I came upon Battery Kemble Park as part of a walk from Van Ness to C&O canal and up the Rock Creek Trail. Small but nicely formed and popular with locals, especially dog walkers. A beautiful, quiet and peaceful park where you will meet some nice people.

We call it the Fairy Park because of the silent and tranquil environment you may experience there!! It is almost impossible to think that was a battle field anytime! You can walk up to the meadow in the top of the hill that we call the Heaven such as the impression when you arrive there!! Beware that there are many dogs around and many are at loose !!!If you go down the hill you may see the C&O Canal, but unfortunately and inexplicably there are no access!!!

Battery Kemble was originally one of a chain of 93 unattached artillery emplacements established at the beginning of the War Between the States as a precaution against Confederate forces crossing the Potomac River. The description ‘unattached’ applies to an independent artillery battery, not attached to any other army command. Since Chain Bridge spanning the Potomac, was well within the three mile range of the two 100 pound Parrott rifles with which the battery was equipped, the idea was that they could delay any invading marchers long enough for regular infantry to set up a defensive position there on the high ground. Although the District of Columbia once was indeed invaded from the north, Battery Kemble endured the conflict unchallenged, and was deactivated in 1865. Now under the control of the U. S. National Park Service, the park has been a respite mainly used by the residents of nearby Wesley Heights and Potomac Palisades, both desirable and affluent sections of northwest Washington. As children my brothers and I played there regularly, enjoying the area’s very best sledding, as well as picnicking on the shady breezy hilltops, where the guns once were. Present visitors can enjoy those activities as well as walking or running the many trails throughout, or, for giving the family dog a nice run and game of fetch.

I'm not sure if Battery Kemble is an official (that is, legal) dog park in DC, but it is where many residents of the scenic Palisades neighborhood take their canines to run, play, and explore. Not sure I would go there if I were a tourist unless I had a big dog that needed lots of space to run around in. And let me say that I've seen some HUGE dogs there (Newfoundlands, Great Danes, Irish wolfhounds); this isn't a place to bring your Yorkie! There are several other dog parks in the city (for small-to-medium sized dogs, I'd recommend the Newark Street dog park, one of the newer, official dog parks in the city, which is very well maintained and is near the National Cathedral and not far from Georgetown). Gonig back to Battery Kemble, the trails are quite nice; if you like walking in the woods and being close to nature and a quick escape from the hustle-bustle of the city, it's worth a visit. The only thing is that, like the Palisades neighborhood it's located in, it's not easily accessible by public transportation (I think you can take a metrobus). Tip: If you like to walk and are interested in architecture, you might enjoy walking along Macarthur Boulevard. A lot of older homes (100+ years old) and beautiful trees. My favorite walk is off of Macarthur Boulevard, down by the Potomac River. Very scenic.