Where Moms Connect & Kids Play: Your Complete DC Playground Guide

If you have little ones, you know a good playground can save the day. DC has a lot of them. The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) lists 95 playgrounds in its official playground table, and this guide puts them in one place, ward by ward, so you can find the closest one or plan a new adventure.

Every name and address below comes straight from DPR’s official Playgrounds page. I did not add opening hours, ages or equipment details I could not confirm. DPR has a one-page profile for each playground with the play surface, shade, fencing, special equipment, target ages and transit or parking info, so check the profile before you go.

Good to know before you go

DPR says all of its playgrounds are ADA accessible. For an enhanced accessible experience, DPR recommends Reservoir Park Recreation Center, Rosedale Recreation Center and the Joy Evans Therapeutic Recreation Center.
Want to cool off? DPR’s facility data lists a spray park at Columbia Heights (Ward 1), Franklin Square (Ward 2), Arboretum, Reservoir Park and Theodore Hagans (Ward 5), Joy Evans and Canal Park (Ward 6), Benning Stoddert, DC Therapeutic and Fort Davis (Ward 7), Douglass (Ward 8) and Petworth (Ward 4). Spray parks run seasonally, so check DPR first. Our free splash pads post has more.
Questions? DPR’s phone number is (202) 673-7647.
Not sure which ward you are in? Try What’s My Ward?

Ward 1 playgrounds (13)

11th & Monroe Street Park (Trolley Park), 11th & Monroe Street, NW
16th Street Playground (Powell), 3149 16th Street NW
19th & Lamont Street Playground, 19th and Lamont NW
Banneker Recreation Center Playground, 2500 Georgia Avenue NW
Bruce Monroe Community Park Playground, Irving & Georgia Avenue NW
Columbia Heights Community Center Playground, 14th & Girard St. NW
Harrison Recreation Center Playground, 1330 V St. NW, DC, 20009
Hobart Twins Park Playground, 825 Hobart Place, NW
Kalorama Recreation Center Playground, 19th St NW & Kalorama Rd NW
The Park at LeDetroit Playground, 3rd St NW & Elm St NW
Park View Recreation Center Playground, 693 Otis Place NW
Walter Pierce Park Playground, 2630 Adams Mill Rd NW
Westminster Park Playground, 911 Westminster St NW

Ward 2 playgrounds (8)

10th Street Park (Connie Maffin Memorial Park), 1119 10th Street, NW
Franklin Park Playground, 1332 I St NW
Kennedy Recreation Center Playground, 1401 7th Street, NW
Mitchell Park Playground, 1801 23rd St. NW
New Jersey & O Park, New Jersey Ave & O Street NW
Rose Park Recreation Center Playground, 26 & O NW
Stead Recreation Center Playground, 1625 P St. NW
Volta Park Recreation Center Playground, 34th & Volta Pl. NW

Ward 3 playgrounds (12)

Carolina Park Playground, Carolina Pl. NW
Chevy Chase Community Center Playground, 5601 Connecticut Ave NW
Chevy Chase Recreation Center Playground, 41st & Livingston NW
Forest Hills Playground, 32nd & Chesapeake Ave NW
Friendship Recreation Center Playground (Turtle Park), 4500 Van Ness NW
Guy Mason Recreation Center Playground, 3600 Calvert NW
Hardy Recreation Center Playground, 45th & Q NW
Hearst Recreation Center Playground, 37th & Tilden NW
Macomb Recreation Center Playground, 3409 Macomb NW
Newark Community Gardens Playground, 39th St NW & Newark St NW
Palisades Recreation Center Playground, 5200 Sherrier Pl NW
W Street / Foxhall Park Playground, 48th & Ashby Street NW

Ward 4 playgrounds (12)

