Fort Ward is a must-see; whether you're a history buff visiting the area or a long-time local - there is much to see and learn here. It doesn't cost a thing to visit the museum, which is staffed by city of Alexandria employees. There are brochures and fact sheets upon entering the museum and the staff will be happy to answer questions. They have events throughout the year and there's a donation box for those that want to support their ongoing efforts. The park itself is a nice retreat from the city. There are a few areas that are off-limits in terms of picnics and events - and most people seem to respect that. It's pet and kid friendly as well. read more

Fort Ward Park - Tennis Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Fort Ward Park is a former Union Civil War defense in Alexandria that protected Washington, D.C. from 1861-1865. Now it's a public park and museum. Here's why it's worth a visit: 1) History: There's a small museum (currently closed due to COVID-19 as of July 27, 2020) and a trail that leads through a white gate to earthworks that are mostly still intact. Signs along the way explain the history behind the defense. 2) Space: It's now a large park with a free parking lot and paved trails for strollers, joggers and dog walkers. 3) Amenities: There's an amphitheater for performances and a playground in the park that my toddler loved. The park is wooded well so expect more shade than other public parks in the area. read more

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The Fort Ward Park is about 45 acres and contains picnic areas that can be reserved in advance. You can also get guided tours of the Fort and the Museum to learn about the Union Army history with a nominal fee and with advanced reservations. Right off of Braddock, there are plenty of parking around the 'loop' of the park. A great spot to picnic and do some grilling, play some ball, and there is even an amphitheater to put on shows and such. We've walked on the gravel trails, and you can make your way towards the center where you can soak in some history - there are historical plaques, old magazine rooms, as well as canons that you can check out. The park itself is very peaceful, and even though vehicles are allowed to make a loop around, they're only allowed to go at a maximum speed of 5mph. As other parks, this place is closed to the public at sunset. +picnic areas available +amphitheater +guided tours offered +plenty of free parking throughout the park read more

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You can enjoy many things here. Historical stuff, tennis, walking, BBQ, music,... Also it has never been so crowded. The tennis coats have some caterpillars now tho, which freaked me out! Price: Free. Parking lot: Free. Location: Close to a cheap supermarket ALDI and 395. read more

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Easily the best preserved of the original 68 Civil War forts which once defended Washington. I've been to Fort Totten, Fort Stevens, Fort C F Smith, Fort Marcy, even to the locations of other long-gone forts, but this is my favorite. They also have a small museum on the grounds with a good selection of artifacts. This is a great place to break-in people who aren't usually Civil War buffs, as you could either breeze thru, or take your time. read more

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Small park with a trail. Entrance gates and a tiny structure from the Civil War. Limited parking. No vending. Rebel review: 3 read more

We live in the Encore apartments down the street and honestly being close to Fort Ward is the only good part of living there. Fort Ward has been our peaceful walk with our dog after a long day, a nice picnic on the weekend. As of last month it's the place we chose to exchange our wedding rings. During all the stress the city and the things going on in our world can bring, it's nice to have a park where the community is all so friendly and you can just relax. If you're new to the area or haven't been, I encourage you to head over and check out the history and enjoy the fresh air. read more

Fort Ward Park - Center of the park - Tennis Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I love having this park walking distance from our new house! There is plenty of parking but also several neighborhoods are within walking distance. The fort is well preserved and you can tell where things used to be. There also is an area with canons. There is a small museum too with some cool artifacts and a nice place to stop in during a walk through the park. There are plenty of picnic areas, tennis courts, and a nice playground with two different climbing gyms. There is an amphitheater too. The bathrooms near the museum are well-kept. This is a very peaceful place to bring the family for a couple of hours of fun! read more

I appreciate the people of Alexandria for having the foresight to reconstruct and preserve a historical piece of land that at one time helped shape our country. The park itself is very tiny. You don't need to take out a big chunk of time from your day to check this place out. The fort itself consists of about 5-7 replica canons. It has historical markers to educate the people that walk through on their self guided tours. The visitors center has some artifacts from the time period... probably the most strange being a piece of Ellsworth's hair... The ladies that work in the visitors center were informative and helpful in giving suggestions for other forts to visit in the area. read more

