Fort Stanton Park

Fort Stanton Park is a historical green space located in Southeast Washington, D.C., specifically in Ward 8. The park was established in 1926 to preserve the hilltops where the Union Army constructed Fort Stanton during the Civil War. Named after Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War during the Civil War, Fort Stanton was part of a network of forts built to defend the Nation's Capital.

The park encompasses more than 150 acres of wooded area, including deeply cut stream valleys, stands of towering tulip trees, and several small rock outcroppings. It features one of only two designated hiking trails in Ward 8, with the southernmost mile of the Fort Circle Hiker-Biker Trail running through the park.

Fort Stanton Park is home to various recreational facilities and natural features. It includes a recreation center, an urban farm, and a reservoir for DC Water. The park also houses historical remnants, with portions of the Civil War-era earthworks and ditches still visible in the woods.

Unfortunately, the park has faced challenges over the years. Littering and dumping have polluted the landscape, and invasive plant species such as kudzu, bittersweet, Asian wisteria, and Japanese knotweed have damaged areas of the forest. However, conservation efforts are underway, with organizations like Ward 8 Woods Conservancy working to remove trash and restore the park's natural beauty.

Fort Stanton Park serves as an important community space, offering recreational opportunities and a connection to the area's Civil War history. Its location near the Anacostia Community Museum also makes it a valuable cultural resource for the neighborhood.