Entrance to Montrose Park

Montrose Park, originally the grounds of a private estate, is a small, 16-acre inner-city Washington, D. C., park that was established in 1911. The entrance is on R Street near the corner of Avon Place. You must park on the street, and there is a 2-hour limit. The park is adjacent to Dumbarton Oaks Park, another sub unit of Rock Creek Park.

The southern end of Montrose Park is landscaped and includes a garden, four tennis courts, playground, picnic tables, and a public restroom building. A U-shaped paved path that starts at the street at each end of the park leads to all of the features.

Memorial to Sarah Louisa Rittenhouse, the lady who helped convince Congress to establish Montrose Park

Paved path leads around the developed section of Montrose Park

Picnic tables at Montrose Park

Playground at Montrose Park

Gazebo for spectators watching the matches at the adjacent tennis court

At the back of the park is a dirt path that connects to Lover’s Lane, a paved, pedestrian side street that separates Montrose Park from Dumbarton Oaks Park. From R Street, Lover’s Lane leads to the entrance gate of Dumbarton Oaks Park, then continues north for .3 mile and eventually comes out on Massachusetts Avenue next to the Italian Embassy. There is no reason whatsoever to hike this unless you entered the park from Massachusetts Avenue.

Path that leads down to Lovers Lane

Montrose Park is of interest only to local residents. The park is surrounded by houses and businesses, so I doubt it lacks for visitors.

Back to the Top