{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-bill-to-rename-rock-creek-park-rock-creek-national", "Norton Introduces Bill to Rename Rock Creek Park Rock Creek National Park", "2017-12-08", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a bill yesterday to rename Rock Creek Park \u201cRock Creek National Park,\u201d which would highlight the significance of the park for the nation, including visitors to the nation\u2019s capital, in addition to District of Columbia residents.\u00a0 Norton said adding \u201cNational\u201d will help recognize Rock Creek as one of the nation\u2019s great historic parks, along with Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks.\u00a0 Rock Creek is the nation\u2019s oldest urban park and the third oldest federal park.\n\u201cRock Creek Park is one of the nation\u2019s oldest and most historic parks and is a treasure not only to hundreds of thousands of D.C. residents, but to the millions who visit the nation\u2019s capital each year,\u201d Norton said.\u00a0 \u201cFormally recognizing Rock Creek Park as one of our country\u2019s great national parks also will help encourage the necessary funding to support the park\u2019s inviting trails, waterways and other unique features.\u201d\nNorton\u2019s introductory statement is below.\nStatement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the Rock Creek National Park Act \nMr. Speaker, today, I introduce a bill to redesignate the National Park Service-owned Rock Creek Park, in the District of Columbia, as \u201cRock Creek National Park.\u201d\u00a0 Renaming this park will highlight its significance to the nation, including visitors to the nation\u2019s capital, and will help get much-needed funding for the park\u2019s inviting trails, waterways and other unique features.\nRock Creek Park is already a national park, established by Congress in 1890 \u201cfor the benefit and enjoyment of the people of the United States,\u201d and is the oldest urban park and the third federal park ever created, after Yellowstone and Sequoia.\u00a0 Rock Creek Park was designed to preserve animals, timber, forestry and other interests in the park, and to ensure that its natural state is maintained as much as possible, for all American people, not just for D.C. residents.\u00a0\nOver time, several structures have been established or donated to further preserve Rock Creek Park.\u00a0 In 1892, for example, the federal government acquired Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park, one of the mills used by local farmers during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.\u00a0 In 1950, the Old Stone House, located at 3051 M Street NW, with its great pre-Revolutionary War architectural merit, was acquired by the park.\u00a0 The building was restored, and programs explain the house\u2019s rich history from the colonial period to the present day.\u00a0 The Fort Circle Parks were also acquired to interpret and preserve the Civil War Defenses of Washington, which created a ring of protection for the nation\u2019s capital during the Civil War.\u00a0\nToday, Rock Creek Park offers residents of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Northern Virginia, as well as thousands of visitors, an escape from our increasingly urban environment.\u00a0 Residents and tourists alike also enjoy many activities in the park\u2019s 2,000 acres, including hiking and bike riding on the historical trails, horseback riding, picnicking, tennis and other recreational activities in some of the open fields.\u00a0 Our residents have expressed their appreciation by volunteering to clean up and maintain the trails and waterways.\nRedesignating Rock Creek Park as Rock Creek National Park will help recognize the national status of the park and protect and revitalize this remarkable resource in our nation\u2019s capital.\u00a0\nI strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-bill-to-rename-rock-creek-park-rock-creek-national"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 5.265431012958288, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}