A world-class destination with Naval origins. The Yards Park is closely linked with that of the neighboring Washington Navy Yard, located just to the east of the park. More Yards Park History

Yards Park is situated on what was formerly part of the Navy Yard Annex, an expansion of the Washington Navy Yard in response to production required for Navy shipbuilding in World Wars I and II.

The land was later deemed surplus in the early 1960s and transferred to the General Services Administration (GSA).

Following the Southeast Federal Center Public-Private Development Act of 2000, GSA awarded the 42-acre riverfront site to Forest City Washington for a new urban mixed-use development in 2003.

The Anacostia Watershed Initiative, a large planning effort by the District and others, envisioned a waterfront park at the center of this new urban mixed-use development.