Beyond the Capital U.S
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National Park Service Beyond the Capital U.S. Department of the Interior A Visitor’s Guide to Summer 2009 National Capital Parks-East Charting the Future while Preserving the Past. www.nps.gov/nace Mission The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural re- sources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service cooperates with partners Dear Visitor to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this Welcome to your parks at National Capital Parks-East, where you country. will find something for everyone, whether your interest is in natural, Did you know that National Capital Parks-East cultural, historic or recreational opportunities. If you want to hike is one of almost 400 national parks found all a trail and learn about the history across America? of Washington, visit Fort Dupont and Fort Washington. Beautiful Greenbelt Park is an urban oasis in northern Prince George’s County, Maryland where you can camp, What’s Inside: ride your bike, explore acres of forests full of deer, beaver, and nature at its best. For Your Information ...................................... Page 3 Interested in flowers and reptiles? Safety in Your National Parks ......................... Page 3 Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is a Important Phone Numbers ............................ Page 3 great place to relax, reflect, and explore the wetlands. Find out if Points of Interest .............................................. Pages 4 - 5 the water lilies are in bloom, look for frogs and turtles, and all kinds Events ................................................................ Pages 6 -10 of birds, and stroll along a board- walk overlooking a marsh with a Park Map .......................................................... Page 11 healthy eco-system. Picnicking is offered at Anacostia, Fort Washing- ton and Greenbelt parks. You can volunteer to help with daily chores at Oxon Hill Farm, a working farm in nearby Maryland, where Virginia the cow lives along with chickens, horses, and sheep. This summer our parks are brimming with activities for the entire family. Your national parks wait - Enjoy! Park Ranger Barbara Wadding Fort Washington Park Front Cover: Clockwise: Oxon Cove Park, Mary McLeod Bethune Council House NHS, Piscataway Park, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Park Ranger Kate Bucco leads visitors on a tour of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Center: Fort Washington Park: NPS Photos 2 Beyond the Capital - A Visitor’s Guide to National Capital Parks-East For Your Information Important Phone Numbers Emergency 911 Park Regulations To help protect park resources and U.S. Park Police Dispatch 202-610-7500 ensure an enjoyable visit for every- one, please follow park rules and Park Headquarters 202-690-5185 posted regulations. Frederick Douglass NHS Tours 877-444-6777 • Pets are welcome in all of National www.recreation.gov Capital Parks-East (NACE), except at Oxon Cove Park. Pets must be Metro Rail/Bus 202-637-7000 on a leash no longer than 6 feet and www.wmata.com under control at all times. Local Weather 202-936-1212 • Discharging firearms anywhere on NACE lands is unlawful. • Please dispose of your garbage and other refuse in trash containers or take it with you when you leave. Safety In Your National Parks • For your safety while hiking, stay on the established trails and watch On the Road Hiking Precautions your footing at all times. •Buckle Up! Seat belts are required. •Hiking off trails is unsafe, damages • Prevent damage to resources by •Slow down at dawn and dusk. vegetation, causes erosion, and cre- bicycling on paved roads and desig- •Watch out for pedestrians, other ates unsightly paths. nated bike trails only. motorists, and animals on roadways. •Choose hiking trails suitable to your •Pedestrians have the right-of-way. physical condition. Camping •Follow park speed limits. •If you plan to hike solo, give your The 174-site campground at Green- •Be aware that traffic in parks can be intended route and length of trip to a belt Park is open all year. Sites are very heavy so be patient. park ranger or friend. available for tents, recreational •Always yield to emergency vehicles. •Wear proper clothing. Hiking boots vehicles, and trailers up to 30 feet •Always keep watch for bicyclists, should be sturdy with good traction long. Restrooms, showers, picnic especially when turning, merging, and ankle support and should be well tables, water, and fire grates are pro- changing lanes, or entering intersec- broken in ahead of time. vided. There are no electric hookups tions. •Bring bottled water. and camping is limited to 14 days. Overnight fees are dependant on Fortifications Always Put Out Your Fires! the number of campers. For camp- •Climbing any part of the fortifications •Fires left unattended are dangerous. ground reservations, call 1-800-365- is unsafe and can damage them. Many Be sure your fire is put out completely