Riverside Center

Parks & People has been the proud owner of the Riverside Center since Spring 2004. In just over one year, the Center has become a hub of activity in the park! For example, the park's daily maintenance is headquartered here and many community meetings are held in this building. In the summer of 2004, a community-wide public arts project called Art on the Block decorated the walls and curbs surrounding our center with mosaics to honor the history and heroes of this stream-valley. In addition, we are excited to announce that the Riverside Cafe and Farmstand will start offering local, organic produce and healthy food this coming summer. Stay tuned for more details on the exciting developments taking place!

Watts Branch Park (View a watercolor map of the entire stream-valley)
5200 Foote Street, NE
Washington, DC 20019
Phone: 202-398-PARK (202-398-7275)
Fax: 202-398-7275
Email: info@washingtonparks.net

Directions to the Riverside Center

Walking and Metro--
Orange Line: The Minnesota Avenue Metrorail Station is located next to the Ladybird section of Watts Branch Park. Walking to the Riverside Center from the Minnesota Avenue Metro should take about 20-30 minutes.

Blue Line: The Capitol Heights Metrorail Station is located next to the Capitol Gateway section of Watts Branch Park. From the Capitol Heights Metro, the Riverside Center is a short 10-15 minute walk. We recommend walking in groups.

Walking from the Minnesota Ave. Metro: Cross Minnesota Avenue and turn left to head north along Minnesota to Hunt Place, where you turn right, next to Miss Charlotte’s Crab Cakes. Walk in 1 block and go right up the steps at 42nd and Hunt, (far right hand side). Turn left at the top of the stairs and walk along the path past the Hayes cul de sac on the right all the way to Gault. Turn left onto Gault and walk 2 ½ blocks to 46th Street. Make a right and enter nature trail. Stay on the trail as it winds through the nature sanctuary and past the Lederer Environmental Center. At 49th St, the path ends, walk along Nannie Helen Burroughs for 2 blocks and the path re-emerges on your right. Follow it another 2-3 blocks to Division Avenue and Foote St. Our building is on the Foote Street cul de sac at Heritage Park -- the second building on the left side of Foote after crossing Division -- #5200.

Or turn left onto Minnesota Avenue and walk down several blocks to Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue (Wendy’s on far right corner). Walk down ¾ mile and turn right onto Division Avenue (Strand Theatre and BP gas station.) Walk one block and turn left onto Foote St. Our building is on the corner of Foote and Division Ave. This route is more direct but longer and not so pretty.

Walking from the Capitol Heights Metro: Walk diagonally across the East Capitol Street and Southern Ave. intersection to 61st Street. Walk south one block on 61st St. and link to the park trail on the left at the end of the block. Walk approximately 9 blocks on the trail to the Heritage Green section of the park and the Riverside Center is located to the right of the park/trail (behind H.D. Woodson High School.) It should be a quiet, easy, and beautiful 10-15 minute walk in the park.

Bus and Metro--
It is easier to connect to a bus from the Minnesota Avenue Metrorail Station. At the station, take the U8 bus towards Capitol Heights. This will take you up Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave for about ¾ of a mile to the third traffic light, at Division Avenue (corner of Division and Nannie Helen Burroughs, next to the Strand Theater and BP gas station), where you will get off of the bus, turn right and walk one block to Foote Street, where you tun left. From Minnesota Ave the whole bus process will take about 15 to 20 minutes. Remember to get a Metro bus transfer so the bus fare will be just $.35.

Car--
Check out www.mapquest.com for road directions. There is ample parking on the street at Foote St and Division Avenue.

Driving Directions from Josephine Butler Parks Center (2437 15th St, NW):
1. Go south on 14th Street to U St
2. Turn LEFT on U St and go STRAIGHT. At 7th Street, U Street becomes Florida Avenue (again). Cross over North Capitol Street; pass Gallaudet University on your left.
3. Florida Avenue turns right at H Street/Benning Road. Turn LEFT at the first light onto H Street/Benning Road.
4. Go through the stoplight and continue along Benning Road, past the Langston Golf Course and Kingman Island, across the Anacostia River.
5. Cross a medium sized bridge and swing into the left lane. Turn LEFT at the first light onto Minnesota Ave. 6. Take Minnesota Ave approximately ½ mile, passing the Minnesota Avenue Metro station on your left, to Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue and turn RIGHT (Wendy’s is on the far corner.)
7. Take Burroughs for approx ¾ mile to Division Ave (third light on Burroughs) and turn RIGHT. At the corner of Division and Nannie Helen Burroughs is the Strand Theatre and BP gas station.
8. Turn right onto DIVISION AVE, and 5200 Foote St is one block down. Turn left at the corner of Division and Foote St and park in the cul de sac. Our building is on the corner of Division Avenue and Foote St, NE with the entrance on Foote Street -- #5200.

Driving Directions from points south:
1. Take 295 N towards DC
2. Take the BURROUGHS AVE exit towards MINNESOTA AVE
3. Turn right onto NANNIE HELEN BURROUGHS AVE NE. (Wendy’s is on the far corner.)
4. Go straight on BURROUGHS for about 3/4 mile to DIVISION AVE. At the corner of Division and Nannie Helen Burroughs are the Strand Theatre and a BP gas station.
5. Turn right onto DIVISION AVE, and 5200 Foote St is one block down. Turn left at the corner of Division and Foote St and park in the cul de sac. Our building is on the corner of Division Avenue and Foote St, NE with the entrance on Foote Street -- #5200.

Driving Directions from Baltimore and points north:
1. Take 295 S towards DC
2. Take the BURROUGHS AVE exit towards MINNESOTA AVE. When you come off the exit you will come to an intersection of stop signs. To your right is Kenilworth Park.
3. Turn left under the overpass onto NANNIE HELEN BURROUGHS AVE NE.
4. Go straight on BURROUGHS for about 3/4 mile to DIVISION AVE. At the corner of Division and Nannie Helen Burroughs are the Strand Theatre and a BP gas station.
5. Turn right onto DIVISION AVE, and 5200 Foote St is one block down. Turn left at the corner of Division and Foote St and park in the cul de sac. Our building is on the corner of Division Avenue and Foote St, NE with the entrance on Foote St.

Driving Directions from the Eastern Shore and points east:
1. Take US-50 west
2. Take the MD-201 S exit towards I-295/Kenilworth Ave.
3. Merge onto 295 S
4. Take the BURROUGHS AVE exit towards MINNESOTA AVE
5. Turn Left onto NANNIE HELEN BURROUGHS AVE. NE.
6. Go straight on BURROUGHS for about 3/4 mile to DIVISION AVE. At the corner of Division and Nannie Helen Burroughs are the Strand Theatre and a BP gas station.
7. Turn right onto DIVISION AVE, and 5200 Foote St is one block down. Turn left at the corner of Division and Foote St and park in the cul de sac. Our building is on the corner of Division Avenue and Foote St, NE with the entrance on Foote St.

Read about the current status of the Down By The Riverside Campaign at Watts Branch Park or the campaign's history or articles that have appeared in various publications. Take a virtual tour of Watts Branch by viewing the Watts Branch Photo Gallery.

You may also use the Contact Us page of this website to send us a message.