A forest in the heart of our neighborhood
Fort Stevens Park · Van Buren Street NW · Washington, D.C.
A forest in the heart of our neighborhood
Fort Stevens Park · Van Buren Street NW · Washington, D.C.
Protecting Our Forest Together
About
Tucked inside Fort Stevens Park, the Fort Stevens Forest Patch is a two-acre, mature urban forest of 157 trees (including 9 Heritage Trees (100+ in circumference). This quiet corner of our neighborhood is doing extraordinary work — filtering the air we breathe, soaking up stormwater before it floods our streets, and storing carbon that took nearly a century to accumulate.
It may not be the most visited part of the park, but it is among the most valuable.
A Threat to the Forest
DC International School is planning a new sports and community facility on Fort Stevens Park that would be sited in the forested area — or, as a second option, on the park's existing playground and splash pad.
The proposed complex is 83,000 square feet, comprising approximately 28,000 square feet of indoor space (a full-size gymnasium, 500-seat auditorium, locker rooms, and concessions) with the remainder as structured parking and storage. A separate multipurpose athletic field is also proposed. More details about DCI's plans can be found at fortstevenspartnership.org.
This process began on February 25, when DCI left flyers at some neighboring homes with few details and no mention of where the building would be sited. When we confirmed with DCI that the forest patch was the intended location, we went door-to-door to inform neighbors ourselves. Since then, DCI has launched a website, published a formal RFP for architectural services, and presented at two ANC 4A meetings (April 7 and May 28). Neighbors have expressed strong opposition at both. At the May 28 meeting, DPR confirmed they have not approved any DCI plans.
Our position is straightforward: do not build on the forest. This forest took decades to grow, and no replanting plan can substitute for it.
DCI needs space. We understand that. But this is not the site. Find another one — and in the meantime, engage this community honestly about every element of what is being proposed here.
What This Forest Does for Us
Every year, the trees of the Fort Stevens Forest Patch:
- Filter 118 pounds of air pollution from the atmosphere
- Absorb more than 33,000 gallons of stormwater that would otherwise overwhelm streets and storm drains
- Pull 2.31 tons of carbon out of the air annually
- Hold 55 tons of stored carbon — accumulated over the better part of a century
That stored carbon deserves special attention. It is not a renewable resource. It cannot be replanted into existence. It took this forest nearly 100 years to build, and it would take another 100 to recover if it were lost.
75 Protected Trees in a Forest of 157
We've counted: There are 157 trees on this site, including:
- 9 Heritage Trees (100+ inches in circumference - ILLEGAL to cut down healthy trees)
- 66 Special Trees (40-99 inches in circumference - $55/inch to cut down)
- 32 recently planted, young trees
- 50 other healthy trees
Together, these trees represent an irreplaceable natural asset — and a serious legal and financial obligation for any developer.
The Fort Stevens Forest Patch Stewards
The Fort Stevens Forest Patch Stewards are a group of neighbors devoted to caring for this forest. Through regular trash cleanups, removal of invasive plant species, and the promotion of assisted natural regeneration — helping native trees reseed and grow on their own terms — we work to keep this forest healthy and thriving for everyone who lives near it, walks through it, or simply benefits from its presence.
Some of us are also DC International School parents. We want DCI to thrive. We believe a school that serves this community should also respect it — and that includes the public green spaces that make this neighborhood what it is.
Get Involved
You can join us for a cleanup or learn to identify and remove invasive plants. And right now, one of the most important things you can do is attend the community events listed below and sign our petition — to tell DCI, DPR, and our elected officials that this community expects a genuine voice in the future of this for