Part of Fort Totten Park in D.C. will stay closed to the public after World War I-era munitions were found and more could be buried there, the National Park Service said.

The park will be blocked off by cement barriers, fencing and “no trespassing” signs, according to an NPS statement released Thursday.

Two metal canisters from World War I were discovered at the park earlier this year following unauthorized landscaping work by a neighboring property owner and were deemed to be non-hazardous, park officials said.

One of the two shells was a 75-mm shell, about 3 inches in diameter and 11 inches in length, and the other was a Livens projectile about 6 inches in diameter and 19 inches long. The 75-mm shell was full of soil, while the Livens projectile was 85% full of liquid. That liquid was mostly water, with the rest being acetophenone, a non-hazardous commercial chemical. The concentration of the acetophenone was “equivalent to one grain of sand in one million grains,” park officials said.

Park officials and the U.S. Army are now seeking additional funding to fully search Fort Totten Park for more buried weapons.

“If you believe that you have encountered a munition, you should consider it dangerous. Learn and follow the 3Rs of explosives safety: Recognize — when you may have encountered a munition and the potential danger; Retreat — do not approach, touch, move or disturb it; Report — call 911 and notify local law enforcement of what you saw and where you saw it,” park officials said in the statement. 

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.