Le Droit Park is a neighborhood in Washington, D.C. located immediately south of Howard University. Its borders include W Street to the north, Rhode Island Avenue and Florida Avenue to the south, Second Street to the east, and Howard University Hospital to the west.

Developed by Amzi Barber (Board of Trustees, Howard University) in the 1870s LeDroit Park was one of the first suburbs of Washington. Its victorian mansions and row-houses were designed by architect James McGill.

Le Droit Park was developed and marketed as a "romantic" neighborhood with narrow tree-lined streets and that bared the same names as the trees that shaded them. Extensive focus was placed on the landscaping of this neighborhood, as developers spent a large sum of money to plant flower beds and trees to attract high profile professionals from the city. LeDroit Park was even gated with guards to promote security for its hopeful residents.

Though intended for White residents only, LeDroit Park became integrated by Blacks after students from Howard University tore down the part of the fence that gated the community in protest of its discriminating policies.

By the 1940s LeDroit Park became a major focal point for the African-American elite as many prominent figures resided there. Griffith Stadium was also located here until the 1960s when the Howard University Hospital was built where it used to stand.

SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA.ORG (APRIL 2006)