Perched above 16th Street in Northwest D.C., Malcolm X Park also known as Meridian Hill Park feels like a city secret hiding in plain sight. Wide stone terraces step down the hillside, framing one of the longest cascading fountains in the country, while statues and shady lawns give the space a European-garden feel. But what really defines the park is its spirit — on weekends you’ll catch the legendary drum circle pulsing through the trees, and year-round it’s a gathering ground for protest, performance, and community. Call it Meridian Hill or call it Malcolm X, either way it’s one of D.C.’s most magnetic green spaces.