Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Along the northeast side of the Capital Beltway in Maryland, green spaces are woven through the developed landscape surrounding Washington, D.C. suburbs. An astronaut aboard the International Space Station captured an image on July 30, 2023, highlighting the lush vegetation of the region during the summer.
One significant green area is Greenbelt Park, covering nearly 5 square kilometers (2 square miles). The park features forested hiking trails, picnic areas, and a campground. Originally intended for the city of Greenbelt's expansion, the land was acquired by the National Park Service in 1950.
Just north of Greenbelt Park is Greenbelt’s historic district, arranged in a crescent shape. It is one of three planned communities from the 1930s New Deal program, designed to provide work for the unemployed and affordable cooperative housing surrounded by green space. The homes connect to walking paths leading to one of the country’s oldest planned shopping centers.
East of the Capital Beltway, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is located in Greenbelt. Established on May 1, 1959, it is NASA’s first spaceflight complex. Forested land separates several of its buildings, adding to the region’s greenery.
North of Goddard, Beltsville's large green spaces comprise forested areas and agricultural fields, including research sites run by the University of Maryland and the USDA. The University of Maryland’s main campus is just west of Greenbelt in College Park. South of College Park is Hyattsville, recognized as a “tree city” for over three decades. The Baltimore-Washington Parkway, running north-south and through Greenbelt Park, is also tree-lined.