The steepness of Rock Creek Valley made it attractive to environmentally minded citizens and military engineers who were looking to preserve some of the area's natural beauty and provide a recreation zone that came down to near the center of the city. Because the slopes of the valley were at such a great angle, little development had occurred in the valleys of Rock Creek and Piney Branch before the end of the nineteenth century. Sunken and shaded by trees, the area had long had a reputation for remaining cool even in the heat of summer.
The steepness of the valley also resulted in alternative proposals for this area. In 1880, Captain R. L. Hoxie of the Corps of Engineers proposed that the federal government purchase the valley and turn it into a park. However, other engineers eyed the valley as a convenient site for a water reservoir close to downtown. Luckily for the city's residents, a group of citizens led by Charles C. Glover urged Congress to purchase the land comprising today's park, and blocked construction of the dam, which would have inundated a large part of the urban landscape.