Crestwood Playground, 18th Street NW & Argyle Terrace NW
Emery Heights Recreation Center Playground, 5701 Georgia Ave, NW
Fort Stevens Recreation Center Playground, 13th & Van Buren NW
Hamilton Recreation Center Playground, 1340 Hamilton St NW
Lafayette-Pointer Recreation Center Playground, 5900 33rd St. NW
Lamond Recreation Center Playground, 20 Tuckerman Street, NE
Petworth Recreation Center Playground, 801 Taylor Street, NW
Raymond Recreation Center Playground, 10th & Spring Rd. NW
Riggs LaSalle Recreation Center Playground, 501 Riggs Road, NE
Shepherd Park Playground, 7800 14th Street, NW
Takoma Community Center Playground, 3rd & VanBuren NW
Upshur Recreation Center Playground, 14th & Arkansas Ave. NW

Ward 5 playgrounds (18)

Arboretum Recreation Center Playground, 24th St NE & R St NE
Brentwood Recreation Center Playground, 2311 14th St NE
Crummell Playground, Gaulledet St & Providence St NE
Dakota Park Playground, 33rd St & S. Dakota Ave. NE
Dwight Mosely Recreation Center Playground, 20th St & Newton St, NE
Edgewood Recreation Center Playground, 301 Franklin Street, NE
Florida Avenue Park Playground, 1st & Florida Ave. NW
Fort Lincoln Recreation Center Playground, 3201 Ft. Lincoln Drive
Harry Thomas Recreation Center Playground, Lincoln Rd. & Seaton Pl. NE
Joe Cole Recreation Center Playground, 1200 Morse NE
Langdon Park Playground, 2901 20th NE
New York Avenue Recreation Center Playground, 1st & N Street, NE
North Michigan Park Playground, 1333 Emerson Street, NE
Noyes Park Playground, 10th & Franklin Street, NE
Reservoir Park Playground, 10 Lower Service Court NW
Tanner Park, 227 Harry Thomas Way NE
Trinidad Recreation Center Playground, Holbrook & Childress NE
Turkey Thicket Recreation Center Playground, 1100 Michigan Avenue NE

Ward 6 playgrounds (11)

17th & C Triangle Park Playground, 17th St SE & C St SE
3rd & I Street Park Playground, 900 Wesley Place SW
7th and N Street Park Playground, 7th & N Street, NW
Eastern Market Metro Park Playground, 725 Pennsylvania Ave SE
Garfield Park Playground, 3rd & G St. SE
King Greenleaf Recreation Center Playground, 201 N Street, SW
Lovejoy Park Playground, 12th St NE & E St NE
Randall Recreation Center Playground, 25 I Street SW
Sherwood Recreation Center Playground, 640 10th Street, NE
Swampoodle Park Playground, 225 L St NE
Watkins Recreation Center Playground, 420 12th Street, SE

Ward 7 playgrounds (10)

Benning Stoddert Community Center Playground, 100 Stoddert Pl. SE
Deanwood Recreation Center Playground, 1350 49th Street
Hillcrest Recreation Center Playground, 3100 Denver SE
Joy Evans Recreation Center Playground, 3030 G St. SE
Kenilworth Recreation Center Playground, 4300 Anacostia Ave SE
Marvin Gaye Recreation Center Playground, 6201 Banks Place, NE
Marvin Gaye Trail Playgrounds,
Pope Branch Park Playground, 1401 34th Street, SE
Rosedale Recreation Center Playground, 17th & Gales NE
Woody Ward Community Center Playground, 5100 Southern Ave SE

Ward 8 playgrounds (11)

Arthur Capper Community Center Playground, 1000 5th St SE
Bald Eagle Recreation Center Playground, 100 Joliet, SW
Barry Farm Recreation Center Playground, 1230 Sumner Rd, SE
Ferebee Hope Recreation Center Playground, 3999 8th Street SE
Fort Stanton Recreation Center Playground, 18th & Erie SE
Oxon Run Playground # 1 (North), 10th Pl SE & Mississippi Ave SE
Oxon Run Playground #2 (North), Wayne Place & 2nd St SE
Oxon Run Playground #3 (South), 4368 Livingston Road SE
Oxon Run Playground #4 (South), 4509 1st Street, SE
Oxon Run Pool Playground, 501 Mississippi Ave, SE
Southeast Tennis & Learning Center Playground, 701 Mississippi Ave, SE

Keep exploring

Source: DC Department of Parks and Recreation, Playgrounds (playground table and accessibility information) and DPR facility data (spray parks). Check DPR for current conditions.

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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.