Green Valley in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Jennie Dean Park
Green Valley is one of Arlington's oldest African American communities.
Mid-Late 1800's Emancipated African Americans settle in Green Valley.
Late 1800's John D. Nauck, Jr. buys and subdivides 69 acres of land that became known as Nauckville and later simply Nauck, and Green Valley.
Jennie Dean founded the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth in 1894.
1911 Four Mile Run is used by the community for swimming and baptizing.
1930's James & Nettie Peyton, African American residents, owned Peyton's field, a portion of which is set aside as Green Valley Ball Park.
1930's Peyton's field also has a dance hall, all-purpose field and a motorcycle race track.
1930's - 1970's Negro league ball teams are formed, both semi-pro and and professional, to play in the park.
1930's - 1970's Over the decades, team names included Green Valley Quicksteps, Green Machine, BG Reds, Lady Cold Blood, Over the Hill Gang, and more.
1944 Arlington County purchases and redevelops Peyton's field.
1944 Arlington County renames the park after formerly enslaved woman, Jennie Serepta Dean.
1949 This park declared "the County's sole recreational area for colored citizens"
1949 Jennie Dean Park plans
this page online
1950 The park features softball and baseball diamonds, grandstands, basketball & horseshoe courts, an outdoor fireplace, picnic tables, and a drinking fountain.
1952 The Department of Recreation adds clay tennis courts, flood lights for the baseball field and playground equipment.
1990's Trout added to creek annually for fishing.
1990's - 2000's Arlington County purchases adjoining properties for future parkland expansion.
2018 Arlington County adopts a master plan for Jennie Dean Park.
2019 Community name officially changed from Nauck to Green Valley.
2021 Jennie Dean Park is renovated and expanded.
Erected 2021 by Arlington County Parks and Recreation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Parks & Recreational Areas • Religion & Religious Structures • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.
Location. 38° 50.652′ N, 77° 5.276′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Green Valley. It is on South Four Mile Run Drive just east of South Nelson Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3610 S Four Mile Run Dr, Arlington VA 22206, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Wheelhouse, 2021 (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Jennie Dean Park (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Welcome to Jennie Dean Park (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Welcome to Jennie Dean Park (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); This is W&OD Trail: Shirlington! (about 500 feet away); Washington and Old Dominion Trail (about 600 feet away); Tracks Into History (about 600 feet away); Nauck: A Neighborhood History (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 22, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 194 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. submitted on January 22, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
