LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Rock Creek Park
built 179 days ago
Located in the northwest section of Washington, DC, Rock Creek Park is the oldest and largest urban park in the national park system. Established in 1890, Rock Creek offers over 1,700 acres of natural areas for a wide variety of uses. Trails in the park are a mix of rugged off-road trails for hikers, runners and equestrians, paved off-road bicycle paths and a signed on-road bicycle route on the northern section of Beach Drive. Hikers and runners should exercise caution on the unpaved off-road trails. Equestrians, note that only some of the off-road trails are marked for horse use. Bicyclists should be aware that there is no off-road bike path option on the northern section of Beach Drive.
Source:
Founded in 1890, Rock Creek Park was one of the first federal parks in the region and is currently under the management of the National Park Service. It is one of the largest forested urban parks in the United States and consists of a variety of historical and recreational features like its beautiful beaches and nature trails.
Source:
The nation's capital was protected with a ring of 68 forts during the Civil War and Rock Creek Park administers several military sites. Your dog can visit the ermants of Fort De Russy, an earthworks fortification returned to its natural state just east of the Western Ridge Trail on a bridle path at Oregon Avenue and Military Road. Also near Military Road, three blocks east of the main park on 13th Street, is Fort Stevens. It was here the only fighting of the Civil War took place within the limits of Washington D.C. Union defenders repulsed a Confederate attack from General Jubal Early on July 11-12, 1864. Abraham Lincoln rode up from the White House and stood on a parapet watching the battle - the only time in United States history that an American president was under fire by enemy guns while in office. A dramatized plaque marks the spot today in the partially reconstructed fort.
Source:
Under the National Park Service, Rock Creek Park and its adjuncts became components of National Capital Parks. The term denoted the administrative branch of the Service formed to manage the Washington area acquisitions as well as the parks themselves collectively. National Capital Parks inherited most of the civilian employees of the Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks, including Francis F. Gillen and Frank T. Gartside. Gartside acted as NCP superintendent for the first two months of the new administration, whereupon C. Marshall Finnan, formerly superintendent of Mesa Verde National Park, received the permanent appointment.
Source:
Twenty-five of the thirty written responses received by the Department of Parks on the Rock Creek Stream Valley park proposal emphatically supported the addition. Several community members cited fear of deer-vehicle collisions, damage to residential gardens and concerns about Lyme disease as primary reasons for expanding the operations to include this park site.
Source:
Rock Creek Park has 30 picnic areas throughout the park; some have rain shelters. Many can be reserved for groups up to 100. Reservations must be made in person at the DC Department of Parks and Recreation at 3149, 16th St., NW. Call 202-673-7646 for more information. The park map shows the picnic areas. The numbered blue circles are reservation sites and the numbered black circles are first come, first served areas.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Rock Creek Park