Residents and community members gathered this week to mark the 90th anniversary of Malcolm X Park, a 12-acre green space in Northwest Washington, D.C., known officially as Meridian Hill Park. Since its opening on September 26, 1936, the park has played a significant role as both a natural retreat and a hub for political activism and community engagement.

The anniversary celebration, which drew approximately 4,500 attendees, featured a Jazz and Justice Festival organized by Washington Parks and People in partnership with WPFW radio station. The event, originally scheduled for September but postponed due to weather, combined live musical performances with film screenings and panel discussions held at the nearby Josephine Butler Parks Center. Organizers emphasized the park’s longstanding role as a place where music, culture, and social justice intersect.

Steve Coleman, executive director and president of Washington Parks and People, highlighted how the organization’s origins are deeply tied to Malcolm X Park. Formed in 1990 as Friends of Meridian Hill, the group emerged during a period when the District of Columbia was struggling with high crime rates and the park was associated with violence. Coleman recounted a turning point when community members began patrolling the park after the death of a local child, aiming to reclaim public safety through presence and connection.

“The nightly patrols helped improve the park’s safety through community connection by saying hello,” Coleman said. He described an early patrol when the group encountered an unexpected sense of serenity despite visible signs of neglect, noting that the park’s dangers had also kept it largely deserted. These efforts eventually helped transform the park into a safer space and led the organization to assist in revitalizing nearly 300 parks and playgrounds across the city.

For many, Malcolm X Park holds more than recreational value. Ambrose Lane Jr., a former Howard University student, recalled the park as a focal point of political activism during the early 1980s. While walking through the park was a routine part of his commute, it also served as a site for events attracting prominent figures in civil rights and activism, including Louis Farrakhan, Muhammad Ali, and Nelson Mandela.

Lane described his experience at Howard as formative, stating the park was “an iconic place and location” during a time when students engaged deeply with the freedom struggle and broader social justice movements. The park continues to host regular events such as a weekly Sunday drum circle and remains a gathering place for demonstrations and community action in the nation’s capital.

Situated between 15th, 16th, Euclid, and W streets, Malcolm X Park stands as a testament to the community’s resilience and commitment to preserving public space for both leisure and activism. The anniversary events underscored its ongoing role in fostering unity and social engagement in Washington, D.C.