The Suitland Parkway Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) is a comprehensive planning and preservation document designed to guide the long-term management of one of the most significant historic corridors in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Originally conceived during World War II as a high-energy "defense highway" connecting the Capitol to Andrews Air Force Base, the parkway is now recognized as a vital part of the National Capital’s park system and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The report serves as both a historical record and a forward-looking roadmap, balancing the parkway’s role as a critical transit artery with its identity as a protected scenic landscape. The design approach focused on identifying and preserving the defining features of the corridor, including its rolling topography, expansive open lawns, and dense wooded buffers, while addressing modern challenges such as safety, infrastructure deterioration, and increased traffic volume. By providing specific treatment recommendations for vegetation management and viewshed protection, the CLR ensures that the parkway maintains its human-scale aesthetic and historic integrity while functioning as a resilient piece of modern regional infrastructure.

Client: Prince George’s County and the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Team: Quinn Evans

Status: Completed with Quinn Evans

Credits: Images courtesy of NPS