George Washington Memorial Parkway

George Washington Memorial Parkway was established to protect the scenic view along the Potomac River and its tributaries in the Washington, DC area. The park’s 7,210 acres provide habitat for dozens of state-listed species of rare, threatened, or endangered plants and animals, many of which are associated with rare plant communities of the Potomac River Gorge. The Parkway is the most visited of the National Capital Region parks and the sixth most-visited unit in the National Park System, with over seven million recreational visits in 2004. This high human visitation results in management concerns. Development along and within the park’s boundaries and the related introduction of invasive species threaten park resources.

---