Plan Your Visit
Hours: Sunrise-sunset, except by permitted use.
Use of launch limited to non-motorized vessels only.
Keep walkways and launch area clear.
All vessels must carry one Coast Guard-approved life jacket per person. Children under 13 must wear a life jacket and be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Park Rules Prohibit
Use of any motorized vehicles
Rafting of any vessel
Maintenance, repair, or painting of any vessel
Fishing except where posted
Swimming, windsurfing, jet skiing, or diving
Storage, including overnighting of any vessel
Alcoholic beverages
Skateboards, roller skates, roller blades
Grilling, open fires, or BBQ
Please Note
Use of this park is subject to, but not limited to, the Alexandria City Code Section 6-1-8. For non-emergency police assistance, call 703.746.4444. For general park and recreation information, call 703.746.4343 or visit alexandriava.gov/RPCA.
Public Notice
Four Mile Run Stream at Mt Vernon Ave/Arlington Ridge Dr is closed due to ongoing bridge construction through August 2027. Recreational boating is not permitted under the bridge. Boaters should turn around & proceed downstream. Click here for more information about the bridge reconstruction project.
Project Information
Four Mile Run Park (3700 Commonwealth Ave.)
The Kayak Launch is a partnership with the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation and the City of Alexandria, Virginia. It will provide the first public ADA -accessible Potomac River paddling access.The public water access point includes a raised boardwalk from the Four Mile Run trail to a gangway extending to a floating dock, while maintaining ADA-compliant slopes and level landings.
The project is consistent with the Alexandria Recreation Parks and Cultural Activities Strategic Plan (2018), the Alexandria Citywide Park Improvement Plan for Four Mile Run Park (2014), and the multi-jurisdiction Four Mile Run Restoration Master Plan (2006) to improve public access to Alexandria’s waterways.
In 2021, Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation completed design of the dock and boardwalk. All environmental regulatory approvals, including permits from the Army Corps of Engineers and Commonwealth of Virginia were completed in 2024.
The Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation was a recipient of a FY 2023 Community Matching Fund Award.
- March 2025: Groundbreaking and site preparation
- April 2025: Installation of helical piles and concrete abutments
- May 2025: Installation of boardwalk decking/railings
- May-June 2025: Attachment of gangway and floating launch
Fall 2025: Due to weather-related impacts, supply chain issues, and challenging soil conditions, the opening has been rescheduled for fall 2025. Major construction is now complete, and structural inspections are ongoing. An initial walkthrough has been conducted, and a punch list has been created. The contractor is addressing these items, with the facility anticipated to open later this fall.
The Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of this community partnership project. New signage will also be installed outlining the rules and regulations for use of the kayak launch, which is designed for small, non-motorized watercraft such as kayaks.
- December 2025: A soft opening of the Kayak was completed on December 4, and the facility is available for public use. A grand opening will be scheduled spring 2026.
- March 2026: The City and the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation will be hosting a grand opening to celebrate the completion of this community partnership project. Please check here for more news about the planned grand opening.
- June 2026: The grand opening was held with City Council and the project team on May 9.
The Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation completed the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) Draft Categorical Exclusion process, including the required 30 day public comment period. All documents pertaining to the NEPA process are available here.
Kayak Launch Closure & Repair Updates
The Four Mile Run Kayak Launch is currently out of service after sustaining significant damage during a summer storm in August. The storm caused the floating dock and gangway to detach from its stabilizing arm and the boardwalk, where it became lodged beneath the Route 1 bridge. The floating dock was retrieved from beneath the Route 1 bridge, and brought back to the boardwalk area. The City is prioritizing the repair efforts and working with the project team to assess the damage, determine the necessary repairs, and develop a plan for restoring the launch. The City is conducting a damage assessment this fall to understand the circumstances that contributed to the damage and to identify a reasonable long-term solution that will reduce the likelihood of a similar occurrence in the future. While the kayak launch is out of service, the existing concrete ramp to the water remains available for use until the kayak launch is reopened.
