Oakcrest Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Oakcrest Park is a small but beautiful park located in the District of Columbia.


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Summary

It is an ideal destination for anyone who loves nature and wants to escape the city's bustling urban lifestyle. Some reasons to visit Oakcrest Park include its tranquil atmosphere, well-manicured lawns, and walking trails.

One of the park's key points of interest is the John A. Wilson Building, a historic building that serves as the city's seat of government. Other attractions in the park include the Oakcrest Mansion and the Francis L. Cardozo Education Campus.

Oakcrest Park has an interesting history. It was once the site of the Oakcrest School for Girls, a prestigious finishing school that operated from 1924 to 1972. After the school closed, the property was acquired by the District of Columbia government and turned into a park.

The best time to visit Oakcrest Park is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the trees are in bloom. The park is open from dawn to dusk, and admission is free. Visitors should keep in mind that the park's facilities, such as restrooms and picnic areas, may be closed during the winter months.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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