Lafayette Square DC: The President's Park
This famous and favorite park across from the Obamas' current residence, Lafayette Square DC, is not without purpose, for certain – so much activity occupies this small little green space due north of the White House. Statues, benches, walking paths and protests populate Lafayette Square DC, this seven-acre park that is surrounded by historic government and private buildings.
Lafayette Square was officially created as a separate park in 1804 after Thomas Jefferson connected the then-separated Pennsylvania Avenue. It was named for Marquis de Lafayette, a French man who fought in the American Revolution. His statue is one of five in the park. The others include one of President Andrew Jackson on a horse, and four foreigners who fought in the American Revolution: Comte de Rochambeau and Lafayette from France, Tadeusz Kosciuszko of Poland and Baron von Steuben of Prussia.
Through the years, the park has been used for a variety of purposes, among them a slave market, a cemetery, a zoo and a racetrack. Today, it is simply a park where many come to enjoy their lunch during warm weather, where many tourists frolic among the statues taking pictures, and where many protestors come to voice their opinions and shout at the president and the passing public. Even during protests, people still sit about enjoying their time in nature.
The park is well manicured, thanks to the National Park Service, with flowers blooming and brick walking pathways cutting through the park. Many benches line along the paths for people watching or monument viewing.
The park is surrounded by several buildings, including the White House to the south, the Old and New Executive Office Buildings to the southwest and west, St. Johns Episcopal church to the north and the U.S. Department of the Treasury to the east.
Increased post-9/11 security measures have permanently cut off the 16th to 17th Street section of Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., to motorized vehicles, and even pedestrians may be re-directed depending on the event. Pick-up street hockey games are popular on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the park.
HelloWashingtonDC Tip: For more information about the park, go to the National Park Service website that features it.
Posted on Mar 4, 2011 by Rin-rin Yu
