Washington, DC The Ellipse (also known as President's Park South) is a 52-acre (21 ha) park in Washington, D.C., located south of the White House gate and north of Constitution Avenue and the National Mall. The Ellipse is also the name of the park's five-furlong (1.0 km) perimeter boulevard. The Ellipse was created when the area now called Washington, D.C. was under federal jurisdiction following the War of 1812. Thomas Jefferson was president at the time, and he wanted to add beauty to the city. He hired Charles Bulfinch to design a monument that would serve as a meeting place for people living in the new capital city. The resulting design is quite unique: it is an elliptical park with four roads leading into its center. These roads are named after the states whose representatives signed the original treaty establishing the boundary between Maryland and Virginia where the White House now stands. Today, these roads are known as 12th Street NE, 13th Street NW, 14th Street SW, and 15th Street SE. The western portion of the park is known as President's Park, but it is not part of the Ellipse. It is larger than the eastern half and includes a baseball diamond, tennis courts, and playground equipment. When the Ellipse was completed, Jefferson said it was like a piece of sculpture set in the heart of a city.