Suburban Gardens facts for kids
Suburban Gardens was a special place in Washington, D.C.. It was the first and only big amusement park in the city. Suburban Gardens opened in 1921 and stayed open for almost 20 years. It was located in the Deanwood neighborhood. This park was very important because it was a welcoming place for African Americans. At that time, many places, like Glen Echo Amusement Park in nearby Maryland, did not allow African Americans to enter because of unfair rules called segregation.
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Why Suburban Gardens Was Created
Suburban Gardens was built by a company called Universal Development and Loan Company. This company was owned by black business leaders. Important people like engineer Howard D. Woodson, writer John H. Paynter, and theater owner Sherman H. Dudley helped invest in the park. They wanted to create a fun and safe place for everyone to enjoy.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Visitors to Suburban Gardens had many exciting things to do. The park had a thrilling roller coaster and a tall Ferris wheel. There were also swimming pools where people could cool off. Guests could play games of chance and enjoy relaxing picnic grounds. A large dance hall hosted popular jazz musicians, making it a lively spot for music and dancing.
Where Was Suburban Gardens?
The park was about 7-acre (2.8 ha) in size. It was located in the far Northeast part of Washington, D.C., near the edge of Prince George's County, Maryland. People came to Suburban Gardens in many ways. They traveled by trolley car, commuter train, private car, or even walked to get there.
The Park's Closure and Legacy
Suburban Gardens closed its gates by 1940. After it closed, the land was used for new buildings, mostly apartments.
Years later, in 1961, African Americans and white people worked together. They used peaceful protests, called civil disobedience, to finally end the unfair rules at Glen Echo Amusement Park. These rules had kept African Americans out. Today, part of the land where Suburban Gardens once stood is now home to the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department's Sixth District Station. Suburban Gardens remains an important part of Washington D.C.'s history, showing how communities created their own spaces for fun and freedom.
