Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens

https://www.nps.gov/keaq/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenilworth_Park_and_Aquatic_Gardens Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens is a National Park Service site located in the north eastern corner of Washington, D.C., and the Maryland state border. Nestled near the banks of the Anacostia River and directly west of the Baltimore–Washington Parkway, Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens preserves a plethora of rare waterlilies and lotuses in the cultivated ponds near the river. The park also contains the Kenilworth Marsh, the only remaining tidal marsh in Washington, D.C. and an adjacent recreational area. Deep within Kenilworth lies an oasis, hidden behind trees and cattails. It's a place where beavers build their homes and turtles sleep on logs. Lotus blooms rise from the muck and lilies sit on the water. The wind dances with the dragonflies, rustling through the trees, carrying the song of the birds until it brushes across your face, fading to a whisper, saying "come join." The park is located in North East Washington D.C. south of route 50 and just off the Baltimore Washington Parkway. The park is also within the D.C. Kenilworth community and the Anacostia river runs along the park boundary. Interstate 295 runs parallel to the park. The park is within half a mile from the Deanwood Metro station on the orange line. There is free parking at the park. Visitor Center The Visitor Center at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens is an ideal place to begin your visit. Restrooms are located here as well as orientation brochures. A small room of exhibit panels provides a brief overview of the history of the gardens and its key plants. Those with children should ask about the Junior Ranger program. The gift shop offers a variety of items for the nature enthusiast. Stamps for all sites in National Captial Parks East can be found at this Visitor Center. The park is located in North East Washington D.C. south of route 50 and Baltimore Washington Parkway. The park is also within the D.C. Kenilworth community and the Anacostia river runs along the park boundary. Interstate 295 runs parallel to the park. Lotus pond bloom Pink lotus flower blooms in a pond. Lotus flowers bloom in many ponds during the hot humid summer months. Fall Colors Aquatic ponds during the fall with trees displaying orange and yellow colors. As the seasons change, so do the colors around the ponds which can be seen as reflections on the water. Hanging around Turtles basking in the sun. As the temperatures warm up during spring and summer months many reptiles including turtles can be seen basking in the sun on logs, tree stumps or the banks of the ponds. Capturing Moments A woman taking a photo of lotus flowers The summer blooms in and around the ponds attract many photographers and artist from around the world. Flight in Fall Great Blue Heron in flight over the ponds during the fall. The wetlands and marsh habitat many shore birds and they can be seen wading in and around the ponds for food. The Beauty in Water: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Landscape A natural oasis blossoms in the heart of the nation's capital. The Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens landscape contains a unique blend of natural and cultural features, shaped and nurtured by the Anacostia River. The presence of water flows through the history and features of the site, which contains ponds of aquatic plants surrounded by marshland. The bright petals of a water lily flower are reflecting in gently rippling water. Summer in the Parks (1968-1976) What began as a summer transportation program to send DC urban youth to Catoctin and Prince William Forest Parks in 1966 grew to a city-wide summer-long festival attracting residents to parks in every quadrant of the city. After the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., the program took on an additional role to help save a city from destroying itself. A group of boys smiles for the camera Ash Tree Update 2017 The state of ash trees in 2017 in the National Capital Region after more than 10 years of harm from the invasive emerald ash borer. A white ash leaf Oak Decline Learn more about oak decline where a host of stressors interact to weaken trees over time, leading to what becomes "death by a thousand cuts." Looking up into the canopy of a mature oak showing symptoms of oak decline. Amphibian Diversity & Habitat Connectivity Habitat fragmentation is a major threat to amphibian communities, especially in National Capital Region parks at risk due to the region's growing urbanization. A small frog crouches on a lichen-covered rock. Memorials for the Future Memorials for the Future, is a competition that aims to rethink the way we develop and experience memorials in Washington, D.C. Memorials for the Future Logo Forest Soils Highlights from a 2007-2017 study of soils in National Capital Region Network I&M-monitored parks. Includes discussion of parent materials, heavy metal soil pollutants like lead, and how past land use effects O horizons. Collage of 6 color photos of soil profiles showing colors from orange-y reds to browns and grays. Stiltgrass and Tree Seedling Recovery Recent analysis at Maryland's Catoctin Mountain Park shows Japanese stiltgrass does not limit the growth of tree seedlings in a forest recovering from deer overpopulation. Invasive Japanese stiltgrass blankets the sides of a shady forest road. Spotted Lanternfly 101 What you need to know about spotted lanternfly: a new, invasive, insect pest approaching the National Parks of the Mid-Atlantic. A spotted lanternfly with wings spread showing namesake spots Brood X Periodical Cicadas FAQ Learn about the Brood X periodical cicadas that emerged in 2021 throughout the Mid-Atlantic U.S. A perched periodical cicada with red eyes and orange wings Forest Regeneration 2020 What is the future