For George Washington Memorial Parkway and Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration

The entire George Washington Memorial Parkway is a 25-mile designed historic cultural landscape along the southwest bank of the Potomac River. The 5 year rehabilitation project, addressing the deteriorated 10-mile north section of this scenic vehicular route, extends from the Key Bridge to Interstate 495.  A fundamental component of the National Capital region transportation system, this National Park is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Completed in 1962, the northern Parkway follows the sinuous route of the Potomac River Gorge, highlighting steep cliffs, dense woods, and panoramic views across the river and to the monumental core in Washington DC. Heritage Landscapes serves the parkway rehabilitation team of Fort Myer Construction and WSP as the preservation landscape architect guiding the design and construction process aligned to the original design. Our collaborative tasks included:

• Research design and as-built stonewalls, views, median, woodlands and open slope vegetation
• Consult on integrating contemporary safety details
• Provide detailed guidance for wall repair and reconstruction with new core
• Prepare guidance for replanting areas impacted by construction
• Develop median and outfall planting plans
• Prepare the Vista Rehabilitation Guide

The Vista Rehabilitation Guide provides detailed treatment recommendations to enhance fifteen selected historic viewsheds through vegetation management and slope stabilizing turf and wildflowers. Our work contributed to preserving and improving the parkway conditions to ensure that it remains a viable link in the regional transportation network and functions as a National Park and scenic corridor.

GWMP North Construction Documents and Administration for Historic Features and Plantings, GWMP Vista Rehabilitation Guide

Heritage Landscapes LLC in collaboration with Fort Myer Construction and WSP team