Lyon Park in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
At the Heart of Lyon Park
Established in 1919, the Lyon Park neighborhood centered around three acres of parkland at the corner of Spruce Street and Cathcart Avenue (renamed N. Fillmore Street and Pershing Drive in 1934). The 1920 Lynch & Fitch sales brochure describes the area as "a grove of native trees consisting of Elms, Maples, Ash, Tulip trees, Pines, etc. It is traversed by a stream of crystal water from the largest spring in the County." Though the community house was not yet built, the park included "tables for picnic parties, swings, playground apparatus, and grass and shade for the children."
While many developers established parks in Arlington in the 1920s and 1930s, Lyon Park is the only remaining privately-owned park in the County. Residents volunteer their time to maintain the gardens and trees. Rental income supports community activities and maintenance.
The playground remains a popular feature of the Lyon Park neighborhood, and has been in continuous use since 1925. The community provides equipment upgrades every few decades along with annual maintenance.
Native Trees & Plants
The gardens surrounding the Community House
this page online
How many of these native trees can you spot in Lyon Park?
American chestnut (castanea dentata) Black gum (nyssa sylvatica) Eastern redbud (cercis canadensis) Red maple (acer rubrum) River birch (betula nigra) Tulip tree (liriodendron tulipifera) White ash (fraxinus americana) Willow oak (quercus pehllos)
How many of these native plants can you spot in Lyon Park?
Brown-eyed Susan (rudbeckia triloba) Fragrant Aster (symphyotrichum oblongifolium) Gold and Green (chyysogonum virginianum) Golden Alexander (zizia aurea) Mountain Mint (pycnanthemum virginianum) Obediant Plant (physotegia virginiana) Tall Bellflower (campanula americana) Wood aster (symphyotrichum cordifolium)
Return Of The American Chestnut Tree
Once dominating portions of the eastern United States forests, the American chestnut was among the tallest, largest and fastest-growing trees in the Appalachian range. It was nearly wiped out in the first half of the 20th century
In 2021, Lyon Park Citizens Association partnered with the American Chestnut Foundation to bring the American chestnut back to its native habitat, planting several saplings in the southeast corner of the park. The saplings are genetically diverse and disease resistant, engineered to grow to maturity, provide shade, improve wildlife habitat and produce viable nuts.
For more information about Lyon Park's plants and features, go to www.lyonpark.org
Erected 2025 by Lyon Park Citizens Association; Arlington County, Virginia.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.
Location. 38° 52.736′ N, 77° 5.508′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Lyon Park. It is on North Fillmore Street north of 4th Street North, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 414 N Fillmore St, Arlington VA 22201, 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, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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: Lyon Park Community Center (within shouting distance of this marker); Lyon Park History (within shouting distance of this marker); Rockwell Field (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Tillinghast (approx. 0.4 miles away); Orville Wrights First Virginia Flight (approx. 0.4 miles away); Worlds First Public Passenger Flight (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fort Whipple (approx. half a mile away); Charles Drew House (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 20, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 27 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 20, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