I had my graduation party here a week ago. I've never been here before and I found it to be really a quaint little park. It was easy enough to reserve a picnic area. $75 for an unsheltered area and $150 for a sheltered area. All the spaces were very large and clean. Grills were provided (though it took a lot of cleaning for it to work adequately) and tables were provided as well. Depending on the type of picnic area you want, you can choose grassy by the playground(#1), a more woody area(#3) or just large pieces of grass(#4). The bathroooms were clean and well kept. Plenty of parking spaces for my guests and other guests of other parties. There's the Fort Ward Museum you can visit that's up in front as well. When I was there, I saw plenty of people taking walks and runs around the park. It's quiet and really nice here. read more

Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site is a great little spot of green, right in the heart of Alexandria. It's small but powerful. Fort Ward was built during the Civil War, a Union fort designed to protect Washington, D.C., from Confederate troops. The ramparts still stand, their edges softened by the grass that now covers them. There are picnic pavilions complete with charcoal grills, perfect for afternoon barbecues in good weather. A large playground with nice equipment -- including an old cannon to climb on -- sits in the middle of the park for entertaining the kiddos. An amphitheater on the west side of the park is used for lectures, concerts, and shows. Civil War reenactments take place throughout the year. There's a paved loop for vehicle traffic, but you see bikers, bladers, and walkers/joggers using it throughout the year. The loop is flat and by no means strenuous, but the park provides a lovely backdrop for a stroll in warm months, and a respite from cabin fever in the cold ones. The Museum at the entrance of the park interprets the park's history and houses Civil War exhibits. It, too, is small but powerful. Overall an unexpected, great spot to relax and enjoy some of our country's history right off Braddock Road. read more

I have lived in Alexandria for years and have only gone to this park once or twice. Well, that is not entirely true, for I have only gone to the front of the park once or twice. Seriously, I thought the top part of the park was it, but yesterday, at a company picnic no less. I discovered that there was this whole sylvan world just down the hill. Hell, it was like your own Secret Garden or something. Ok, I doubt that we're talking magical healing powers here (my knees still scream for Ibuprofen ) but this place did lift my spirits. Now, I understand that the fort is pretty cool as well. I also understand that the park powers that be hold reenactments throughout the year, and as much as I want to pick up my musket and fight for liberty, on this day, I was more concerned with the barbeque munchies our group had spread out in the park's pavilion in good old section #2. We had reserved this space which comes complete with a pretty massive set up, and our resident chief Rich M was able to serve up some pretty good grub. There were burgers, dogs, and sausages oh my!! With chips and Cheetos right next to some scrumptious potato salad and creamy coleslaw, I cannot lie. Why, my famous Bacon wrapped BBQ meatloaf even made an appearance..No kidding, my fellow foodie, I'm practically a meatloaf master and have a recipe for almost any occasion. What, still chuckling? Still doubting my meatloaf worthiness? Don't make me stop this car right now and post my recipe. I will, I tell you!! There, that's better. As awesome as everything was, I couldn't help noticing that I didn't see any restroom facilities nearby. Surely they must have them, I thought. However, I didn't want to risk it, so I was forced to limit my soda consumption to two humble cans of Diet Pepsi, The lack of restroom visibility is why I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 stars, but if I can find them in the near future, I'd have to say that this place is 5 star all the way. Perhaps that''s what i will do this weekend...hang out in the park and embark on a restroom quest. .....It must be here somewhere?? read more

I don't understand how people can give a historic park less than give stars. Is it not free enough for you? Is there not enough ample parking for you? Is it not enough of an oasis among the urban sprawl of Alexandria for you? Fort Ward gives you the ability to escape from the hustle and bustle of your important job, and be transplanted to a place where you can briefly explore the remains of an old civil war fort, you can bond with the little bits of nature left in Alexandria, or have a picnic! It's all about what you want to do. Enjoy it! read more

Great local park. It's a very good representation of the forts used to guard Washington D.C. during the Civil War. There are plenty of signs that depict some of the historical aspects of the fort and the things that happened there. There's also a small museum on site with some great artifacts and displays. If you're just looking for a place to walk or spend some time outside, there's space for that too. It's worth the trip. read more

This is a great park to visit in any season. Perfect for picnics or cookouts in the spring, picking blackberries on the many bushes in the summer, throwing the ball around in the fall and sledding down those big hills in winter. There is a paved loop around the park that my dog and I frequently visit when the weather is warm as do many walkers. Now while most of the things I've mentioned can be found in neighborhood parks what makes Fort Ward Park really stand out is the fact that it was a Union Army defensive fort protecting our nation's capitol back in the civil war. They still have the fort walls and cannons in the middle of the park with a newly paved handicap accessible walkway. There is a little civil war muesam on site. Every once in a while the park will have a history related event like a civil war reenactment which is pretty cool to witness If you have the chance. The park's history didn't end with the civil war, and there is an old cemetery and signs up that give information about the African American community that settled on the land. But even if you're not big on history it's a great place to enjoy some fresh air. read more

