What Makes Piscataway Park Special?

What makes Piscataway Park Special?

I recently started work for the National Park Service. Because I have some writing experience I was asked to do a write up about three of our local parks answering the question “What makes this park special?”

I don’t know if my write ups will ever be used, but I thought it would be neat to put them up here on my blog.  The three parks I wrote about were Fort Washington Park, Oxon Hill Farm at Oxon Cove Park and Piscataway Park.

While they are not very long, I am posting each individually.

Piscataway Park:

People often forget that Washington DC, in its original natural state, was a marsh. Exploring Piscataway Park is a powerful reminder of what this area looked like prior to its development.  With a number of nature trails, which take visitors through forests, swamps and fields, the abundant natural beauty of the area is readily apparent.

Most striking is the parks Marsh Boardwalk Trail which takes visitors on a one kilometer walk over the fragile, but vibrate ecosystem. Looking over the boardwalk into the clear water, fish can be seen darting around, turtles can be seen sunbathing on logs and the flow of the water is mesmerizing in its beauty.  All around visitors are surrounded by the sounds of nature; Bald Eagle sightings are not uncommon.  George Washington’s home, Mt Vernon is also clearly visible on the other side of the river. The boardwalk ends at entrance to a field, and in the middle of this field is the burial site of Chief Turkey Tayac (1895-1978); an important member of the Piscataway Indian Nation who fought for greater rights for native peoples.

Also home to historic sites like Marshall Hall and education centers like National Colonial Farm, Piscataway Park is notable for its diversity, beauty and history.