A historic forest takes root again.
Langdon Park is a beloved green space in Ward 5 where recreation, culture, and nature meet. Spanning both Langdon Park East and West, it’s home to the Chuck Brown Memorial, community gardens, sports fields, a community pool, a dog park, and shaded walking paths that connect neighbors and history.
In Langdon Park East lies the Langdon Park Forest Patch—a 2.2-acre woodland that’s as rich in story as it is in biodiversity. Once overrun by invasive vines, the forest is now being restored through a partnership led by the Langdon Park Forest Stewards (Delores Bushong, Mary Pat Rowan, Allison Clausen, and Tacey Mishek), along with community volunteers, city agencies, and Casey Trees.
About the forest patch
Appearing on maps as far back as 1861, this forest is one of the District’s oldest surviving stands of native trees. Today, more than 30 native species thrive here, from tulip poplars and oaks, to dogwoods and beeches. A new trail and online Pop-Up Arboretum invite visitors to explore the woods, learn about tree identification, and discover the benefits of urban forests up close.
“Part of what you have to do, is you have to educate people. You have to change the public perception of wild areas, of natural areas… I want everybody to have the sense that they need protection, and that’s what working in the forest patch really is. It’s about protecting the trees and helping them regenerate so that the small trees can grow up and we’ll have those trees forever.”
– Delores Bushong, Langdon Park Forest Steward
Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR)
Instead of large-scale planting, the Langdon Park Forest Stewards use Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR)—a method that helps the forest heal itself. They clear invasive vines, tag and monitor seedlings to protect young growth, and allow native trees to fill canopy gaps. Trees naturally grow, competing for space and resources as they do in any forest, but are assisted by their human counterparts to have the best chance at survival. This low-cost, high-impact approach supports genetic continuity, reduces carbon emissions from planting, and keeps restoration in community hands. Since 2020, volunteers have identified and tagged more than 2,000 seedlings—each one a sign of the forest’s recovery and future canopy.
“We are seeing a forest regeneration. And the value of forest regeneration is: no one has to care for it. Nobody has to water or do anything – control the vines – but other than that, it takes care of itself.”
– Mary Pat Rowan, Langdon Park Forest Steward
Our progress
What began as two neighbors clipping vines became the Langdon Park Forest Stewards, a group of four dedicated neighbors who have led the restoration of the forest patch. Their work includes removing invasive vines from the forest perimeter, tagging and protecting over 1,000 new native trees, and setting up research plots to explore Assisted Natural Regeneration techniques. They work alongside community volunteers, Casey Trees, the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), Department of General Services (DGS), and DDOT’s Urban Forestry Division, with support from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Additionally, the Stewards share their experience and knowledge of forest restoration with local groups and city agencies, including serving as proactive advocates for DC’s urban forests.
Together, we’ve transformed the forest edge from a curtain of invasive vines to an inviting natural space in the city with a new walking trail, a pop-up arboretum, and ongoing research to monitor natural regeneration.
Additional Resources
Pop-up Arboretum
Explore the online Pop-Up Arboretum developed by DDOT’s Urban Forestry Division. This map allows you to find and identify specific tree species within the forest patch!
LMU Journal
Read the article about the Langdon Forest Patch in Loyola Marymount University’s Cities and the Environment Journal (May 2023: Vol 13, Issue 1, Article 33).
Get involved
You can help the forest grow its next generation of trees. Join upcoming volunteer and educational events, or simply visit the Langdon Park Forest Patch! For questions about the forest patch, contact the Langdon Park Forest Stewards at: langdonparkforestpatch@gmail.com.
