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Anacostia Parka view from the banks of the Anacostia River
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Anacostia Park
Plan Your Visit

The staff of Anacostia welcomes inaugural visitors to come enjoy the special features of Anacostia Park.

Anacostia Park was authorized by Congress as a multiple use park to protect public access, scenic value, and water flow of the Anacostia River.  To that end, the park has been developed with different ideas of recreation in mind, but always to preserve a quality park experience for this and future generations.

Active recreation is permitted through reserve field use and picnic systems, mostly in the area of the park below the Benning Road Bridge.  More passive recreation is preserved in the area of the park above the Benning Road Bridge.

Picnics, bike riding, and walking are allowed through most of the park, but grilling is restricted.  See the reservation section for more information on reserving an area.

Skates are available at the pavilion, but call the park ahead of time at (202) 472-3873 to ensure availability.

For more ideas on things to do, click here.

What's Blooming: alder shrubs and river birch, maple and elm.

 

Updated 3-15-09  Please call the park at (202) 426-6905 if you have trouble using these pages.

 
fields are usually available by permits.
Park photo
Everyone has fun here.

Save a crab, rescue an oyster. Trash from here ends up in the Chesapeake Bay where it destroys fin and shell fish habitat. Help keep oysters on the picnic table and stimulate your creative energy through the Leave No Trace Program.

British Soldiers Burning the White House  

Did You Know?
British soldiers set fire to the White House during the War of 1812. Almost everything inside was destroyed. James Madison hired James Hoban to rebuild the house using the original walls, which were still standing. It reopened in 1817 when James Monroe moved in.

Last Updated: March 15, 2009 at 08:53 EST