Washington, DC has parks in all eight wards where your kids can run, climb, splash or just sit in the grass. This guide walks you through all eight wards, one by one, so you can find a park close to home or plan a fun Saturday somewhere new.
A quick note on how I wrote it: park names and addresses below come from the DC Department of Parks and Recreation’s own park list, and the national park details come from the National Park Service. I left out opening hours on purpose, because they change with the season. Each park has an official page where you can check before you go.
Before you go: three handy tools
- DPR’s Find a Park page has a map where you can search by address and see playgrounds, spray parks and more. DPR’s phone number is (202) 673-7647.
- What’s My Ward? from the DC Office of Planning tells you your ward in seconds.
- Not sure what to bring? Our family picnic parks post and the picnic spots post have easy ideas.
Ward 1
- Walter Pierce Park (Adams Mill and Ontario Rds., NW) has a playground and picnic tables, according to DPR’s park list.
- Bruce Monroe Community Park (Irving St. and Georgia Ave., NW) is a neighborhood park with a playground.
- Columbia Heights recreation grounds (1480 Girard St., NW) have a playground, picnic tables and a spray park listed by DPR.
- Happy Hollow Children’s Pool (2200 Champlain St., NW) is a DPR pool for children. Check DPR for its schedule.
Ward 2
- Franklin Square (K, I, 13th and 14th Sts., NW) is a large DPR park in the city center.
- Mitchell Playground (23rd and S Sts., NW) has a playground and picnic tables.
- East Potomac Pool (1000 Ohio Dr., SW) is a DPR pool and spray park by the water.
- Francis (25th and N Sts., NW) is another DPR pool and spray park.
- Our Meridian Hill Park mom’s guide and Dumbarton Oaks Park post cover two beautiful National Park Service parks in this part of town.
Ward 3
- Forest Hills Playground (32nd and Chesapeake Sts., NW) is a neighborhood playground.
- Newark Community Gardens (east of 39th St. and south of Newark St., NW) lists a playground in DPR’s data.
- W Street Park (48th St. between W and Ashby Sts., NW) is a small park with a playground.
- Fort Reno (Nebraska Ave. between Fessenden and Chesapeake Sts., NW) is a DPR park.
- Wilson Aquatic Center (3950 Chesapeake St., NW) is DPR’s aquatic center in the ward.
- More ideas: Friendship Heights Park splash area and Chevy Chase Playground tips.
Ward 4
- DPR’s park list for Ward 4 shows smaller green spaces such as Twin Oaks Garden (14th and Taylor Sts., NW) and Pinehurst Circle (Western Ave. and Pinehurst Circle, NW).
- For playgrounds, spray parks and recreation centers near your own street, the best move is DPR’s Find a Park map. Type your address and see what is closest.
Ward 5
- Dakota Park (South Dakota Ave., Adams and 33rd Sts., NE) has a playground.
- Florida Avenue Playground (First St. and Florida Ave., NW) is a neighborhood playground.
- Noyes Park (1000 Franklin St., NE) is a neighborhood park.
- Dunbar Aquatic Center (101 N St., NW) is a DPR pool.
- Read about local families in Why local moms love Crispus Attucks Park.
Ward 6
- Yards Park (355 Water St., SE) sits along the Anacostia riverfront.
- Canal Park (2nd St. between K and M Sts., SE) is a downtown-style park, and DPR lists a spray park there.
- Garfield Park (F St. and Virginia Ave., between 1st and 3rd Sts., SE) has a playground.
- Rumsey Aquatic Center (7th St. and North Carolina Ave., NE) is a DPR pool.
- Joy Evans Therapeutic Recreation Center (6th St. between L and M Sts., SE) has a playground and spray park and is a DPR therapeutic recreation site.
- Hungry after play? Kid-friendly restaurants on Capitol Hill.
Ward 7
- Marvin Gaye Park (42nd St. and Hunt Pl. to 63rd St. and Southern Ave., NE) is one of the large DPR parks in this ward.
- Pope Branch Park (M St. and Fairlawn Ave. to 39th and Nash Sts., SE) is a large DPR park.
- Kingman and Heritage Islands (Anacostia River between Benning Rd. and the Railroad Bridge) are DPR park islands in the Anacostia River.
- Fort Dupont Urban Farm (3779 Ely Pl., SE) is a DPR urban farm site.
- H.D. Woodson Aquatic Center (540 55th St., NE) is a DPR pool.
- Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens is run by the National Park Service at 1550 Anacostia Ave., NE. The NPS describes it as a place where beavers build homes, turtles sleep on logs and lotus flowers bloom. Check the NPS hours page before you go.
Ward 8
- Oxon Run Park (Mississippi Ave. between 1st St. and Southern Ave., SE) is a large DPR park with playgrounds listed.
- Poplar Point (South Capitol St., I-295, 11th St. and Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridges, SE) is a large DPR park by the river.
- Local moms have worked hard on safer playgrounds here. Read our story about Ward 8 playgrounds.
- Out for a meal after? See family restaurants in Anacostia.
Parks that cross ward lines
Rock Creek Park is a National Park Service park of 1,754 acres, authorized in 1890. The NPS lists a Nature Center and Planetarium, Peirce Mill, the Old Stone House in Georgetown and Meridian Hill Park among its places to visit. Rock Creek Park’s phone number is 202-895-6000. The NPS currently shows a planned closure alert along Beach Drive, so look at the official Plan Your Visit page first. For trail ideas with kids, see best nature trails in Rock Creek Park and stroller-friendly trails.
Little ones and big kids
Toddlers will love our toddler parks list. Planning a splash day? Start with free splash pads in DC.
Keep exploring with our other guides
- Everything You Need to Know About All Eight DC Wards
- Your Neighborhood, Your People, Your Resources
- Stop Googling Everything: The All-In-One DC Mom Resource Guide
Sources: DC Department of Parks and Recreation park data and Find a Park; National Park Service pages for Rock Creek Park and Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens. Always check an official page for current hours before you go.
Elizabeth Redd, the Publisher of this website, grew up in a small town called Newhall, West Virginia, before moving to Washington, DC, in 1964. She worked in Prince George's County Public School System in Maryland for 40 years, opened a wig shop, made clothes, and participated in fashion shows during the '70s and '80s. She worked part-time as a caterer for a couple of years. Hand dancing has been one of her passions. She has also worked in Internet marketing for the last ten years. She also has a passion for learning new things.
She has learned that success is measured not so much by the position one has reached in life but by the obstacles one has overcome while trying to succeed. One thing is for sure: she is living her best life.
