John Marshall Park

A very clean, peaceful park right next to the Canadian Embassy. I had my lunch here while a squirrel stared at me. The park could use a little more shade but other than that it was very pleasant.

Cute little park next to the Canadian embassy and Newseum. Nothing amazing, but perhaps a good place to eat a cheap lunch you have packed for yourself before you dive into the aforementioned museum.

This is a nice homage to the fourth Chief Justice of the United States John Marshall.
John Marshall Park was one of the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation’s projects. The park was named in honor of John Marshall, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1801 – 1835, who at one time resided at the park’s location. The design concept of the park utilizes a twelve foot grade change between C Street and Pennsylvania Avenue to create three distinct areas. The upper and lower bosques are paved plazas, with the center portion kept open to maintain the important L’Enfant vista to the Old City Hall. In the upper bosque, the benches and tables are arranged around two small fountains with sculptural features commemorating the early city spring which was located at the northern end of the park and from which in 1808 water for public use was first piped through the streets of Washington. A statue of John Marshall was added to this area of the park. The park also features two life size bronze chess players by sculptor Lloyd Lillie and sculptures by David Phillips (Somerville, MA) of bronze lily pads complete with frogs, turtles, fish and dragon flies. John Marshall Park was dedicated on May 10, 1983.