New park and pool open at D.C.'s former McMillan Sand Filtration Site

After years of opposition and back-and-forth, a new park and rec center has opened at the in-the-works Reservoir District .

Why it matters: It's the first part of a huge project overhauling the former McMillan Sand Filtration Site just north of Bloomingdale — one of the city's largest undeveloped plots of land that saw decades of debate about balancing historical preservation with development.

The big picture: The site's first update is the $137 million Reservoir Park Recreation Center and Aquatic Center and 6.2-acre park.

• The rec center includes a community meeting room, a fitness studio with showers and lockers, a pool, and a gallery space showcasing the site's history.
• The new park has a plaza with two splash pads, a playground, an amphitheater, a trail with exercise stations, and a "walking museum" dedicated to the site's past.

Elements of the former sand filtration site are incorporated throughout. Preserved silos act as a backdrop, while windows in the indoor pool peer into the underground catacombs that once held sand for filtration.

• The playground pays homage to the site's roots with a sandpit, a silo-shaped slide, and a playhouse mirroring the old brick control rooms.

Catch up quick: The former site dates back to the early 20th century, when it was built to help clean the city's water. It was also a go-to green space for Black Washingtonians during this era, as its park area wasn't segregated.

• After it was decommissioned, the District bought the site in 1987 with the goal of developing it — kicking off the yearslong debate about the area's future.
• It's since been rebranded as the Reservoir District , thanks to the nearby McMillan Reservoir.

Zoom out: The rest of the 25-acre Reservoir District will be developed into townhomes, apartments, a grocery store, restaurants, retail, and a healthcare facility.

What we're watching: Some of the locals who advocated on behalf of preserving the site's history told the Washington Post they aren't fans of the new Reservoir District name, saying it disconnects the site from its McMillan roots — an issue they plan to take up with the city council .