CAMP or 301-344-2929. historic surfaces are uneven and with water before leaving the area. some areas can be slippery when wet. Special Services Please stay off earthworks and watch Flora and Fauna NACE makes every effort to provide your children. •Poison Ivy can be found in many of access to all of our facilities and pro- the parks. grams for the broadest possible range of visitors. From children and the Sun and Heat Protection •White-tail deer carry ticks which can elderly to those who are physically •Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen cause lyme disease, check yourself challenged, NACE strives to create with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of after walking the trails. inclusive opportunities for all people. at last 15. Reapply sunscreen every 2 •Do not approach the wildlife. For detailed information on special hours when outdoors, even on cloudy services, visitors should contact the days. park’s Accessibility Coordinator at •Drink plenty of water to avoid dehy- 202-690-5188. dration 3 Beyond the Capital - A Visitor’s Guide to National Capital Parks-East Parks of National Capital Parks-East Anacostia Park Capitol Hills Parks Fort Circle Parks: Fort Washington Park Fort Dupont Park Anacostia Park presently spans When L’Enfant submitted his Fort Dupont Park is the largest of Fort Washington Park is a 19th over 1,200 acres stretching the design for the national capital of the Fort Circle Parks. Here you century fortification that was built length of the Anacostia River from Washington in 1790, a system of will find earthwork fortifications to defend the nation’s capital from the Frederick Douglass Memorial grand avenues, public buildings, used in the Civil War in defense of naval attacks. It remained Bridge north approximately five and grounds dominated the overall Washington, D.C. active through 1946. miles to the District/Maryland line. plan. Many of the parks, medians, It includes Langston Golf Course circles, and squares of Capitol Today, Fort Dupont Park is a Tours of the fort are available and River Terrace and it is one of Hill evolved from this plan and its heavily wooded, 400-acre site that daily. Picnicking areas, river views Washington, D.C.’s largest and subsequent modification in 1901 by protects an important sub- and access, extensive woodlands, most important parks with diverse the McMillan Commission. watershed of the Anacostia River and hiking trails are also available. recreational opportunities, natural and contains tennis and basketball Fort Washington Park hosts a areas, and historic sites. The Capitol Hill Parks, located be- courts, softball fields, and a com- number of special events annually tween 2nd Streets NE and SE and munity ice-rink. Its rolling wooded including Civil War artillery firing This multi-use recreation park, with the Anacostia River, provide elegant hills are an important visual ele- demonstrations and living history shoreline access, skating pavilion, and open greenspace within the ment of the nation’s capital and programs. ball fields, basketball and tennis city of Washington for relaxation, provides an attractive setting for courts, and picnic areas attracts aesthetic enjoyment, and historic community garden plots, frolicking The fort is closed on Thanksgiving people from throughout the city commemoration. children, and an annual summer Day, December 25, and January 1. and across the nation. The shore- concert series. There you will also The grounds are open from sunrise lines also provide opportunities for Included in this group are: Lincoln, find picnicking areas and hiking to sunset and the fort and visitor river access, fishing, birding, and Folger, Stanton, and Marion Parks; and biking trails. The park is open center are open from 9 am to 5 pm just relaxing! Maryland Avenue Triangles; Penn- to the public daily, from dawn to Memorial Day through Labor Day sylvania Avenue Medians, Squares dusk. and from 9 am to 4:30 pm Labor The park is open daily from and Triangles, including Seward Day through Memorial Day. An 9 am to 5 pm except January 1, Square; Potomac Avenue Metro entrance fee is charged from April Thanksgiving Day, and December Station; Twining Square, and other through October. 25. inner city green spaces. Contact Information Contact Information Contact Information Contact Information 1900 Anacostia Drive, SE 1318 Vermont Avenue, NW 1411 W Street, SE 1355 Fort Washington Road Washington, DC 20020 Washington, DC 20005 Washington, DC 20020 Fort Washington, MD 20744 202-472-3884 202-673-2402 202-426-5961 301-763-4600 www.nps.gov/anac www.nps.gov/cahi www.nps.gov/fodu www.nps.gov/fowa Mary McLeod Bethune Oxon Cove Park Sewall Belmont House Piscataway Park Council House NHS Oxon Hill Farm and Museum Nestled in the heart of the Logan Located in the District of Columbia Situated along the Potomac River The Sewall-Belmont House and Circle Historic District in Wash- and Prince George’s County, Mary- in Maryland, Pistcataway Park was Museum is the site where suffrage ington, D.C.