Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, National aquatic gardens and park along Anacostia River in Washington D.C., United States.
Kenilworth Park is a garden and park setting along the Anacostia River in Washington D.C., featuring ponds filled with water lilies, lotus flowers, and marshland. Elevated wooden walkways connect these aquatic areas, allowing visitors to move through the spaces without disturbing the habitats.
The land was purchased in the 1880s by a Civil War veteran who introduced water lilies and established a commercial garden that attracted prominent visitors. It was eventually acquired by the National Park Service to preserve and open the grounds to the public.
The site takes its name from a stately English estate, reflecting early 20th-century American enthusiasm for cultivating exotic aquatic plants. You notice today how the landscape shapes how people move through seasons and observe the changing bloom cycles.
Wear sturdy shoes as the walkways can be slippery, especially after rain, and give yourself time to explore without rushing. Early morning visits offer cooler temperatures and better opportunities to observe wildlife moving through the grounds.
The grounds contain one of the few remaining tidal marshes in Washington D.C., a rare ecosystem within an urban setting. This wetland shelters numerous insect and plant species that are scarce elsewhere in the city.
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