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Thirteen Underrated Parks and Green Spaces in D.C.

By Valerie Paschall
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By Valerie Paschall
1 comment / new

[Photo by Daniel Lobo]

D.C. may have it a little better than some other large cities in that it's not terribly difficult to find pockets of green space. Many of the neighborhoods are lined with trees, punctuated by grassy circles (more on those later) and the city's touristy focal point is a large green space topped with monuments. Moreover, there are several larger, yet less celebrated outdoor spots in the city that aren't named The National Mall or Rock Creek Park. Drawing inspiration from both our previous look at secret gardens and parks and your suggestions via email and Twitter we've mapped thirteen of those underrated spots in D.C. after the jump.

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Meridian Hill Park

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It's one of the best places to watch the fireworks, snap some engagement photos, play pickup soccer and join a drum circle. Or perhaps you'd just like to sit next to the amazing water fountain and read a book. There are always several (though not too many people) here doing any and all of the above. Photo by Pete Anderson.

2500 16th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009
(202) 895-6000
(202) 895-6000

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United States National Arboretum

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In addition to housing the stately National Capitol Columns, the 412 acre space in Northeast D.C. is also home to a wealth of floral species that won't be visible anywhere else in D.C. It's also a great place to see cherry blossoms in the spring and colorful foliage in the fall. Photo by L. Shanley.

3501 New York Ave NE, Washington DC, D.C. 20002
(202) 245-2726
(202) 245-2726

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Crispus Attucks Park

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Although it's not that far away from the foot-traffic heavy neighborhoods of U Street and Bloomingdale, this green oasis off North Capitol Street ideal for dog walkers, idle strollers and active children. For history buffs: the spot is named for a freed slave killed during the Boston Massacre of 1770. Photo by Flickr user rockcreek.

63 U Street Northeast, Washington, DC 20002

Hains Point

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The Awakening may have relocated to National Harbor but Hains Point is still a worthwhile destination for those looking to take a walk along the water. It's an oddly calm spot although the bustle of Northern Virginia is in plain view.

Ohio Drive SW, Washington DC, D.C. 20024

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

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It's only fitting that noted outdoorsman and National Parks founder Teddy Roosevelt has an island filled with trails and wildlife bearing his name. It's also not terribly packed, even in the warm summer months. Photo by Adam Fagen.

Analostan Island, Washington DC, D.C. 20037

Enid A. Haupt Garden

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The National Mall is a large green space in and of itself and it's bookended by sculpture gardens of two art museums. Still, this small, ivy-filled space next to the Smithsonian Castle is just hidden enough that it feels like a secret gem amidst national treasures. Photo by Flickr user cliff1066™.

1050 Lenfant Plz SW, Washington DC, D.C. 20560

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Smithsonian Butterfly Garden

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On the other side of the National Mall is a trail that's a brief flower-filled walk meant to attract butterflies. It's a small oasis from the concrete of Penn Quarter but definitely a welcome one. This one might be more filled with tourists than the Haupt garden, but chances are still high that you had no idea of its existence. Photo by Paulo Ordoveza

9th St side of Natl Museum of Natural History, Washington DC, D.C. 20004

Battery Kemble Park

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The westernmost park on this map used to be an encampment during the Civil War era. So while that makes it somewhat of a secret, it's also one of the most exciting neighborhood amenities in the Palisades. Photo by Geoff Livingston.

Chain Bridge Road, Washington DC, D.C. 20016

Anacostia Park

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In addition to being a great spot to watch the fireworks, this green space on the Anacostia River is also one of the best spots in the city for bird watching. Even without the addition of the 11th Street Bridge Park, this is an underrated jewel. Photo by Art Dragulis.

Anacostia Dr SE, Washington DC, D.C. 20020
(202) 889-4283
(202) 889-4283

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The Yards Park

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Just because it's landscaped doesn't mean it's not worthy of the list. It won an Urban Open Space Award from the Urban Institute in addition to its 2013 Vision Award. Photo by Daniel Lobo.

10 Water St SE, Washington DC, D.C. 20003

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Fort DuPont Park

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It's possibly the largest green space east of the river and it's also the most well utilized. But despite the picnic areas and Sunday evening concerts, most people do not necessarily know about this spot.

Fort Dupont Drive SE, Washington DC, D.C. 20019

Marvin Gaye Park

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This spot east of the Arboretum has not always had the best reputation, but it's becoming a more community oriented space in Ward 7. Head down there over the weekend for Solar Sundays. Photo by Sherrine Thompson.

Washington DC, D.C.

Langdon Park

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It's gotten a lot of press since a chunk of it will be dedicated to the late great Godfather of Go-Go, Chuck Brown. However, it's also one of the best green spaces in a part of the city that doesn't have that many. Photo by Gordon Joly.

