Share your thoughts about trail, safety, and waterfront improvements in Old Town North

Editor's note: This article has been modified from the original; the public meeting was rescheduled for January 12, 2026. It was previously scheduled for October, 2025.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -The National Park Service (NPS) invites you to help shape a plan for safety, trail, and waterfront improvements near the Old Town North neighborhood. Your input will guide future upgrades along George Washington Memorial Parkway, the Mount Vernon Trail, and the Potomac waterfront in connection with the proposed 18.8-acre mixed-use redevelopment district on the site of the former coal-fired power plant.

What's proposed

Mount Vernon Trail and Potomac River access: add new trail connections, replace the aging cantilevered trail bridge and widen portions of the trail. Create river overlooks, and new recreational access to the Potomac River.

Transportation and Safety upgrades: redesigned intersections at Slaters and Bashford Lanes, with added safety features such as bike lanes, crosswalks, and signals.

More public space: expanded riverfront access, improved views, and coordinated park areas with the nearby redevelopment district.

How to participate

At the time of the meeting, join via: https://hilcoglobal.zoom.us/j/99568224577

If this link does not work automatically, please go to https://zoom.us/join and enter Webinar ID: 995 6822 4577. If you do not have Zoom installed on your device, you may be prompted to install it on your computer or download the app on your mobile device.

You can call into the meeting (no video) using the following phone numbers:

Phone Number: 1-301-715-8592 or 1-312-626-6799

Phone Webinar ID: 995 6822 4577

The meeting will be recorded and will be posted online if you are not able to attend the live session.

Comment period: January 12 - February 12, 2026

Why it matters

This is one of the busiest sections of the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Mount Vernon Trail. With your feedback, improvements will make it safer, more accessible, and more enjoyable for everyone.

Accessibility

If you need reasonable accommodations, please email Christine Bruins at least seven days before the meeting.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

The National Park Service National Capital Region cares for iconic parks, memorials, monuments, battlefields, and parkways across Washington, D.C., and portions of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia- places that keep the nation's shared heritage safe, beautiful, and welcoming for millions every day.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's more than 430 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.