- ParkMark

Anacostia Park was a segregated park, with what is now the 11th St. Bridge serving as the segregation line.

One of the most popular picnic areas in Anacostia Park the Fairlawn Picnic area, nicknamed "Pirate Ship Playground," offers restrooms, picnic tables and exercise equipment for adults and children. The fanciful pirate ship jungle gym reminds us of the ships that once sailed Anacostia's waters.

Built during by the Works Projects Administration during the Great Depression, the Anacostia Recreation Center offers bike rentals, and picnic areas. A pool and weight room are free to Washington, DC, residents and available to others at a nominal fee. In 1949, the Recreation Center was the site of a major integration riot that ultimately paved the way for desegregation of public pools in the District of Columbia.

The trail takes you through 12 miles of forest, fields, marsh and river ecosystem.

Can you remember the last time you laced up a pair of roller skates? Make new memories with this â€˜fun for the whole family' activity. Skate rentals are free and available during summer months. On summer weekends DJ music adds to the fun. This is the one and only roller skating rink owned and operated by the National Park Service!

Anacostia Park doesn't just have great view of the river, it has public access! The boat ramp is located at the north end of Anacostia Drive SE. Vehicle and trailer parking is adjacent to the boat ramp. Review <a href="http://mpdc.dc.gov/page/harbor-and-boating-safety-regulations">D.C.'s Harbor and Boating Safety Regulations</a> prior to launching your watercraft.

Aquatic Resources Education Center is the host to 20-1,500-gallon aquariums where visitors can have insight of what's beneath the waves of the Anacostia and to learn about the variety of aquatic life that is supported by the river. Well over 40 species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates from the District and the Chesapeake Bay are on display at the facility. The AREC is a multi-use environmental education center located in Anacostia Park, SE run by DOEE.

The Anacostia Park Basketball Court is a space for visitors to play pick-up or be able to open shoot. The basketball court is located next to the skating pavilion. The basketball courts are open all year round and from sunrise to sunset. There are 8 basketball hoops and two court spaces.

The Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge is located at the southern edge of Anacostia Park and carries South Capitol Street over the Anacostia River into Washington, D.C.

For over 23 years, May 19th was a tremendous day in Anacostia Park. To celebrate pioneering civil rights activist Malcom X’s birthday, tens of thousands of people would come to the park to hear activists, artists, community leaders and more. Beginning in 1972, the message of the yearly event was to celebrate and create unity in the surrounding community. The events featured community organizing, art, music, and a general celebration of culture.

The Anacostia Park swimming pool became the center of a riot in 1949 when the pool was set to be integrated.

In May 1932, jobless veterans organized a group called the "Bonus Expeditionary Forces" that marched on Washington, DC, to demand an advance on a bonus payment they had been promised for their World War I service. Led by Walter W. Walters, the veterans set up camps and occupied buildings in various locations in Washington, DC. The largest camp was a shantytown here on the Anacostia Flats, across the river from Washington's Navy Yard. By summer, at least 20,000 people had join

Under the shadow of segregation, the Langston Golf Course was built to service the nearby African American community in 1939. It was one of twenty golf courses in America that was open to African Americans; whites had 680 to choose from. Washington, DC, was the birthplace of the first men's and women's African American golf clubs: the Riverside Golf Club (1924), now the Royal Golf Club, and the Wake Robin Golf Club, originally comprised of the wives of Riverside members who w

Follow I-395 North to I-295 South. Follow signs for Martin Luther King Blvd. After approaching the bridge, you should see signs for Anacostia Park.

River Terrace Park is a lovely community park located in the River Terrace neighborhood of NE Washington DC. The park sits along the east bank of the Anacostia River, providing great views of the flowing tidal river. Wildlife is abundant on the river including ducks, geese, beavers and river otters. Park amenities include a children's playground, a covered pavilion, two basketball courts (full court), two tennis courts and a paved walking trail.

In 1945, Lewis T. Green made history in Anacostia Park when he created the Seafarers Yacht Club. The Seafarers is the oldest African American yacht club in the country.

Named after John Philip Sousa this bridge carries Pennsylvania Avenue, America's main street, across the Anacostia River and into the heart of Washington. Born a half-mile from the bridge, John Philip Sousa built the Marine Band into one of the most famous musical groups in the world. Known as "the March King," Sousa composed many marches, the most famous being "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Sousa is buried in Congressional Cemetery, just on the other side of the bridge.

Follow the Suitland parkway toward Washington, DC. Turn right at the fourth traffic signal to turn onto firth sterling avenue. Take the next left turn on Howard Street. When you arrive to the Douglas bridge, the lanes split into 4 exits. Take the fourth exit and the park entrance is on the right.

There are multiple tennis courts and a playground at Anacostia Park next to the Recreation Center. The tennis courts and playground are open to use by the public anytime.