The History Of Kingman Island

                           Kingman Island

Introduction:

Kingman and Heritage Islands are located in the middle of Anacostia River, which runs through the eastern half of Washington, DC. These islands were created in 1916 when the United States Army Corps of Engineers used dredged sediment from the Anacostia River to form the islands. Kingman and Heritage Islands were originally intended to be a park and recreation area for people living in nearby neighborhoods. However, the islands were never developed for this purpose and they sat neglected for several decades. Over the years, many people and organizations have had different ideas for how these islands should be developed and used.  Plans for Kingman and Heritage Islands that were never brought to fruition include an airport, public housing and a 40 million dollar theme park. Today, the islands are being restored for their original purpose; to provide an area in Washington, DC for people of all ages to learn about the natural environment.

Things To Do                   
Biking
Boating
Birding
for more on things to do
http://www.kingmanisland.org/?page_id=15

Kingman and Heritage Islands: A Time of Neglect 1940s-1970s  

The decades spanning the 1940s to the 1970s was a time that saw neglect on Kingman and Heritage Islands. As early as 1941, there were reports of homeless people taking refuge on Kingman Island.During World War II, victory gardens were grown on Kingman Island by people residing in the nearby neighborhoods. All kinds of produce were grown, including tomatoes, greens and peppers.

Another failed proposal was in 1962, when it was suggested that the Kingman Lake area (including Kingman and Heritage Islands) become the next city dump. While this area never became an official city landfill, the city dumped environmental waste (leaves, grass clippings, cut trees) onto Kingman Island for many years until the 1990s. Private companies and citizens also illegally dumped unwanted trash onto the island. It was not until recent years that clean-up occurred on Kingman Island and decades of trash could be carted away.

The next major threat to the environment on Kingman and Heritage Islands came in 1969, when the District of Columbia was looking to build low-income housing on the entirety of Kingman Island (closing Langston Golf Course in the process). The National Park Service refused to turn over the land for this purpose and the plans quickly dissolved.

for more info: http://www.kingmanisland.org/?page_id=144

BY: John Lewis & Alijauan Epps