U.S. Army and National Park Service Investigating Fort Totten Park After Discovery of World War I-era Munitions

Fort Totten Park in Washington D.C. is closed after two metal canisters containing World War I-era munitions were discovered in the spring. The canisters were found on April 18 during unauthorized work conducted by an adjacent property owner who pushed about 10 feet of soil onto the park.

The National Park Service and U.S. Army are now investigating the area to determine if there are any more munitions hidden in the park. One of the munitions found was a 75-mm projectile that was 3 inches in diameter and 11 inches long. The other was a 19-inch-long Livens projector, a mortar-like weapon.

The National Park Service said in a statement that the section of the park will remain closed while the investigation is ongoing. They did not disclose what led them to believe that there may be more munitions in the park.

The Army is now working with the National Park Service to safely remove the munitions and ensure the safety of the park and its visitors. The park service said that they are working with the Army to determine the best course of action for the removal and disposal of the munitions.

The park service is asking visitors to avoid the closed area and to follow all posted signs and warnings. They are also reminding visitors to never touch or move any suspicious objects.