After a morning of history, kids need to run. The good news is that some of Capitol Hill’s oldest parks have playgrounds and great stories. Here are four historic parks to visit with your family. Details come from National Park Service pages, linked in each section.
1. Stanton Park
Stanton Park has four acres, between 4th and 6th Streets NE. It was first laid out in Pierre L’Enfant’s 1791 plan. In 1871 it was named Stanton Square, for Abraham Lincoln’s Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton. Look for the statue of Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene. The park has a playground. (NPS: Stanton Park)
Ask your kids: Who is the man on the horse, and what do they think he did?
2. Marion Park
Marion Park sits between 4th and 6th Streets at E Street and South Carolina Avenue SE. The NPS calls it one of the most popular parks on Capitol Hill. It has a play area in one corner that is easy for toddlers, along with brick walks and shady trees. (NPS: Marion Park)
Its past is a thoughtful story to share with older children. The NPS says public parks were among the few places in segregated Washington that were not officially separated, and Marion Park was one place where Black and white families shared space. After white residents pushed back, the park was changed, including the removal of its central fountain, in response to a wish to keep Black children out. It is a real example of how a place can reflect the unfairness of its time.
3. Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park is about a mile east of the Capitol. It holds the Emancipation Memorial, placed in 1876, and a memorial to educator Mary McLeod Bethune, unveiled in 1974. It is one of the oldest public parks in DC. (NPS: Lincoln Park) It is a fine spot to run and picnic. Check on site for current play areas.
4. Folger Park
Folger Park in Southeast is one of the largest parks on Capitol Hill. It was named in 1885 for Charles J. Folger, Secretary of the Treasury under President Chester Arthur. (NPS: Folger Park) It is a good place for a picnic and a wide-open stretch of lawn.
Make a day of it
Combine a park with a stop at Eastern Market and a walk through a historic alley. Our guides to hidden alleys and Civil War forts make good partners.
Which park is your family’s favorite? Tell us in the comments.
Elizabeth Redd, the Publisher of this website, grew up in a small town called Newhall, West Virginia, before moving to Washington, DC, in 1964. She worked in Prince George's County Public School System in Maryland for 40 years, opened a wig shop, made clothes, and participated in fashion shows during the '70s and '80s. She worked part-time as a caterer for a couple of years. Hand dancing has been one of her passions. She has also worked in Internet marketing for the last ten years. She also has a passion for learning new things.
She has learned that success is measured not so much by the position one has reached in life but by the obstacles one has overcome while trying to succeed. One thing is for sure: she is living her best life.
