Meridian Hill Park is so underrated, far enough away from downtown that tourists either don't know…read moreabout it or is too far for them to get to it (not really a close by Metro stop). I held a birthday party here years ago. I have visited this spot dozens of times when I lived in DC and yesterday I visited again to see the flowing fountains! Definitely much more vibrant, clean, lively, and energetic now. People biking, walking, reading, napping, hammocking, and just hanging out. Great spot to meet with friends, plenty of sunny and shaded spots, with clean bathrooms up on the northeast side near Euclid St. If you have an opportunity to visit, visit!

Following many years of dilapidation, the fountain at Meridian Hill is finally working again. The…read morespace was hopping when I visited, and it's no surprise. A couple of individual stall bathrooms are working on the top level. Most people though, were sitting in the lower domain and enjoying the views.

I grew up around neighborhood parks, but I don't remember them ever feeling quite like Walter…read morePierce Park. There's something about this park that genuinely captures the community around it. What I love most is how completely it changes depending on the hour. Early in the morning, there might be a workout group getting started--or, occasionally, someone asleep on a bench who perhaps did not quite make it home the night before. A few hours later, delivery drivers are taking a well-earned break. In the afternoons, there are families and kids, especially after school and throughout the summer. There's a regular afternoon cigar smoker. I've walked through yoga classes, watched pickup basketball games, and seen the big field transformed for Little League, soccer, and football. By evening, people are sometimes sitting outside having what looks like a little dinner party. It just ebbs and flows with the neighborhood. There's a dog park, although my dog is far more interested in the apparently exceptional sniffing opportunities throughout the rest of the park. And honestly, simply walking through is one of my favorite parts of living nearby because there's always some tiny slice of neighborhood life happening. Walter Pierce Park isn't particularly grand or elaborate, and I think that's exactly why it works so well. It just quietly becomes whatever the neighborhood needs it to be at that particular hour. To me, that's exactly what a neighborhood park should be.

This is a small park with a lot going on inside. Walter C Pierce Community Park is the definition…read moreof a community park. It has something for anyone. Lots of athletic areas for those looking to play a game. You can also enjoy the dog park. It seems most people like to bring a dog. It has one of the largest dog parked around here. The area is large but it feels smaller because of all the dogs and people there. If you don't have a dog you can still enjoy the athletic facilities. There's a few basketball and tennis courts, which always seem to be in use. It's not the nicest park, but it will do for some outdoor activity. Most dog owners are courteous but many aren't. Try going at not as busy times.

Good place for a dog. Kalorama Park isn't that big for people but it's plenty big enough for dogs…read more It also has a playground. Just be careful of what the dogs leave behind. There's also a basketball court. It's a small neighborhood park basically. People need to walk their dogs somewhere. This is the best place around for them. It also has some features for the children. There's a pretty good size playground. If you're more into sports you can also play basketball. They have a court on the north side. It overall feels like a nice area. It's usually quiet. There's mostly residential around so it's not crowded here usually.

Kalorama Park is an urban park near Adams Morgan and a local hangout spot. On a weekend evening,…read morethe lawn is full with groups picnicking, people playing basketball on the courts and kids climbing on the two playgrounds with the backdrop of tall apartment buildings. My daughter is three and loved both playgrounds, especially the swings and slides.

Girard Street Park is a medium size park north of Meridian Hill Park/Malcolm X Park in Columbia…read moreHeights. There's a large field, two playgrounds (one for smaller kids and one for older), a community garden, an outdoor workout station and benches. They also have a few electronic games that get you to run.

This renovation of this park came with much fanfare four years ago as another attempt by the city…read moreto gentrify the neighborhood somewhat. However, it's apparent that such a charming park with so much potential will be a victim of its location unless the people who frequent it take better care of it and each other. This park has everything you can ask for in a park: shade, benches, picnic tables, open play area, updated play structures for different age groups, a splash pad, swings, and a full court basketball court. There is even easy access from two neighboring streets, Girard and Fairmont. Fortunately for my three-year old daughter, she is oblivious to the surroundings where you have lowlifes hanging out. She enjoyed her time here and was bummed we had to leave after 45 minutes. During the day, as long as you're vigilant, there shouldn't be any issues in terms of enjoying what the park has to offer. During our visit, there were just a few instances that irked me. One, a couple boys were throwing pebbles/rocks towards another group of unassuming children. And in another, several parents or adults are just sitting around near the play structures smoking their cigarettes away. At night, I'd probably advise all people, regardless of age to avoid this place like the plague.

