Historic McMillan: FACTSHEET
LOCATION
- BOUNDARIES: North: Michigan Avenue; East: North Capitol Street; South: Channing Street; West: First Street.
- WARDS: Situated entirely in Ward 5, immediately abutting Wards 1 & 4.
- NEIGHBORHOODS: Bloomingdale, Brookland, Edgewood, LeDroit Park, Park Place, Pleasant Plains, Stronghold
SIZE & STRUCTURES
Approximately 25 acres in total. Comprised of 20 vaulted underground cells of non-reinforced concrete (about 1 acre each) and two above-ground courts of sand silos & regulator houses
FUNCTION
Chemical-free purification technology provided clean and safe drinking water until replaced by chlorine treatment in 1986.
DESIGN
- Integral part of the McMillan Commission’s “Emerald Necklace“ open greenspace strategy for the Nation’s Capital.
- Original McMillan Park gardens were designed by renowned landscape architecture firm of Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. & Sr., designers of New York’s Central Park
HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE
- Listed on District’s Inventory of Historic Sites since 1991
- Listed on the DC Preservation League's "Most Endangered" list
- Recommended for designation as a National Historic Site by the D.C. Historic Preservation Board and supported by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
COMMUNITY SIGNIFICANCE
- Once offered stunning publicly accessible parkland
- Located amidst neighborhoods with no recreation facilities.
- NO nearby public parks, NO senior center, NO library.
- Nearest community recreation center over a mile away.
POTENTIAL
- In its day, a world-class architectural and technological marvel.
- Today, a Landmark with huge potential to provide both economic development and community services.
