ANACOSTIA COMMUNITY BOATHOUSE ASSOCIATION

Notes from the nonprofit

The Anacostia Community Boathouse Association (ACBA) is dedicated to safe and environmentally responsible recreation on the Anacostia River through the establishment of a community boathouse located at 1900 M Street in Southeast Washington, D.C.
ACBA sponsors programs that foster physical fitness and camaraderie, connect neighborhoods along the Anacostia River to the waterfront, and build a spirit of environmental stewardship of the river through increased recreational usage. Founded on a vigorous spirit of volunteerism, ACBA provides opportunities for non-motorized recreational water activities, such as rowing paddling, kayaking and canoeing, through its member organizations, which include four high schools, a university, four community-based clubs, and an environmental organization. During the spring, summer and fall, the ACBA facility has more than 800 daily users for rowing and paddling activities along the Anacostia River.
In partnership with the D.C. Government, the National Park Service, and other riverfront projects and interested community members, ACBA works to improve the boathouse facilities for the diverse communities along the Anacostia River and in the greater metropolitan Washington area. A permanent community boathouse on the Anacostia River will advance the improvements underway all along the river, attract economic development, and contribute to the restoration and revitalization of the entire Southeast Washington and Anacostia community.

ACBA takes advantage of the Anacostia River’s sheltered waters to provide wider range of opportunities for rowing, paddling, kayaking, and canoeing, for persons of all ages and levels of experience, from beginners to nationally competitive teams and elite athletes. ACBA continued to promote these opportunities in D.C. area public high schools and youth organizations. This required construction of a modern boathouse facility with indoor locker rooms and training equipment, and outdoor facilities sufficient to provide a safe environment for increased recreation, training, and hosting of major regattas. ACBA's member organizations run community outreach programs to build stewardship of the Anacostia River. For example:

• Capital Rowing Club has made significant progress towards reaching its ultimate goal of making rowing an accessible, affordable and fun activity for all residents of Washington, D.C. In addition to regular rowing practices early morning and late evening from late March to early November for its members, Capital Rowing Club offers community outreach programs such as Learn-to-Row Days, Youth Sports Day, Inner-city Youth Rowing Camps, novice rowing classes, corporate learn-to-row days, and rowing programs for high school, junior high school and youth once or twice a year; and hundreds of people turn up to take advantage of these activities. Capital Rowing Club also runs a much needed juniors program, Within Washington, DC, only one public high school, Woodrow Wilson, offe