through design.
11th Street Bridge Park
PROJECT DETAILS
Public Infrastructure / Civic Landscape
FIRM
OMA + OLIN
ARTISTS
Dunnie Onasanya
THEME
Equity, Connection & Community Development
YEAR
2025