Volta Park
Volta Park’s rich history goes back to 1769. The park was originally a cemetery where nearly 3,000 people were buried, including soldiers from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and quite possibly the Civil War. They were laid to rest next to members of the neighboring Bridge Street Presbyterian Church. At the end of the 18th century, the bodies were interred, and the land was transformed into a park.
Over the years, Volta Park has been touched by history with connections to JFK and Jacqueline. By the late 1990’s, a group of concerned neighbors came together to form the Friends of Volta Park. Check out the excellent interview of John Richardson conducted by Elizabeth Barentzen in 2011 for CAG’s oral history project.
In 1996 the group officially entered into a partnership with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation to manage the park’s maintenance. Since then, the Friends of Volta Park has been responsible for all landscape maintenance of the park’s grounds and gardens. Today, thousands of families use the park’s playground, tennis courts, pool, baseball field, and gardens. Each summer, families gather at the park for the Citizen Association of Georgetown’s free family concerts. Volta Park’s public green space has become an oasis in the middle of Georgetown.
1555 34th St NW Washington DC 20007
