Fort Ward Park
Park Location: 4301 W. Braddock Road
Park Area: 41.4 acres
Park usage: Special Use Park, Community Park, Amphitheater, Museum, Historical Landmark, and Seasonal Holiday and Historical Re-enactments and Solitude area.
Park Area: 41.4 acres
Park usage: Special Use Park, Community Park, Amphitheater, Museum, Historical Landmark, and Seasonal Holiday and Historical Re-enactments and Solitude area.
Fort Ward Park is located on the west end of Alexandria at 4401 W. Braddock Road on the highest point in the City. Incidentally, this is why the site was chosen as an ideal spot to build a fort during the Civil War. It is one of 68 earthen forts that were built in the defense of Washington D.C. The Fort was named for Commander James Harmon Ward, the first United States Naval Officer killed in the Civil War.
Fort Ward Park is really two parks in one -- a community park and the other a historical landmark complete with a museum and restored bastion in the northwest section of the original fort.
The museum at Fort Ward is a replica of the building that existed on the Fort grounds during that time. The building was photographed by the famous Civil War photographer, Matthew Brady. The museum also has a fine library and the surrounding grounds are often used for both Civil War and Revolutionary War re-enactments.
The park features include an Amphitheater where musical concerts are held every Thursday night from June to August annually, among many other events. There are two park shelters, a playground, ten picnic areas, a dog exercise area and a 0.6 tenths of a mile service road which has grown in popularity over the years with seniors citizens and young parents pushing baby carriages as a pseudo exercise track.
Fort Ward Park is really two parks in one -- a community park and the other a historical landmark complete with a museum and restored bastion in the northwest section of the original fort.
The museum at Fort Ward is a replica of the building that existed on the Fort grounds during that time. The building was photographed by the famous Civil War photographer, Matthew Brady. The museum also has a fine library and the surrounding grounds are often used for both Civil War and Revolutionary War re-enactments.
The park features include an Amphitheater where musical concerts are held every Thursday night from June to August annually, among many other events. There are two park shelters, a playground, ten picnic areas, a dog exercise area and a 0.6 tenths of a mile service road which has grown in popularity over the years with seniors citizens and young parents pushing baby carriages as a pseudo exercise track.
The service road that travels through the park opens at 7 am for foot traffic only. At 9 am, the road opens to vehicular traffic.
Note: Areas 1 - 7 are available for use by reservation only Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, April through October. The seven picnic areas, which can be reserved for a fee, are very popular typically with community groups, company picnics, weddings, family reunions, and holidays events.
Other amenities include: park security, water hydrants in most of the park areas, picnic tables, barbeque grills and benches.
Note: Areas 1 - 7 are available for use by reservation only Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, April through October. The seven picnic areas, which can be reserved for a fee, are very popular typically with community groups, company picnics, weddings, family reunions, and holidays events.
Other amenities include: park security, water hydrants in most of the park areas, picnic tables, barbeque grills and benches.
Fort Ward Park Rental Information
Amenities: amphitheater, parking, picnic areas, play equipment, restrooms, seating, telephone trails.
Amenities: amphitheater, parking, picnic areas, play equipment, restrooms, seating, telephone trails.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9 am to Dark
General Rules and Regulations
- Camping - No person shall set up tents, shacks, trailers or any other temporary shelter for the purpose of overnight camping. Exceptions: Overnight camping may be allowed for large groups under certain conditions.
- Alcohol Beverage Policy - Fort Ward is specified and designed as a park where the use of alcoholic beverages by a group of 50 or more, based within the City of Alexandria, is permitted under strict regulation and control. Only draft beer and wine will be permitted in the park areas 4, 5, 6 and 7. Beer must be in a keg and served in paper cups. In addition to the picnic site reservation fee, a $25 processing fee (non-refundable) is required from those groups who wish to obtain an ABC license to serve beer and wine. The Alcohol Permit will not be issued less than two weeks prior to the date of reservation. After receiving permission from the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, the applicant is required to obtain a Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Banquet License (ABC permit) at 6308 Grovedale Drive, Alexandria, Virginia. The Banquet License fee is an additional $55 fee payable to the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The person or business applying for a picnic reservation and a permit for beer and wine must have an address within the City of Alexandria. Personal or company checks must match the address shown on the ABC application and have a Virginia address. The consumption of alcoholic beverages by any person or group is prohibited in Fort Ward Park unless a Virginia State Banquet has been obtained.
- Dogs - Unleashing dogs or allowing dogs to urinate or defecate in the park (except in the dog exercise area) is prohibited. Dog owners are required to clean-up.
- Fires and Grills - Fires are permitted in park grills or personal grills only. Barbeque pits for cooking on the ground are prohibited. Propane gas grills are prohibited. All fires must be extinguished and ashes placed in designated containers or left in the park grill before the area is vacated.
- Picnic Reservation Requests - Picnic Reservation requests for all weekends, and holiday Mondays, must be received no later than 5 pm the Thursday prior to the requested weekend/holiday day.
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