Lakeside Park

Kingman Lake’s legacy whispers through the trees. Lakeside Park wasn’t always a park. It was once part of the Anacostia River. This area was largely underdeveloped. Unhealthy conditions prevailed due to tidal flats. Then came the reclamation efforts. The US Army Corps of Engineers transformed this land. Charles Sager a real estate developer saw an opportunity. He built homes for middle-class African Americans. He named the area Kingman Park. This was in honor of Kingman Lake created for recreational purposes. The lake’s name itself honored the chief engineer of the Anacostia reclamation. Sager initially didn’t target Black homebuyers. He quickly realized their need and the ready market. Other developers followed suit. Kingman Park boomed attracting exclusively African American residents. Segregated institutions followed residential buildings. These included schools and recreational facilities. The Langston Terrace Dwellings a federally funded public housing project were built. These garden apartments were designed by Hilyard Robinson a Bauhaus-trained architect. The Young Browne Phelps and Spingarn Education Campus became a center of learning. Langston Golf Course provided recreational opportunities. All were open to African Americans. Kingman Park became a symbol of community during segregation. Its institutions served as important sites for Civil Rights demonstrations in the late 1940s and early 1950s. This fight for equality ultimately led to the end of legalized segregation in DC. Today Lakeside Park stands as a testament to this rich history a vibrant community built on resilience and the struggle for equal rights. Remember this history as you stroll through the park. Reflect on the struggles and triumphs of the people who shaped this neighborhood.