[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 19532-19533]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            INTRODUCTION OF THE ROCK CREEK NATIONAL PARK ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2017

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce a bill to redesignate the 
National Park Service-owned Rock Creek Park, in the District of 
Columbia, as ``Rock Creek National Park.'' Renaming this park will 
highlight its significance to the nation, including visitors to the 
nation's capital, and will help get much-needed funding for the park's 
inviting trails, waterways and other unique features.
  Rock Creek Park is already a national park, established by Congress 
in 1890 ``for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of the United 
States,'' and is the oldest urban park and the third federal park ever 
created, after Yellowstone and Sequoia. Rock Creek Park was designed to 
preserve animals, timber, forestry and other interests in the park, and 
to ensure that its natural state is maintained as much as possible, for 
all American people, not just for D.C. residents.
  Over time, several structures have been established or donated to 
further preserve Rock Creek Park. In 1892, for example, the federal 
government acquired Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park, one of the mills 
used by local farmers during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. In 
1950, the Old Stone House, located at 3051 M Street NW., with its great 
pre-Revolutionary War architectural merit, was acquired by the park. 
The building was restored, and programs explain the house's rich 
history from the colonial period to the present day. The Fort Circle 
Parks were also acquired to interpret and preserve the Civil War 
Defenses of Washington, which created a ring of protection for the 
nation's capital during the Civil War.
  Today, Rock Creek Park offers residents of the District of Columbia, 
Maryland, and Northern Virginia, as well as thousands of visitors, an 
escape from our increasingly urban environment. Residents and tourists 
alike also enjoy many activities in the park's 2,000 acres, including 
hiking and bike riding on the historical trails, horseback riding, 
picnicking, tennis and other recreational activities in some of the 
open fields. Our residents have expressed their appreciation by 
volunteering to clean up and maintain the trails and waterways.
  Redesignating Rock Creek Park as Rock Creek National Park will help 
recognize the

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national status of the park and protect and revitalize this remarkable 
resource in our nation's capital.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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