Alexandria does a great job preserving the history of the park and making it community friendly. The staff who maintain the grounds are friendly and do a great job. My dogs and I come here every morning for our walk because it is safe, clean, has facilities for humans and the dogs, etc. This is a beautiful piece of Alexandria and I am so grateful it is literally in my back yard. I would like to see the amphitheater active. read more

This review is just for the turf soccer fields. The fields are ok compared to others in the area. No bathrooms close by except for port a potties. The goals all have holes in the nets. Fields are very hard to find and aren't in the actual park. If you split the fields into 2 the ball constantly goes I over the fence and onto a major road read more

I've been to Fort Ward Park twice now, and both times have been during this pandemic. It's a historic park and is a former Union Civil War Defense in Alexandria, VA. There's also a cool museum attached to it within the park (I'll have to visit that after the pandemic). The first time I visited, I visited for a socially distanced picnic with friends. There are plenty of places to picnic in this park, whether on the grass or on the many picnic benches throughout the park. The second time I visited Fort Ward Park, I visited for a walk. The park isn't large, and it takes maybe 15-20 minutes to walk the full loop, but it's on level ground and is excellent for an easy stroll through nature. There's also a fairly spacious parking lot in which to park (right next to the museum), so parking is not at all an issue. It's great to get outside, especially during the pandemic, and I will definitely visit this park again often! read more

This is a really beautiful little green spot in a big residential neighborhood. There are about a million picnic benches with different spots you can reserve. There is also a little playground for the kiddos. Everything about this park is serene and lovely, even though it buts up against the highway. In the middle are old canons. I doubt it'd be of much interest if you weren't going there to picnic or have a nice walk with your sweetie, but it is a very nice little place to read a book, take a nap, or generally enjoy the outdoors. read more

I would give the park 5 stars, but I have never done anything here but run. However, just it's value as a running course makes it 4 star worthy. The park is set off of East Braddock Road just off of Van Doren Street. There is parking, though not that much. From a running point of view, this is good as the chance of getting run over is pretty low. The park is also quiet during the day, so if you just want to get lost in your running, it's good for that. Now that I live somewhat near by, I'd like to explore it more. read more

I love green space but this spot is just all right. It feels a bit disconnected; part historic site, part playground and park, and a little too much paving to make it feel like you've escaped. You start walking and you never quite get lost unless you climb on the walls (which you're not supposed to). With all the other great parks within five miles, I don't know I would return unless they all closed. ;) read more

I like to take my one and two year olds here. My 2 year old likes to ride her balance bike. She can stop to check out the cannons or stop at the playground. There is plenty of space for them both to run around. read more

Always a safe and well kept park. My wife and I run laps here and it's always a very good experience. Parking is free and widely accessible and literally right beside the paved loop. read more

This park is my favorite place to hang out when I want to get outdoors. It was part of a Civil War battleground and has a small museum at its entrance, as well as occasional Civil War re-enactments, but the 0.6-mile paved drive that circles the park is the real star of the show. On any given day, you'll find people walking, jogging, roller-blading, walking their dogs, pushing baby carriages, and learning to ride bicycles on the circle drive, but it never really feels crowded. There's also a bandstand, and I've seen and heard everything from a gospel group to a troupe of bagpipe players practicing as I've taken my afternoon jogs. You can also reserve areas with bbq grills and picnic tables, and family parties keep the weiners roasting all summer long. The park is very picturesque and well-maintained, and it's a real pleasure to walk or jog a few laps on the circle drive and observe everything that's going on. This is a real neighborhood gem. read more

A great park for a quiet picnic. The playground is great too. We rented the gazebo picnic area for a birthday party and it met all our expectations. Tons of tables and the grill was great (after removing a ridiculous amount of ashes). Lots of parking too. Highly recommend! read more

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This quiet and beautifully restored Civil War fort is an oasis of peace in memory of the history of our divided country. A wonderful place for a picnic or walk, and a fun playground for the kids. Re-enactment events an entertaining and effective "teaching moment" for children and adults alike. read more

