Hours before WorldPride, US Park Police, NPS reopen key Pride gathering spot

Hours before the Capital Pride Parade during WorldPride in Washington, D.C., fencing at a key gathering spot for Pride celebrations is being taken down, two sources told ABC News.

The decision comes following public outcry and a reversal by the U.S. Park Police and the National Park Service, which had made the decision to close off Dupont Circle Park ahead of Saturday’s parade, which marks the 50th anniversary of Capital Pride.

Two sources confirmed to ABC News that the park, long the site of unofficial Pride parties and gatherings in the city, is being reopened ahead of the event.

The fencing was initially requested by the Metropolitan Police Department in April due to safety concerns following past incidents during Pride events, though there are no known credible threats to the nation's capital as tens of thousands gather to celebrate, officials told ABC News.

After a debate between federal officials, city police and LGBTQ+ activists, the U.S. Park Police announced the park would close from 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, through approximately 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 8.

While D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith later rescinded the request to close the park, the National Park Service continued with the plan, prompting backlash from local politicians and activists.

"D.C. is no stranger to high-profile gatherings," said Smith, the first African American woman to lead the U.S. Park Police in its 200-year-plus history, after attempting to get the closure rescinded after public backlash. "We have a proven track record of hosting them safely and successfully, and this year will be no different."

Mayor Muriel Bowser then called for the decision to be reversed, and the reversal was granted.

“We are pleased that the Mayor’s office and the National Park Service could work together overnight on a solution that protects the historic features of this park while also ensuring the safety of all who enjoy it," the office of the mayor and NPS said in a statement as the fencing was coming down.

"We want this weekend to be a safe and fun celebration in our nation’s capital -- and one that includes one of the best parks and community spaces in our city, Dupont Circle," they added. "We look forward to working together on future initiatives that keep DC safe and beautiful.”

Preparations for the international celebration have been years in the making, and at least one party promoter had already advertised an event in the park before the closing was announced.

Federal officials had said that closing the park was part of a broader federal security plan amid what they said were concerns about crowd control and potential disruptions.

In recent years, the space has seen several incidents that that officials say prompted concern from law enforcement.

According to authorities, in 2019, a person was arrested after gunshots caused crowds to flee. In 2023, the park was vandalized, resulting in $175,000 in damage to the historic fountain. In 2024, a group of minors was found drinking, smoking marijuana and fighting in the park. They later ran into nearby businesses and reportedly stole items.

In a letter obtained by ABC News, the U.S. Park Police initially wrote that the closure was necessary to "secure the park, deter potential violence, reduce the risk of destructive acts and decrease the need for extensive law enforcement presences."

MPD will have an increased presence throughout D.C. during WorldPride and Capital Pride. It will coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions and activate special units to assist with crowd management and traffic.

Police will also increase patrols in high-crime areas starting this weekend through the end of August.

"MPD, alongside all of our district agencies and public safety partners, have been working for many months to plan for these large-scale events that are happening this summer, and our joint planning efforts have included site visits, tabletop exercise, intelligence coordination and layered security strategies tailored uniquely to these events to ensure that we can keep our city safe for World Pride 2025," Smith said. "We have been planning for over a year."

Days after WorldPride, the nation's capital will host a June 14 military parade marking the 250th anniversary of the Army, though officials said there aren't any known credible threats for that event either.

That Army parade will be the sixth National Special Security Event that Washington has hosted this year.

"There's no place more experienced than the District of Columbia in executing these large-scale events," Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Lindsey Appiah said last week.