Oxon Run Parkway

Oxon Run National Parkway is a 126-acre unit of the National Park Service located in Washington, D.C. The parkway adjoins the Ward 8 neighborhoods of Congress Heights, Shipley Terrace, and Washington Highlands, as well as the Maryland state line. It encompasses a portion of the broad stream bed and flood plain of Oxon Run, the only stream in Ward 8 that flows into the Potomac River rather than the Anacostia.

The parkway features a diverse landscape, including winding channels, extensive sandbars, islands, and deep pools along the Oxon Run stream. Near Southern Avenue, the parkway contains a pristine upland forest of beech trees and mountain laurel. A notable ecological feature is the presence of a rare magnolia bog, where the forest floor is covered in delicate ferns.

Historically, part of the parkway was once the Camp Simms military reservation. Remnants of a World War II-era shooting range can still be found within the woods. The parkway's borders include United Medical Center and THEARC, a center for arts and education programs in Ward 8.

The Oxon Run stream itself has undergone changes over time. Originally a meandering riffle-pool-type sequence stream with a gravel or sand bed, it was altered in the 20th century by flood control projects and significant urbanization of its watershed. Many of its tributaries have been converted to storm drains.

The parkway serves as a vital green space for the surrounding communities, offering opportunities for hiking, running, contemplation, and environmental education. However, littering along the parkway's borders remains a persistent problem, with debris often ending up in the stream.

Efforts are underway to improve and restore the parkway and its stream. The DC Department of Energy and Environment is in the research and planning phase of a restoration project to remove concrete channeling in parts of Oxon Run and recreate a meandering streambed similar to that which exists in the National Park Service portion of the stream valley.