DC is a fairly small city so it’s surprising just how much park space there is in the city. We’ve shared about our enchanting parks and to neighborhood parks and even the best playgrounds in the city. But there is one unknown park that is absolutely spectacular and seemingly hidden right in the middle of the city.
East Potomac Park is technically an island in the middle of the Potomac River. It was built in the late 1800s but it was largely untouched until the early 1900s. Congress granted permission to open East Potomac Park to the public in August 1912 and in the years to come, it would become one of the coolest and unique parks in the entire area.
In addition to picnic areas under beautiful cherry blossoms, bike paths along the river and tons of open space for games and playing, there are also three other distinct features of the park.
The first is the golf course, which is actually three golf courses. Players of all skill levels will enjoy golfing on the 18-hole course or one of the two 9-hole courses in the area.
Finally there is the East Potomac Park Pool, an outdoor Olympic-size pool that is open June through October. (Please note the East Potomac Park Pool is closed for 2017 season).
What really makes this park special is how much it has in one convenient location, which can be hard to find in the district. Whether you want to fish, picnic, watch the planes take off overhead, swim, play golf or tennis, you can do so at this amazing park hidden in DC!
And it’s just a bonus that it’s just a few blocks away from the most popular memorials and monuments in the area! The park is completely free and open to the public.
