Brightwood Combines Growth and Green Spaces

As one of the oldest neighborhoods in the Upper Northwest section of DC, Brightwood is packed with history, but it also manages to combine new growth with green space. The popular neighborhood was originally founded in the mid 1700s. 

While the neighborhood did go through a few name changes over the years, it’s been known simply as Brightwood since the late 1800s. As part of the neighborhood, Fort Stevens was once the site of a Civil War battle, and it’s said President Abraham Lincoln, himself, was there as witness.

Brightwood is also home to the old Walter Reed Medical Center, which has played a major part in the neighborhood’s history for more than a century. These days, that history has been reimagined, though, with new development that’s pushed forth new growth. 

Now known as The Parks at Walter Reed, development of the old medical campus has transformed the area with millions of square feet of mixed-use space. While some of the historic buildings at Walter Reed have since been repurposed, the site has also seen some new construction. 

Today, The Parks at Walter Reed includes new condos and apartments, restaurants, and shops.  There’s also a six-acre Great Lawn, a playground, and a dog park.

Thanks, at least in part, to new development, Brightwood is now known as a competitive housing market, where homes don’t sit on the market long, and are often sold at above list price. While history and convenience are both admirable qualities, Brightwood also has the advantage of plenty of nearby greenspace.

Rock Creek Park sits to the west of the neighborhood, offering up around 1,700 acres of nearby park space, including trails, a golf course, tennis, a planetarium, and the zoo. Meanwhile, there’s also the nearby Fort Stevens Recreation Center, where you’ll additionally find a multipurpose field, tennis courts, a playground, and more.