Potomac River | ALXnow

Alexandria dedicates memorial for victims of 2025 DCA mid-air collision

Published June 2, 2026 at 1:45PM

Pilots at the dedication of the Potomac River Mid-Air Collision Memorial on Monday, June 1, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Surrounded by friends, family and regional leaders, a memorial was dedicated Monday at Rivergate City Park in Old Town North to the 67 victims of the mid-air collision near Reagan National Airport on Jan. 29, 2025.

To an audience of victim families, American Airlines staff and regional officials, Audrey Patel played an old happy birthday message from her husband, Vikesh Patel, who was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 5342. Behind Patel at the waterfront stands the memorial, a simple bench with the inscription, “May the 67 lives lost over these waters on January 29, 2025 be forever remembered.”

Around Town

New 20-foot sculpture quietly installed at TideLock development in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published June 1, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated June 2, 2026 at 12:31PM

Sculptor Christian Benefiel’s art installation in Old Town North (staff photo by James Cullum)

A new art installation near the Potomac River in Old Town North was quietly installed over the weekend.

Sculptor Christian Benefiel, on Saturday, installed and put the finishing touches on Beacon 3, a commissioned piece at the TideLock office-to-residential development (1033 N. Fairfax Street) in Old Town North. The piece was constructed over the last year from welded steel and resembles a nautical beacon and satellite with jet engine parts.

News

State health officials push safe swimming pledge after young child drownings rise in 2025

By Emily Leayman

Published May 21, 2026 at 2:45PM

Person swimming (photo via Brian Matangelo/Unsplash)

After pool drownings of children 5 and under reached a five-year high last year in Virginia, state health officials are urging families to take a “safe swimming pledge” as pools open for the season.

In 2025, there were 12 accidental drownings of children aged 5 and under in Virginia — more than the nine reported over the prior three years: three in 2024, two in 2023 and four in 2022. Virginia reported 473 drownings in all bodies of water between 2020 and 2024.

Around Town

Volunteers needed to help run four tall ship tours at festival next month in Old Town

By Emily Leayman

Published May 20, 2026 at 11:45AM

The Tall Ship Providence sails to its new home, The Senator John Warner Maritime Heritage Center at Waterfront Park (staff photo by James Cullum)

As Alexandria prepares for a major waterfront festival next month, the Office of Historic Alexandria is seeking hundreds of volunteers to assist with four tall ship tours.

The city put out a call for volunteers to take shifts at the Sails on the Potomac waterfront festival from June 12-14, one of the city’s America250 events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. A highlight of the three-day festival will be free timed tours of four tall ships — Swedish Navy warship replica Kalmar Nyckel, Royal Navy schooner replica Sultana, historic fishing vessel Gazela and Alexandria’s own Continental Navy ship replica Providence.

News

Alexandria to install memorial for victims of 2025 mid-air collision next month

By James Cullum

Published May 6, 2026 at 11:45AM

On Feb. 5, 2025, locals in Alexandria gather at a vigil for the 67 victims of the Jan. 29, 2025 midair collision over the Potomac River (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Alexandria leaders will install a memorial bench next month at Rivergate City Park honoring the 67 people who died in last year’s mid-air collision over the Potomac River.

The City, in partnership with U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8), will install the memorial from 5:30-7 p.m. Monday, June 1, in the northeastern area of the park at 2 Montgomery Street in Old Town North. The memorial includes the bench, newly planted trees and a plaque with the names of the 67 victims from American Airlines Flight 5342 and the PAT 25 U.S. Army helicopter.

News

Community meeting lined up for power plant site’s mixed-use plan in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published April 14, 2026 at 1:45PM

The overall view of Block B looking west along the Potomac River, at the former Potomac River Generating Station (via City of Alexandria)

The owner of the dilapidated former Potomac River Generating Station in Old Town is hosting a community meeting next month on mixed-use redevelopment plans for part of the site.

HRP Group‘s virtual community meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, May 4 from 6-7 p.m. Under discussion will be the special use permits for Block B and Block C (both submitted in July 2025), as well as open space along the waterfront and Norfolk Southern rail corridor.

News

Alexandria clerk of court to officiate weddings aboard Tall Ship Providence

By James Cullum

Published March 30, 2026 at 1:45PM

The Senator John Warner Maritime Heritage Center at Waterfront Park is home to the Tall Ship Providence (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Clerk’s Office is expanding its wedding offerings yet again.

After a successful run last fall with its costumed “Halloweddings,” Clerk of Court Greg Parks will officiate 18 weddings aboard the Tall Ship Providence on Friday, May 15, at Waterfront Park in Old Town.

News

New kayak launch on Four Mile Run wins Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award

By Emily Leayman

Published March 26, 2026 at 8:30AM | Updated March 27, 2026 at 12:05PM

New Four Mile Run kayak launch (via City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities/Facebook)

A new kayak launch now open at Four Mile Run Park in Alexandria is one of 11 projects that earned a Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award from Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

The Four Mile Run Conservancy, in partnership with the city, completed the public kayak and canoe launch with a 187-foot raised boardwalk ramp, 775-square-foot floating dock, a roller-entry launch, wheelchair transfer platform and 30-foot gangway. It is the city and region’s first ADA-accessible paddling access to the Potomac River.

News

JUST IN: Full Potomac River advisory lifted by state health department

By Emily Leayman

Published March 17, 2026 at 5:00PM

Views by the Potomac River (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Virginia’s recreational water advisory has been lifted for the remaining part of the Potomac River affected by the Jan. 19 sewage spill, the state’s health department announced today (Tuesday).

The Virginia Department of Health’s advisory is no longer in effect in the Potomac River between the Capital Beltway/American Legion Bridge and Route 120/ Chain Bridge. The advisory, first issued Feb. 13, had been partially lifted on March 5 between Route 120 Chain Bridge to Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge in King George County. The change is effective immediately.

News

Town hall on Potomac River sewage spill organized next week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published March 11, 2026 at 11:15AM

Looking at the Potomac River at Waterfront Park in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

There will be a town hall meeting next week to discuss January’s sewage spill in the Potomac River, Mayor Alyia Gaskins has announced.

On Jan. 19, a collapsed pipe caused hundreds of millions of gallons of wastewater to flow into the Potomac, prompting the Virginia Department of Health to issue a recreational water advisory. That advisory was partially lifted earlier this month when VDH found that bacteria concentrations were “at levels acceptable for all recreational water use.”

News

JUST IN: Va. health officials partially lift Potomac River recreational advisory

By Katie Taranto

Published March 5, 2026 at 4:10PM

A sailboat on the Potomac River (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Virginia Department of Health has partially lifted its recreational water advisory for a portion of the Potomac River as repairs continue from January’s massive sewage spill.

The advisory, first issued Feb. 13, has now been lifted for a stretch of the river including Alexandria’s waterfront. The cleared area starts south at the Route 120 Chain Bridge and ends at the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge in King George County, according to a VDH announcement this afternoon (Thursday).