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As we close out a summer full of community gatherings, we were once again reminded
of the value Christ Church’s front lawn provides to the congregation and the community. I am excited to share that the property upgrades funded by the RiverSmart grant we received in 2023 will formally break ground in early September. With these upgrades, we can expect aesthetic and safety improvements to the walkways and front hillside area, as well as new, environmentally-beneficial stormwater drainage to protect DC waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. These improvements will contribute to our goal of making Christ Church’s physical space as welcoming, safe, and nature positive as it can be. The project design is a product of a combination of inputs and requirements from Riversmart, the
DDOE, and the Capitol Hill Historic Society. Find out more about RiverSmart here.
What will change at Christ Church?
Most noticeably, the front walkways of the Church will transform from concrete to red brick per requirements from the historic review board. The concrete area immediately in front of the main Church entrance will replaced with brick-like permeable pavers to allow for storm run-off to sink into the earth and new drainage system, which will run underground along the front walk. In order to maintain continuity of aesthetics and improve pedestrian safety while maximizing cost-effectiveness, the Vestry has approved the non-RiverSmart-funded walkways be replaced with the same brick at the same time. The walkway and stairs on the Western side of the lawn leading toward the Rectory will be removed entirely and replaced with grass.
In addition, RiverSmart will oversee new landscaping of the sloping front area immediately adjacent to the G Street sidewalk. A new mix of native and non-native plants and flowers will be installed across the bayscape, further improving the aesthetic of our front lawn.
We will share any special instructions for entering and exiting the church during the work period as we near the start date. A special thanks to the many parishioners who made the RiverSmart project a reality, especially Greg Holeyman, Carrie Miller, Beth Mullin, Derry Riedel, and Chris Wilson. With any questions or comments, feel free to reach out directly.
We are excited for the next chapter for the front lawn and many more memories to come.
John Billington
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