Benjamin Banneker Park
Interactive Park Map
About the Location
Historical Significance
Benjamin Banneker Park honors its namesake, an African American scientist who worked with Pierre L'Enfant and Andrew Ellicott in surveying and planning the layout of Washington, D.C. in the late 18th century. Banneker was a self-taught astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, and almanac author.
Design and Features
Designed by landscape architect Dan Kiley, the 4.7-acre park opened in November 1971. The centerpiece of the park is a large conical fountain that projects water over 30 feet high, falling into a circular basin made of green granite.
Surrounding the fountain are concentric rings of benches, double rows of London plane trees, and low concrete walls that define the plaza's edge. The plaza is paved with granite squares, continuing the material used along the 10th Street Mall.
Location and Views
The park is located at the southern end of L'Enfant Plaza in Southwest Washington, D.C. It serves as the terminus of the 10th Street Mall, connecting the Smithsonian Castle to the Southwest Waterfront.
The park offers views southward towards the Potomac River and Southwest Waterfront area. A grass embankment slopes down from the concrete wall to an encircling roadway.
Management and Future Plans
The National Park Service manages the park, which has been considered for potential upgrades and improvements as part of larger development plans for the surrounding area. Despite some deterioration over the years due to maintenance issues, the park remains a notable example of modernist landscape design in the nation's capital.