2901 20th St NE, Washington DC, D.C. 20018

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Meridian Hill Park

2500 16th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009

It's one of the best places to watch the fireworks, snap some engagement photos, play pickup soccer and join a drum circle. Or perhaps you'd just like to sit next to the amazing water fountain and read a book. There are always several (though not too many people) here doing any and all of the above. Photo by Pete Anderson.

2500 16th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009
(202) 895-6000
(202) 895-6000

United States National Arboretum

3501 New York Ave NE, Washington DC, D.C. 20002

In addition to housing the stately National Capitol Columns, the 412 acre space in Northeast D.C. is also home to a wealth of floral species that won't be visible anywhere else in D.C. It's also a great place to see cherry blossoms in the spring and colorful foliage in the fall. Photo by L. Shanley.

3501 New York Ave NE, Washington DC, D.C. 20002
(202) 245-2726
(202) 245-2726

Crispus Attucks Park

63 U Street Northeast, Washington, DC 20002

Although it's not that far away from the foot-traffic heavy neighborhoods of U Street and Bloomingdale, this green oasis off North Capitol Street ideal for dog walkers, idle strollers and active children. For history buffs: the spot is named for a freed slave killed during the Boston Massacre of 1770. Photo by Flickr user rockcreek.

63 U Street Northeast, Washington, DC 20002

Hains Point

Ohio Drive SW, Washington DC, D.C. 20024

The Awakening may have relocated to National Harbor but Hains Point is still a worthwhile destination for those looking to take a walk along the water. It's an oddly calm spot although the bustle of Northern Virginia is in plain view.

Ohio Drive SW, Washington DC, D.C. 20024

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Analostan Island, Washington DC, D.C. 20037

It's only fitting that noted outdoorsman and National Parks founder Teddy Roosevelt has an island filled with trails and wildlife bearing his name. It's also not terribly packed, even in the warm summer months. Photo by Adam Fagen.

Analostan Island, Washington DC, D.C. 20037

Enid A. Haupt Garden

1050 Lenfant Plz SW, Washington DC, D.C. 20560

The National Mall is a large green space in and of itself and it's bookended by sculpture gardens of two art museums. Still, this small, ivy-filled space next to the Smithsonian Castle is just hidden enough that it feels like a secret gem amidst national treasures. Photo by Flickr user cliff1066™.

1050 Lenfant Plz SW, Washington DC, D.C. 20560

Smithsonian Butterfly Garden

9th St side of Natl Museum of Natural History, Washington DC, D.C. 20004

On the other side of the National Mall is a trail that's a brief flower-filled walk meant to attract butterflies. It's a small oasis from the concrete of Penn Quarter but definitely a welcome one. This one might be more filled with tourists than the Haupt garden, but chances are still high that you had no idea of its existence. Photo by Paulo Ordoveza

9th St side of Natl Museum of Natural History, Washington DC, D.C. 20004

Battery Kemble Park

Chain Bridge Road, Washington DC, D.C. 20016

The westernmost park on this map used to be an encampment during the Civil War era. So while that makes it somewhat of a secret, it's also one of the most exciting neighborhood amenities in the Palisades. Photo by Geoff Livingston.

Chain Bridge Road, Washington DC, D.C. 20016

Anacostia Park

Anacostia Dr SE, Washington DC, D.C. 20020

In addition to being a great spot to watch the fireworks, this green space on the Anacostia River is also one of the best spots in the city for bird watching. Even without the addition of the 11th Street Bridge Park, this is an underrated jewel. Photo by Art Dragulis.

Anacostia Dr SE, Washington DC, D.C. 20020
(202) 889-4283
(202) 889-4283

The Yards Park

10 Water St SE, Washington DC, D.C. 20003

Just because it's landscaped doesn't mean it's not worthy of the list. It won an Urban Open Space Award from the Urban Institute in addition to its 2013 Vision Award. Photo by Daniel Lobo.

10 Water St SE, Washington DC, D.C. 20003

Fort DuPont Park

Fort Dupont Drive SE, Washington DC, D.C. 20019

It's possibly the largest green space east of the river and it's also the most well utilized. But despite the picnic areas and Sunday evening concerts, most people do not necessarily know about this spot.

Fort Dupont Drive SE, Washington DC, D.C. 20019

Marvin Gaye Park

Washington DC, D.C.

This spot east of the Arboretum has not always had the best reputation, but it's becoming a more community oriented space in Ward 7. Head down there over the weekend for Solar Sundays. Photo by Sherrine Thompson.

Washington DC, D.C.

Langdon Park

2901 20th St NE, Washington DC, D.C. 20018

It's gotten a lot of press since a chunk of it will be dedicated to the late great Godfather of Go-Go, Chuck Brown. However, it's also one of the best green spaces in a part of the city that doesn't have that many. Photo by Gordon Joly.

2901 20th St NE, Washington DC, D.C. 20018