Written by Aria Brent,
Afro staff writer,
abrent@afro.com
For decades, the rift between the two communities on either side of the Anacostia River has served as a physical expression of differences in race, socioeconomic status, and even life expectancy.
Now, D.C. officials are working with Comcast, the nation's largest multinational telecommunications and media conglomerate, to bridge that gap, both literally and figuratively.
The local nonprofit Building Bridges Across the River has been working with the City of D.C. for nearly a decade to find ways to reuse the old 11th Street vehicle bridge. After many conversations, the two organizations are now working together to renovate the space into an education center, performance space, and park with a cafe and common spaces.
The team will provide free public Wi-Fi throughout the park, and the education center will feature digital training skills classes and 15 laptops for use by the community. The project is scheduled to begin construction in August 2024 and be completed by the end of 2026.
For more than a decade, the 8th Ward community has held countless meetings to discuss bridge renovations, design concepts, and reuse.
“We heard the enthusiasm for the idea and said, 'Okay, what should we do?' [in] park? What kind of programs should we have in this new civic space that serves the community?' We heard some great ideas,'' said Scott Kratz, Senior Vice President of Building Bridges. . “They came up with ideas such as an environmental education centre, a performance space where local voices, culture and art can be amplified, access to the river with kayak and canoe launches, a safe space for intergenerational play and a cafe. I had it.”
Focused on keeping the community first when developing the concept for this multi-million dollar project, the City and Building Bridges also launched an international design competition in 2014. The community participated in a variety of ways by participating in contests and participating in the selection process. That helped us choose the design team for the project.
Kratz said community members are looking forward to seeing their ideas come to life as the project's construction progresses on schedule. He also explained how much effort is being made to ensure that gentrification and displacement do not prevent the people who helped shape the park from enjoying and using it.
“We have launched a larger effort to do what we have been doing since the beginning: to go back into our communities and support affordable housing investments, Black entrepreneurs, and small businesses across the East. “It's about looking at where there are actions that we can take, whether it's protecting our rivers, training our workforce or investing in arts and culture,” Kratz said. “We want to make sure those same residents who have gone through difficult times on the east side of the river can have a good time here.”
Since 2015, Ward 8 residents have been able to receive resources for housing and career training in a series of programs established through the Building Bridges Equitable Development Plan.
The organization has invested millions of dollars in Black-owned businesses in the area through pro bono technical assistance and grants to balance the revenue generated by the parks. A total of $92 million has been invested through the Equitable Development Program. Invested in the improvement and development of the East Anacostia community.
The work Building Bridges is doing is already benefiting the 8th Ward community. The impacts associated with reusing the bridge are expected to change the lives of some residents. Public programs focused on providing access to free public Wi-Fi in and around the parks, free laptops, and increasing digital literacy are part of Comcast's solution to bridging the gap between Bridge Parks. These are just some of the ways we plan to do so as a department. community.
“In fact, we know that in the 5th, 7th, and 8th wards, people who subscribe to home internet service have lower enrollment rates. Low Digital Literacy [rate] It's because they don't understand how to use the Internet to help with work and home,” explained Misty Allen, vice president of government affairs and community impact for Comcast's Beltway region.
Allen noted that about 28 percent of D.C. residents do not have internet access at home. Low levels of digital literacy, particularly in the Bridge Park community, reflect the fact that some members are older and less accustomed to using the Internet. She explained that living in the age of technology has brought a series of challenges to community elders and lack of resources.
“Some communities are also overcoming fear and resistance. When you think about our seniors, they are faced with the need to embrace technology like never before,” Allen said. Stated. “Many of our banking operations have become digital, and even doctors are pre-screening digitally before attending an in-person appointment. , we need to help them really connect to the digital world.”
For more than a decade, Comcast has worked with organizations like Building Bridges to bridge the digital divide that exists in many communities. The communications giant is backed by his $1 billion initiative called Project Up, which focuses on the endless possibilities that can arise when people access digital resources.
Kratz shared: Afro The City Transportation Bureau is reportedly preparing to recruit a general contractor for this project in May of this year.
Although the bridge will take nearly two more years to complete, the project is highly anticipated and people are already imagining all the things it will bring to the community.
Kratz hopes the space will serve as a place for residents and guests to reconnect.
“This will be a place where you can reconnect with nature,” he said. “We can reconnect with the river, and the rivers can reconnect with each other.”