of our forests? A look at forest regeneration capacity in National Capital Area national parks based on 2020 monitoring data. hand holding a leaflet on a white ash seedling National Capital PRISM and Invasive Species Since invasive species don’t recognize park boundaries, we need to work together with our partners, neighbors, and other federal and state entities to manage across borders. We can’t do it alone! a hand holds a rosette of green leaves over the water Plants and Climate Change Changing climate increases stressors that weaken plant resilience, disrupting forest structure and ecosystem services. Rising temperatures lead to more frequent droughts, wildfires, and invasive pest outbreaks, leading to the loss of plant species. That causes a ripple of problems throughout their ecosystems. Monocacy tulip poplar tree Pollinators and Climate Change The changing climate impacts pollinators by shifting growing and blooming seasons and potentially weakening the plant populations that pollinators depend on. Additionally, warmer temperatures have altered migration patterns, affecting pollinator species like Monarch butterflies. Monarch butterfly on yellow flowers Beech Trees in the National Capital Area American beech (Fagus grandifolia), the most common tree species in National Capital Area parks, is currently facing the emerging threat of Beech Leaf Disease (BLD). A forest with healthy green leafed beech trees Forest Regeneration 2021 The latest look at forest regeneration capacity in National Capital Area national parks based on monitoring data from 2021. Green forest showing healthy understory of oak seedlings. Ash Tree Update 2021 Emerald ash borer (EAB) has killed most of the 300,000 ash trees in National Capital Region parks since 2014. Fewer than 80,000 living ash trees remain. Some ash-dominated swamps transformed into shrublands as ash root systems re-sprouted after EAB attack. In dry habitats, EAB proved more quickly fatal. A sunny swamp with dead tree trunks emerging from dense shrubs The bioblitz: Good science, good outreach, good fun Part contest, part festival, part educational event, and part scientific endeavor, bioblitzes bring together naturalists, professional scientists, and the interested public, who canvass the area over a 24-hour period to find and document all plants and animals. young woman gathers flying insects from a backlit white sheet at night. Vines on Trees at Forest Edges Learn how climbing vines affect tree growth and mortality in National Capital Region park forests. This material was originally presented in a 2016 resource brief. Vines climb on trees at the forest edge at Rock Creek's Barnard Hill Park. Forest Regeneration 2022 Tree seedlings and small saplings are still in short supply in National Capital Region national parks. A look at forest regeneration capacity based on monitoring data from 2022. Sunlight filtering through a green forest with green seedlings covering most of the forest floor. Long-Term Monitoring Reveals Challenges and Resilience at Kenilworth Marsh and Kingman Lake Faced with threats like sea level rise and erosion, the freshwater tidal wetlands at Kenilworth Marsh and Kingman Lake may have challenges ahead. Scientists with the Inventory and Monitoring Program collected and analyzed marsh elevation data to determine how the ecosystems are weathering these changes. Four technicians wearing hip waders stand in the glistening mud of Kenilworth Marsh. Ash Tree Update 2022 Emerald ash borer are still decimating ash trees in the National Capital Region. Read on for the latest look into the state of ash trees in our parks based on forest monitoring data. Metallic emerald ash borer beetle atop a chewed leaf Seep Shrimp Learn about the tiny creatures that live in our forest's seeps. three researchers in high-vis yellow gear search for shrimp in a snowy forest Forest Regeneration 2023 Tree seedlings and small saplings are slowly increasing in National Capital Region national parks. A look at forest regeneration capacity based on monitoring data from 2023. Three people stand in a forest, smiling and pointing to a large tree trunk between them. Incised Fumewort (Corydalis incisa) Incised fumewort (Corydalis incisa) is a "high risk" invasive plant in the mid-Atlantic US with the potential to become widespread and cause a lot of damage. Learn how to identify it, differentiate it from the native yellow corydalis (Corydalis flavula), and help be on the lookout for this invasive species. A cluster of incised fumewort with green leaves and bright purple tubular flowers with violet ends. When Forests Come Down with a Bug: Forest Pests in the Greater DC Area Beech leaf disease, emerald ash borer, spotted lanternfly, spongy moth, oak decline and oak wilt are all pests present in National Capital Region (NCR) park forests. Learn about their effects and spread based on NCR Inventory & Monitoring data, and get the heads up on elm zigzag sawfly and beech bark disease. A black and red insect sits on a leaf. Series: Amphibian Monitoring in the National Capital Region Amphibians are a crucial part of both aquatic and land ecosystems, and National Capital Region parks are home to at least 20 different amphibian species. Learn how amphibian populations are changing based on more than fifteen years of NPS monitoring by the National Capital Region Inventory & Monitoring Network. Northern red salamander on a patch of sun dappled moss NCP East Amphibian Monitoring 2023 National Capital Parks - East is hopping! Learn what recent amphibian monitoring data shows us about amphibian populations in the park! American toad (Bufo americanus) Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. 