Great section of Rock Creek Trail where you can get a quick stretch, work on your balance, or do a…read morewhole workout routine if you'd like! On sunny days it gets busy, but the area is large enough to find something to do while you wait for your turn. The workout trail is on the bike path under the William Howard Taft Bridge.

DC Native Duke Ellington was incredible! He changed the music scene, and a lot more in his…read morelifetime. What an inspiring person, and his accomplishments and talent live on. Being on this bridge, can mean traffic delays. Then again a common issue in the nations capital. It's with the territory. Am glad this bridge is named after him. The beautiful green and Rock Creek Park are a good combination. This is close to Woodley and Cleveland Park. For those who know Adams Morgan, you certainly know this structure after nights partying. It's not large or architectural gold. Yet it's a pleasant looking bridge, and glad it is here for all to enjoy.

Although it's just a bridge, it's among the best bridges. It's helped by the terrific view below…read moreit. The Duke Ellington Memorial Bridge is named for one of the city's best known natives. It's a very good tribute to him. The bridge is in very good condition after the years. Bridges are often pretty boring. It's the views that make them interesting. This bridge itself looks nice. It's not looking all rusted like many others because it's been kept up by the city. The bridge is also popular for the good views, too. It's located on Calvert Street, which connects Adams Morgan and Woodley Park, two eccentric neighborhoods. The bridge is also located above Rock Creek Park. It has such a great view of the creek. There's also a trail that runs along the creek filled with bicyclists and runners. Even though it's only a bridge, it's still fun to walk across. It's the best way to get between Adams Morgan and Woodley Park. There's a Capital Bikeshare on the east side.

Lamont Park is right across the street from me, and hosts such great events as the Mt. Pleasant…read moreFarmers Market. This little triangular strip of concrete is the chosen venue for many amusing events and individuals. More notably, this is where I had the pleasure of viewing a very skinny man dressed in Spandex do his break dancing routine using a 1980s boom box as his sound system. It was on a random Tuesday night and even one of the locals who has probably been in the neighborhood for years shook his head and said "Only in Mt. Pleasant."

There's always a crowd at this little triangle of concrete, squeezed between the confluence of 17th…read moreStreet and Mount Pleasant street...Today there were some men eating chicken on a park bench, joking around with a toothless sort of bum. I had ten minutes to kill before work, so I sat down with my cup of coffee for people watching. The toothless bum was cackling and shouting something incomprehensible, holding what I am pretty sure was a lit joint. The police just don't come around to parks like this...it seems they have ceded them as a sort of no-man's land, which means anything goes. A small crowd had gathered to watch the bum's antics..."Bom-baba-DOO!" he shouted at me with a laugh. On my way home from work there have lately been games of football catch in the park, which means it is still a somewhat wholesome community gathering place. That's what I like about Mount Pleasant. It is like one big family...and even where there is crime, there seems to be a strong respect for family values. 4 stars...this is a DC treasure, as far as the crowd goes--strange, boisterous, yet harmless folks...but since there is no grass, minus one star.

Along 18th Street, this playground is entirely enclosed with equipment for both bigger and smaller…read morekids. There are benches for caregivers to sit.

Whoa! Where was this type of playground when I was a kid?…read more On an unusually warm late December morning, we took to Yelp to find an outdoor playground in Adams Morgan. The first recommendation was this one. We pulled up and found street parking immediately. My little pumpkin had the playground to herself for about 30 mins and then she came down the slide to 20 or so kids. That's when the real fun began. As adults, sadly we forget how it feels to be a child and experience the wind in our hair as we fly on a slide or swing. Our desensitized bodies, having driven cars and flown in planes, forget the sensation of speed from our youth, which at the time is the fastest, most thrilling thing we can know. Kudos to the makers of this playground and all the folks who create play environments that transport children into magical adventures.

Tucked away in Kalorama next to the police guarding the street the Obamas live on is a small park…read more Small gates block he entrance turning it into a dog park. Once inside, you'll find a narrow green space with city views, a little library and wooden chairs with unique designs. It's a quiet place for a book and an easy place to social distance. There are signs on the fences that say the park is sprayed down weekly to help reduce mosquitos.