Developed during the construction of the nearby Washington Metro rail line, this park is named for local resident Artemesia N. Drefs, who donated 10 lots to be used as open space. Mrs. Drefs' father surveyed the property in 1890 and her family used the natural ponds as a goldfish farm. During the 1976 construction of the rail line, builders removed sand and gravel from the park area to use in the rail project, in exchange for developing the natural recreation area.
