Rock Creek Park

Discussion Questions

• In the development of a modern city like Washington D.C. what is the importance of preserving land for public use as parks?
• In James G. Deane’s letter Mrs. Caroline Freeland and Mrs. James H. Rowe a discussion takes place about a road building program that would alter the landscape of Rock Creek Park. Can limited programs like this be allowed or are they an encroachment upon the protections of Rock Creek Park?
• Using the documents provided in the module, what is the relationship of the citizens of Washington to Rock Creek Park and is that relationship always constant?
• Considering that The Creek and the City was published by the U.S. Department of the Interior, what role does the federal government have in protecting parklands?
• If the capital city of the United States of America is unable to take care of the parks in its immediate vicinity, what can be juxtaposed about the state of other urban parks?
• The Creek and the City makes heavy use of photography to tell the story of Rock Creek Park. What is the relationship between the text of this document and the photographs? Do they tell the same story, and to what extent do they impact the way you feel about the topic?