2023 Excellence in Volunteerism Awards The National Park Service congratulates the regional recipients of the 2023 Excellence in Volunteerism Awards. These nominees embody the values of service, engagement, and stewardship fundamental to our national parks. The volunteer-in-parks logo Native Grapes Seven species of grapes are native to the National Capital Region. Learn how to tell them apart, where they grow, and how they benefit birds, bugs, and beasts alike. Multiple clusters of grapes hang off of a leafy vine. “Cracking the code” on mercury bioaccumulation Read the abstract and get the link to a published paper on a model to predict mercury risk park waterbodies: Kotalik, C.J. et al. 2025. Ecosystem drivers of freshwater mercury bioaccumulation are context-dependent: insights from continental-scale modeling. Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c07280 A person stands in a field looking at a bug through a magnifying lens. Forest Regeneration 2024 Forest regeneration in the National Capital Region continues to slowly improve, especially in parks that manage their deer populations. A look at forest regeneration capacity based on monitoring data from 2024. Forest with tall trees in the background and green saplings in the foreground

Welcome to the only National Park Service unit cultivating water-loving plants. This 12 acre sanctuary features over 45 ponds filled with a variety of tropical and hardy water lilies, lotus, and other aquatic species. Established on the cast bank of the Anacostia River, the human mad e shallow ponds and dikes includes 70 acres of fresh water tidal wet-land. The quiet oasis offers a scenic break from the busy pace of Washington , DC and a place to observe local wildlife through four seasons. The park provides recreational opportunities along the Anacostia River and serves as a great outdoor classroom. Shaw's fondness for water lilies led him to plant a dozen wild water lilies from his home state of Maine in an unused ice pond. Over time, this hobby became a thriving business as Shaw built more ponds, collected exotic water lilies, developed new varieties, and sold plants and blooms around the world. With the help of his daughter, Helen Fowler, Shaw created a unique garden, of sparkling water and I colorful blooms of the lilies. Helen followed her father as manager of W.B. Shaw Lily Ponds. She traveled looking for plants from Asia, Egypt, and South America. Her pastel studies of lili es are displayed at the visitor's center. In the 1920s visitors by the thousands came to see the waxy flowers open in the summer sun. President Calvin Coolidge and his wife Grace came to stroll under the willows, and admire the beautiful flowers. A Park's Story Walter B. Shaw was a man of determination who, after he lost his right arm in service during the Civil War, taught himself to write with his left hand. He accepted a job here as a clerk in the U.S. Treasury Department, married, and later bought 30 acres from his mother-in law in the 1880s. Mr. Walter B. Shaw Then in the 1930s the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, on oreders to dredge the Anacostia River, moved to take the gardens by condemnation. Instead, Congress purchased the 8 acres ofgardens in 1938 for $15.000 to preserve them for the American people. The Nal"ional Park Service received the property renaming the gardens Kenilworth for the community that grew up at the turn of the century. ~· ----- . 't_ __ - ~ • - - ' __ 1' - -.---- About Water Li lies and Lotuses Hardy water lilies begin blooming in late May wilh waxy cup shaped flowers. Tropical water li lies arc more open flowers in intense pink, blue, purple, yellow and white, with rippled often spollcd leaves. They bloom late July through early fall. The lotus, in mid-summer, have large leaves growing several feel above the water. Its showy flowers drop ~.>nWood Meu o Kenllwon.h A\le Ne North Park Entrance: The entrance to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is at 1550 Anacostia Ave nue NE between Douglas Street and Pond St. Garden Access by Metrorail/Bus From the Deanwood Metro Station take the V7 Bureau of Engraving bus to Keni lworth Ave. and Douglas St. Walk to the end of Douglas St. to go right on Anacostia Avenue. Another option is to exit the station at Po lk St., cross the pedestrian overpass to Douglas Street. At the end of Douglas go right on Anacostia Ave. t<~nUwonh Rircre:11tlon PAfk M"V~I ~ Avr NC N . H. lluf",.OWS Eidt Driving Directions N. H. Bu,,.ows Rd. petals to reveal seedpods that look like shower-heads . Ke_nilworth Aquatic Gardens grounds are open daily 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving Day, December 25arid.January1) The Visitor Center is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information: call (202) 426-6905 or visit www.nps.gov/keaq To f ind the park by GPS, use 1550 Anacostia Ave NE Washington DC 2001 9 Or write: National Capital Parks, East 1900 Anacostia Dr. SE Washington, DC 20020 Special Features A boarqwa1 ~ into the marsh, a trail along the Anacost1a River. A few picnic tables are available. No grills, or alcohol are allowed. Mornings arc best for viewing flowers; the afternoon heat makes most blooms close. About Kenilworth Marsh The marsh surrounding the ponds is a fresh water tidal flood plain of the Anacostia River. It is fresh water cleaned by the marsh that flows through a series of pipes into the ponds. Managed for water quality and wildlife one finds plants and animals typical of wetlands, wild rice, sedges, raccoon, eagles and fox. The wetland serves as a filter for water flowing into the Anacostia River and as a catch basin for fl oods. From South of Route 50: Take DC Route 295 north. Take the Eastern Avenue Exit. At the top of the ramp make a U turn to the left. Make the second right after that onto Douglas. At the end of Douglas go right on Anacostia Ave. were 1/2 block on left past Douglas St. From North of Route 50: Take DC Route 295 South. Take the Eastern Avenue Exit. At the top of the ramp go straight down two blocks. Make the second right after onto Douglas. At the end of Douglas go right on Anacostia Ave. were 112 block on left past Douglas St. For additional details to plan your trip on metro bus and/or metro rail visit www.metro