Hancock Park - Washington,
Hancock Park: A Quiet Green Escape for Dog Lovers in Southwest DC
Located at 800 C St SW, Hancock Park is a pet-friendly green space in the heart of Washington, District of Columbia. Bordered by bustling city streets and offering proximity to the Le L’Enfant Metro station, this park provides easy access for city dwellers seeking a natural escape with their dogs. Large, shady trees and open lawns make it a pleasant spot to relax, people-watch, or enjoy visiting food trucks nearby on Maryland Ave. The park’s accessible entrance and parking lot make it welcoming to all visitors, including those using wheelchairs.
While Hancock Park is not exclusively a dog park and doesn’t offer specialized dog areas or amenities, it is a popular neighborhood retreat for dog owners. You’ll find plenty of open space for on-leash walks and shaded grassy spots for picnics. Although there aren’t benches, water fountains, or fenced dog areas, the park is known for its peaceful atmosphere, beautiful natural surroundings, and convenient access to public transit. It’s especially attractive to those seeking a simple pet-friendly outing in Southwest DC without the crowds.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are dogs allowed at this park? Yes, dogs are allowed at Hancock Park.
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? Yes, both the entrance and parking lot are wheelchair accessible.
- Is there shade or shelter available? Yes, the park has plenty of shady areas under large trees, though there are no covered shelters.
- Is public transportation available to the park? Yes, Hancock Park is adjacent to the Le L’Enfant Metro station and near a Capital Bikeshare stand, making public transit very convenient.
- Are there benches or seating areas for owners? There are no benches, but you can relax in the grass under the trees.
- Is parking available at or near the park? There is parking nearby, but be aware that some visitors park on the grass, which can affect the park’s appearance.
Reviews
Surrounded by magnificent trees this is a pleasant reprieve from the hustle of SW DC. Bounded by C Street on the north, the railroad tracks on the south, 7th Street on the east and 9th Street on the west this park is large enough to get away from the noise of this very busy neighborhood. Being adjacent to Le L’Enfant Metro and a Capital Bikeshare stand makes access very convenient. If you happen to be here at lunch time you can sample a large variety of the famous DC food trucks that park along adjacent 7th Street and Maryland Ave. There are no benches in the park. If you don’t mind sitting in the grass you can find some shade and make this is a pleasant place to take your food truck meal.
Beautiful! Clean! At times you can see ducks! There are plenty of dragonflies to watch! You can sit down to read, eat and drink. Or you can people watch!!! Visit here every week day. Love it.
For two years random cars are parking on the grass at Hancock park and the amount of cars is increasing. People are parking on the park property (for free) during the day while at work/conducting business. They have destroyed the grass and beautiful park (tire tracks and mud everywhere). I ride the VRE everyday and walk through this park twice a day. Nobody is monitoring the park and removing or ticketing these people who are parking their cars on park property for free.
Could be a pretty spot alongside the railroad tracks, but it’s not well-maintained (railway & utility vehicles tear up about half of it), it’s not designed for active use (no chairs or anything to make it inviting), and it’s not programmed with any events or activities. It’s a forgotten park that isn’t even good enough to serve as a lunch spot for nearby office workers.
Attended a really cool “Be a Drummer for a Day” event here! Tiny little park with no amenities, but super close to the metro station and parking nearby. The group we saw was an all-woman Afro-Brazilian band playing Samba and Reggae. They brought enough instruments for everyone and taught the crowd their signature song “Batala”