Tide Lock Park is named for an old canal controlled by wooden locks that once existed on the Alexandria Waterfront. The canal was used to move goods and materials to and from sea-going ships. The last of Alexandria canals were destroyed by flood in the early 1820s and never replaced due to the establishment of the railroad. Today, there is a replica of the lock and canal in the park, which includes many of the original canal wall stones.

This park is privately owned, but is part of the publicly accessible linear park system along Alexandria's waterfront.