Stead Park was established by a private bequest from Robert Stead for the specific purpose of creating a playground for the children of Washington, D.C., in memory of his late wife, Mary Force Stead. It is a public park administered by the Department of Recreation and Parks with a small staff, and it is financially supported in part by funding from a private trust also created by Robert Stead.

Friends of Stead Park is a non-profit organization run by volunteers to coordinate community involvement, improvements and programming. Learn More