I've lived in the city for over 20 years and I literally had no idea this recreation center even…read moreexisted. Someone told me about it so I came here to check it out this morning. It seems like the indoor pool is an Olympic sized pool and when aI got here they were doing some type of class there. There is also an indoor basketball court that I'm sure gets used a lot during the weekend. There was nobody in there this Thursday morning. The gym was disappointing however because there wasn't much to it at all. What I did like was the outdoor circular path which is about 2.5 times the length of an actual track. I would for sure make use of it if I lived a little closer. The baseball field also looked like it was in good condition. I was told that I need to sign up on their website in order to use the recreation center.

Turkey Thicket is a great place to exercise. There are programs for kids and adults. They have…read moreparking. The pool has classes and lap swimming. DC residents can use the facility for free.

Nestled like a hidden gem, this playground offers a fully enclosed and shady retreat, complete with…read moredelightful water features during the summer months. It boasts separate play areas for big and little kids, as well as dedicated spaces for baseball and basketball activities.

This is one of my favorite rec centers near U street and I love playing basketball there.read more

During the winter break, they opened it for parents to bring their children to play. They also…read moreprovided a Togo lunch and popcorn for the kids.

Just south of Mount Olivet Cemetery is a large recreation center in Trinidad. During the pandemic…read morethe inside if closed, but the outside gives you many reasons to go: 1) Access: There's easy street parking and a Capital Bikeshare dock in front of the recreation center. 2) Amenities: There's plenty of grass, benches, a large playground, a field and a small skate park (hard to find in the city). 3) Art: There are four D.C. statehood murals on the recreation center. If you go and get hungry, you can easily walk to Compact Supermarket, a local corner store with two murals painted on the outside.

Marie Reed has a pretty decent lap pool…read more Been coming here during the (month long!) maintenance closure of Tenley pool. The locker room could be a little cleaner, but is basically fine. The showers have a handle that lets you select the temperature rather than the single-temperature, timed buttons that they use at Tenley, Lengthwise, the pool is 25 yards. Each time I have been there it was divided into six lanes. It doesn't seem too crowded after work, and according to the staff, the pool is open on the weekends as well.

Love this pool! Shallow ends but good swim lanes and good facility all well rounded staff!read more

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.

New, modern facility. Football field had 200 kids practicing football drills, plus a few girls at a…read moresmall cheer practice, at 8:30 pm, which wasn't a problem because there were so many bright lights. The library off to the side of the recreation center seemed a little small. The disappointing aspects were the weight room and the bathroom. The weight room was tiny and completely transparent - nice view, but I wouldn't want to be on display like that. The bathroom wasn't clean, and the sensors on both the toilets and sinks did not function well. I know people who use the indoor pool here often but I didn't get a chance to check it out. I attended a Step Afrika program in the gymnasium. The gym itself seemed clean and well-appointed with a couple of bleacher seating units. The Step Afrika performance was great, with lots of local love (go-go music, kids and even elderly mobility impaired individuals, dancing with the performers). I was required to sign in at the front desk and a security guard walked around the building. However, they were all pretty laid back. When I asked a front desk person about the performance, she had to ask someone else, even though there was a line of people, signs, a table, etc in front of the gymnasium, that was all visible to her. Parking was fine, I was able to park in the small main entrance lot, but there is plenty of street parking.

This place is amazing, but your experience there will likely depend if the lifeguard on duty…read more Online it says the slide is open from 1-4 so we came at 2 and the lifeguard on duty shut it down because they're understaffed. The next lifeguard opened it up for a bit when we asked for it but also said they are understaffed and technically need more lifeguards on duty to have it open. The water is chilly at first but it's warm inside so you adjust (nothing like Rumsey lol). There was an underwater spin class happening too - so cool! There's also free life jackets, kick boards, and noodles! There's a gradual entrance - perfect for toddlers (the splash features were off though). I love the huge windows letting the sunlight in. We will definitely be back! Would be 5 stars if they get it fully staffed so everyone can enjoy the slide!

Rosedale Community Center is an epic recreation center in Kingman Park near H Street NE and Hill…read moreEast. There's street parking and a small parking lot by the center. Here's what you can find within the community center: 1) Playground: There's a large playground that's D.C. landmark-themed. There's the Washington Monument, Air & Space Museum, the White House, Hirshhorn, etc. with fact cards next to each one teaching kids (and their parents) about our city. The playground comes with a sheltered picnic area to escape the sun. It's a little run down and often there's litter scattered throughout the playground. Despite that, it's a fun place for kids. 2) Library: There's a library within the community center. 3) Courts/fields: There are basketball courts that are often in use in the evenings and a large field for workouts, soccer, etc. 4) Pool: From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, the outdoor pool is open with a small waterslide. Sadly, during the 2020 season, the pool closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you get hungry, there are a few restaurants north along Benning Road NE, including a walk-up/drive thu Chick-fil-A three blocks west.

The Joseph Cole Recreation Center is a large public space in Trinidad by the Wheatley Campus. It's…read morea wide, gated space with a splash park, two playgrounds (none have big slides), picnic tables and paths. It's a popular place for families and dog walkers. There are NO public restrooms so plan accordingly.