Decatur Street sums up the sustainable mindset of Edmonston, Maryland. In 2010, the town 2 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., turned the roughly half-mile road in the middle of the community into a “green street.” Using more than $1 million in grants, the local government replaced invasive plants with native magnolias and red maples, added bike lanes and widened sidewalks. This not only makes the road more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly, but it reduces pollution caused by stormwater runoff. It’s far from the only way the community strives to be environmentally friendly, says Long & Foster Realtor Ann Barrett, who lives next door in Hyattsville. “One of the coolest things they have is a nonprofit called ECO City Farms, which is all about sustainable agriculture,” she explains. “The former mayor of Edmonston is now my neighbor, and he went on to be the environmental director for Prince George’s County.” Government projects, nonprofits and community events in the suburb of 1,100 residents often keep sustainability at the forefront.
Edmonston, Maryland, is a small town along a branch of the Anacostia River.
The Edmonston Green Street Project transformed Decatur Street to be environmentally friendly.
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Urban agriculture and recreation along the Anacostia River
ECO City Farms operates a 1.5-acre farm in Edmonston, growing fruit, vegetables and herbs. Locals can get involved by joining the Beginning Farmer Training Program, which teaches how to farm in an urban environment, or by volunteering to work on the farm. Residents can grow their own produce at the town’s community garden, where plots are distributed through a lottery system. Hikers and cyclists hit the Northeast Branch Trail, a 4-mile paved path that follows the Anacostia River’s northeast branch through the heart of Edmonston. The trail connects to Riverdale Park north of town, where two playgrounds were added in 2023. In Edmonston, Anacostia River Park features a playground, basketball court and baseball diamond.
Cyclists bike on the Anacostia River Path which runs through Edmonston.
A kayaker paddles down the Anacostia River. The river's northeast branch runs through Edmonston.
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Music, food and more at Forklift First Friday
Once a month, residents gather for Forklift First Friday at Community Forklift, a reuse warehouse that sells donated furniture, appliances and home décor. During the event, the warehouse’s marketplace stays open into the evening, while local bands, food trucks and breweries set up inside. Edmonston also celebrates Bike to Work Day in May and the Green Fair and Pet Fest in July.
Edmonston responds to history of flooding
Roughly 300 homes stand along the town’s small grid of streets. Houses were primarily built in the early 20th century, with Craftsman and Cape Cod among the common architectural styles. Edmonston isn’t a busy real estate market; less than a dozen homes sold in the past year. Prices for turnkey homes start around $300,000 for a two-bedroom house, topping out at $875,000 for a six-bedroom house built in the past decade. When they move in, the town gives new residents reusable welcome bags full of information on sustainable activities, environmental groups and purchasing solar panels. Edmonston has flooded multiple times since 2005 due to poor water management infrastructure. In response, the town added water pumping stations to drain excess water. Plus, the town’s green street was designed to divert stormwater runoff and reduce the risk of flooding. Potential residents should also be advised that the CAP Index Crime Score is an 8 out of 10, with 10 indicating the highest crime. That’s higher than the U.S. average of 4.
Known as "A Bridging Community," Edmonston spans both sides of Northeast Branch Anacostia River.
The Edmonston Stormwater Pumping Station keeps the flooding form ruining the Neighborhood.
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Edmonston’s limited food options
Besides clusters of warehouses and industrial buildings, there aren’t many businesses in Edmonston. Most nearby shops and restaurants are in the neighboring communities of Hyattsville and Riverdale Park, Barrett says. Most line Kenilworth Avenue; a shopping complex on the street houses an Italian kitchen, a Chinese takeout spot and La Neveria Michoacana. The latter sells pupusas, ice cream and mangonada, a Mexican dessert that combines mango sorbet and chili powder. Across the bridge in Hyattsville, locals can grab coffee, craft beer and organic groceries. Run-of-the-mill groceries are stocked at Save A Lot a mile away in Bladensburg. There are several churches east and west of Edmonston, with a masjid 2 miles away.
Three Brothers Italian restaurant in Edmonston sells pizza by the slice.
People dine at Azteca Restaurant Cantina on Baltimore Ave near Edmonston.
Fresh treats and quality deserts are what you find at La Neveria Michoacana in Edmonston.
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AP classes at Bladensburg High School
The community is part of Prince George’s County Public Schools. Students attending the district can go to three nearby campuses: Rogers Heights Elementary School, William Wirt Middle School and Bladensburg High School. Niche grades each school a C-minus. Teens at Bladensburg High can earn college credit through 13 Advanced Placement courses. The high school’s eight extracurriculars include Green Team, a club for students interested in gardening and sustainability. Less than a mile from Edmonston is DeMatha Catholic High School, an A-rated private all-boys school.
Bladensburg High School in Bladensburg, home of the Mustangs.
William Wirt Middle School in East Riverdale is a school Edmonston kids can attend.
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Metro station in nearby College Park
Residents are likely to get around by car, and they can take Kenilworth Avenue to downtown Washington, D.C., 8 miles away. Commuters may find the drive takes an hour or more during rush hour. Residents are less than 3 miles from the College Park-U of Md Metro station, where they can board a train and arrive in Washington, D.C., within 25 minutes. Prince George’s County’s bus service stops along U.S. Route 1 to the west of Edmonston, with buses connecting to the Metro station in College Park.
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