The DC Office of Motion Picture and Television Development is pleased to honor Kingman and Heritage Islands Park in Southeast Washington as the April 2014 One City Location of the Month. Originally created by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1916 using dredged sediment from the Anacostia River, Kingman and Heritage Islands serve as a recreational area where residents and visitors can enjoy and learn about the natural environment. The islands offer a striking, yet charming contrast to the District’s traditional urban backdrop and offer scenic views of natural plant and wildlife in the nation’s capital rarely depicted in film and television.
The Kingman and Heritage Islands are located in the middle of the Anacostia River near RFK Stadium and it is bisected by Benning Road and Benning Bridge, with the southern half of islands bisected by East Capitol Street and the Whitney Young Memorial Bridge. The islands, which also encompass a 30 acre park, include both wetlands and a forest that are home to many different species of fascinating plants and wildlife including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
Over the years, many ideas have floated around on how the islands should be developed and utilized including an airport, public housing and an amusement theme park. While the islands have continued to serve as a recreational space for nearby residents, there are restoration plans in place for an environmental education center to be built on the property. Kingman and Heritage Islands are currently being managed by an environmental education non-profit called Living Classrooms and it is owned by the District of Columbia government under the direction of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development.
In 2011, the DC Film Office launched One City Location of the Month to bring attention to the wide range of varied, cinematically compelling locations that are available to film and television productions. Former One City Location of the Month recipients include the Hillcrest neighborhood in Southeast, Union Station in Northeast, the Maine Ave Fish Market in Southwest, and the Howard Theatre in Northwest.
To learn more about Kingman and Heritage Islands Park and to view photos, please visit the One City Location of the Month feature on our web site. If you are interested in using the islands for a future filming location, please contact us at [email protected].