DowntownDC: Franklin Park

Franklin Park

DowntownDC’s Largest Green Space!
Welcome to Franklin Park: A newly renovated park that includes an expanded and restored fountain plaza, a new children’s garden, ADA accessible sidewalks, enhanced lighting, conversational seating, engaging green space and a future restaurant pavilion. Operated by DowntownDC BID, Franklin Park is a destination for residents, workers and visitors in the heart of DC.

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About Franklin Park

Originally established in 1832, Franklin Park reopened in September 2021 after an eagerly anticipated renovation. A planning partnership was formed in 2012 between NPS, the DC Government and the BID to transform the park and establish sustainable maintenance, operation, and programming of the park in perpetuity. The result of this planning effort was a concept design and maintenance and operations plan for the park.

Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC City Council provided $18 million for the renovation. In March 2019, President Trump signed a federal lands package that permitted the District of Columbia to invest its capital dollars in the renovation and construction of the park through a cooperative management agreement with NPS. Studios Architecture and Land Collective were awarded the design and engineering contracts for the project. The DC Department of General Services (DGS) oversaw the construction and selected Smoot Construction Co. as the general contractor. The DowntownDC BID operates, programs, and manages the park. Funding support is provided by the BID’s 501 c3, the DowntownDC Foundation.