Franklin Park: Cultural Landscape Inventory, National Mall & Memorial Parks - L'Enfant Plan Reservation

Fanning, Kay

Franklin Park is a 5 acre rectangular park occupying an entire block. It is bounded by K St. on the north, 13th St. on the east, I St. on the south, and 14th St. on the west. The park lies in the heart of Washington’s central business district and is surrounded primarily by modern office buildings. This land was set aside by Congress in 1832 to protect the fresh spring on the site that were used to supply water to the White House. Franklin Park supplied the water for all American presidents in the White House from Andrew Jackson through William McKinley. Rows of trees surrounding Franklin Park on all sides create a distinct boundary. The three ellipses that define the park’s circulation system create 3 open areas, the flagstone plaza in the middle being flanked by two large elliptical walks enclosing east and west lawns. The 1936 circulation system replaced an 1868-1872 picturesquely curving walk plan. The focal point of Franklin Park is the elliptical, flagstone-paved plaza with an elliptical fountain surrounded with simply molded sandstone coping in its center. Four curvilinear planting areas are evenly spaced within the plaza around the fountain. Flights of 3 broad stairs lead to the plaza on the north, east, and south sides. On the west, the plaza is entered at grade. A statue commemorating the Revolutionary War hero, Naval Commodore John Barry, occupies a site at the mid-point of the park’s west side. The bronze sculpture stands on a marble pedestal ornamented with a female allegorical winged victory figure. The park’s east end is the former site of the lodge; this structure has been removed, along with sections of the 1936 cast-iron fence. Franklin Park is planted with large trees, mostly deciduous. The primary canopy species is willow oak. Other major species include zelkovas, sophoras, lindens, other oaks, and cedars, and there are many large specimens. The earlier, Victorian design of Franklin Park included a similar tree layout, as well as numerous shrubs and flower beds within the lawn areas. Decorative urns were planted with flowers and specimen plants. The park had a lusher appearance than it does today. Though simpler, the planting plan implemented in 1936 included some features that have since been eliminated, such as hedges surrounding the plaza and along some walks leading to it. Dense beds of azaleas were once planted against the outer sides of the hedges around the plaza. The current planting plan retains most features of the 1936 plan. Certain specimen trees, as well as the general tree layout, were retained from the Victorian park. The 1936 rehabilitation eliminated the more ornamental features, such as the eighteen flower beds, concentrating on the large trees growing in small clusters, lines, or as individual specimens, and open expanses of lawn. The park has a limited number of standard small-scale features developed for use in the NPS during the early twentieth century. Unlike many of the other downtown and Capitol Hill reservations, views have not played a major role in the design and development of Franklin Park. The major views in the park include views from the park walkways to the fountain, views from the fountain along the walks, and views from the perimeter sidewalks into the park. The Period of Significance extends from 1867 to 1936. This period includes at least two distinct design phases, a Victorian park and the clean design of the 1930s; elements of the Victorian design were retained and influenced the 1936 work. The park is significant under Criterion C for its current design. It is significant as part of the L’Enfant Plan, and is listed as a contributing feature in the 1997 “L’Enfant Plan of the City of Washington” National Register Nomination The statue of Commodore John Barry, founder of the U.S. Navy, is a contributing structure of the 1978 nomination for “American Revolutionary Statuary in the District of Columbia.”

Franklin Park: Cultural Landscape Inventory, National Mall & Memorial Parks - L'Enfant Plan Reservation

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