Photo: Brook Ward You may think you know all about DC and its history, but no matter where you look it seems there are plenty of new things to see and discover, including some fun and quirky facts about DC. There’s no “J” ...
Read MoreShepherd Park is a tight-knit community located off 16th Street in the upper Northwestern quadrant of Washington DC. The neighborhood is popular with families because of its collection of homes with front lawns, easy accessibility to Downtown and quality schools. The neighborhood is zoned for some of the most popular public schools in the District, including Shepherd Elementary, Deal Middle School, and Wilson High School.
The housing stock is dominated by single-family Colonial revival homes as well as Mid-century Modern and Tudor residences lining the wooded streets. The community takes its name from Alexander “Boss” Shepherd, a former governor of the District who chose the verdant land as the site of his summer vacation home. While the mansion was demolished in the early 1900s, the streets still retain names reminiscent of a summer garden, including Juniper, Hemlock, and Locust. Read more about Shepherd Park real estate.
The Parks at Walter Reed, a former Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus which closed in 2011, is slated for redevelopment for retail, residential, and community space. Anticipated projects include a Hyatt Hotel and Conference Center, as well as parks and community gardens, a medical care clinic, and variety of retail and housing options. Today, Shepherd Park current offers easy access to Rock Creek Park and all of its outdoor activities, including the Holly Trail. The Jessup Blair Local Park is another nearby park spanning 24.2 acres that is home to picnic areas, playgrounds, and sports fields.
While Shepherd Park is not directly served by a Metro Station, two stations — Silver Spring and Takoma on the Red Line -- are a short drive away. Additional bus lines run along 16th Street and Georgia Avenue. Shepherd Park is bounded on the east by Georgia and Eastern Avenues; by 16th Street on the west; by Alaska Avenue and Fern Street on the south and the vacant Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus lying below.