What if I told you that Lakelands Park was envisioned as a thin slice of land? It is a fascinating story about urban renewal and park design in Washington D.C. that began in 1964.
Lakelands Park was constructed during the urban renewal of Southwest Washington. This area was near public housing and on the eastern industrial side of the neighborhood. It was planned as the primary park in that vicinity. The project aimed to double the parkland and recreation space in the area. It grew from 30 to about 60 acres.
Lakelands Park is named after Mark Lansburgh. He was the director of the city’s Redevelopment Land Agency. LeRoy Skillman of the National Park Service designed Lakelands Park. Skillman worked in the Washington region design office. Originally, the park was to be a thin strip between Delaware Avenue and 1st Street Southwest. However, as streets closed to traffic, the park expanded. It incorporated parts of K and L Streets. It eventually included three blocks of 1st Street.
Buildings remained at the park’s southern and northwest corners. This resulted in a unique configuration. Lakelands Park became a slender pedestrian space, three blocks long. It runs north-south and widens in the middle. The narrower sections feature concrete sidewalks. These are lined with lawns and deciduous trees. The wide center of Lakelands Park features interconnected metal domed pavilions. There is also a stage framed by trees.
Next to the pavilions is a sunken area. Low wooden retaining walls define it. Sidewalks edge the area and benches and shade trees line it. The original play equipment designed by Skillman has been removed from Lakelands Park. However, the pavilions and seating area remain as originally designed.
Lakelands Park stands as a testament to thoughtful urban planning. It provides green space and recreation in a dense urban environment. It shows how a small idea can evolve into a vital community asset. It started as a thin slice of land but became a valued park.