Great Museum that provides some early history of the DC area- forts and such...Also, great pavilions to have picnics

Perfect place to go for a run; long or short, but the best part of the park is the grill area. Benches and picnic tables are in abundance and they recently paved the area surrounding the tables, making it so much more convenient. It's not a huge park but it's scenic enough to make you forget that you are a stones through from Rt 7! read more

Small park with civil war fort remnants. The fort is interesting to visit for civil war buffs. There's a path around the fort that offers a nice walk or quick run. Only real negative for me is the size...a bit too small for my taste. If you're looking for a simple little place for a walk or jog in the middle of Alexandria though, this may do the trick. read more

Visited 11/1/15 A friend of mine took me this this park a few weeks ago. It's located in Alexandria, not too far from NOVA. It's absolutely free, as most parks are. Looking around, I noticed a lot of remnants of the civil war before my friend told me it was a fort back in the day. I found it so interesting that the civil war trenches were well preserved. There's also a museum located in the park. Gave it a 4 because it's a nice environment with a lot of history behind it at the same time. read more

It's a nice green space, but as far as the Civil War goes, it had very little to do with it. It was established in 1961, and abandoned after the war, even though the freed slaved brought in to build up the fort 'walls' lived there until the 1900's. The canons and gate are repos and the story behind them is a little pathetic. This fort might have been a great place to AVOID the civil war, but now it's a park, being protected from development with it's dubious historical past. read more

Love this park! It is usually clean, and while there are always people there, it rarely seems overly crowded.

Decent park. I usually take my kids here. It would be nice if they put some new benches by the playground and better garbage cans so trash wouldn't get blown around for little toddlers to pick up. Other than that, the park is very serene and well kept. read more

I run here when I want to do laps. It is peaceful and you often find people walking, reading and picnicking in the park. Nice for an after work jog. read more

This is an interesting park to visit. The main attraction is the Civil War Union fort in the middle of the grounds. It also has lots of picnic areas around the outer grounds and a loop road for car access or jogging, making this a great place to visit just to be outdoors. The northern area of the outer defense has been either maintained or reformed, and is the correct height. There are several cannon that are sitting on well-maintained carriages, and there are walking paths along most of the inside of the fort. There are, however, trees growing on most of the rest of the fort, which look nice but don't belong there. The museum in the entryway has a great collection of Civil War artifacts, including some arms, artillery, and a Congressional chair. There is also a scale model of how the fort is supposed to look, including barracks, flagpole, and gun placements. Fort Ward is on W Braddock road, just south of I-395. It is free to visit, and has a free museum that accepts donations. I only walked the fort and the museum, so I can't comment on the other parking areas on the loop road. I visited in March of 2016. Overall this is a cool piece of history. It is obvious that a lot of effort went into maintaining this place, despite the trees on the fort. read more

I attended this park on 5/7/2018, and let me say that it was super cool to be at one of the 68 civil war forts. These forts defeated Washington, and this park where this fort stands is on what I believe is 45 acres. There are picnic areas to reserve and have events, you can get tours of the forts but there's a fee, or just roam around yourself is fine too. My family had small reunion there and the space was perfect for grilling some food, throwing the baseball, and for the little ones there is a park! I'd say this park is definitely for everyone of any age, but the intended audience is anyone who wants to learn about the union army history and see these forts. Just to reiterate, they do have small museum with some good selection of artifacts! I think the mission of this site is to be an available space to the public while offering an opportunity to build some knowledge on history. I'd give it a perfect 5/5 just because both times I've been there I haven't had any problems. Maybe the bathrooms could be a little cleaner and up to date but not complaining. read more

This is a wonderful place for walking (including with pets), having picnics, and exploring a little history. Paths wind through the old fort, and a mostly one-lane road with several parking areas runs around it. Several picnic areas have benches, and at least one -- maybe two -- have pavilions and can be rented. There's a playground, as well as an impressive amphitheater. Walls and berms remain from the old fort, along with cannon and a few restored storage areas to give you the sense of how the fort operated. The area's history is captured in the museum, which is closed on Mondays, and throughout the park on signs explaining the fort and early settlers on and around the park grounds. (At one point, there's also an area that seems to indicate that it's the site of a cemetery, based on a sign describing the site, but no other markers. The guided path seemed to run straight through this area, but I quickly found a way to walk around this area as I don't like walking over graves, marked or unmarked.) read more