A Reimagined Oxon Run Park Takes Shape in the Heart of Southeast Washington, D.C.

Image via the Chesapeake Bay Program

From the Chesapeake Bay Program:

Oxon Run Park, one of the largest public parks in Washington, D.C., sits at the heart of Ward 8—a collection of neighborhoods that includes both million-dollar homes and public housing. Like most urban green spaces, the 128-acre park provides much more than playgrounds and sports fields. For many of the Ward 8 communities, the park is a haven that offers a place to connect with nature through holistic events and spaces.

"When a community is on life support, this is like our hospital that we come to for healing," said Brenda Lee Richardson, vice chair of Friends of Oxon Run Park, a nonprofit organization focused on programming, fundraising and maintenance for the park.

For years, many of the neighborhoods in Ward 8 have faced severe challenges, including food insecurity and crime. In 2023, there were 98 homicide incidents recorded in Ward 8, an increase from the 78 incidents in 2022. Additionally, the district reported 440 incidents of assault with a dangerous weapon,” compared to 74 such incidents in neighboring Ward 6 during the same period, according to DC Crime Data.