Rock Creek Park is an urban natural area with public park facilities which bisects Washington, DC. East of the park, the city has a decidedly urban character. To the west, the city is more bucolic and prosperous. A majority of foreign embassies are located to the west, as well as the colonial town of Georgetown.

The park itself contains 1755 acres (7 km²) along the Rock Creek Valley. The major portion of the area lay north of the National Zoo, and was established by act of Congress made law by President Benjamin Harrison on September 27, 1890, the same year that Yosemite National Park was established. A later addition of the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway extended the park along a narrow corridor from the zoo to the mouth of Rock Creek at the Potomac River. In 1933, Rock Creek Park, along with other National Capital Parks, was transferred to the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. Legislative language from its establshment, and the character of the park itself, suggests that it is among the oldest of America's national parks.

Recreation facilities include equestrian trails; sport venues, including a tennis stadium which hosts major professional events; a nature center and planetarium; an outdoor concert venue; and picnic and playground facilities. Rock Creek Park also maintains cultural exhibits, including the Pierce Mill and Civil War fortifications. Rock Creek is a popular venue for jogging and cycling, as well as the path of a major traffic throughfare, especially along the portion south of the zoo.

The parklands follow the course of Rock Creek across the District-Maryland border to connect with Rock Creek Stream Valley Park and Rock Creek Regional Park in Montgomery County. The Maryland parks are operated by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commisssion .

External link

• Rock Creek Park Official Homepage http://www.nps.gov/rocr/