I'm surprised no one has ever reviewed this park. I pretty much spent most of my childhood playing here, as it was right next door to home. As a kid, it was convenient to walk over to the playground and play on the swings, or get sick on the merry go round. Back in the day, it was safe for a six or 7-year old to spend a whole day unattended and explore what seemed like a wilderness; follow the narrow trails, wade in the creeks, encounter wildlife (deer, turtles, and snakes). I think back fondly on the days my brother and I would come back home from a day of exploration, dirty, dusty, and covered with mosquito bites, mom telling us to clean up and take a bath before dinner. I have wonderful memories of playing basketball on the courts with my dad and brother on Saturday mornings. As I got older, I spent many summers there, trying to perfect my tennis game.
Nowadays, all the dangerous playground equipment of my childhood has been replaced with newer, safer versions, and much of the wildlife and trees have been replaced with homes. The courts have been well maintained and are much like they were years ago. There's a great sheltered area with tables and grills for picnics and gatherings, as well as bathrooms. The spacious grass fields located on the grounds are great for running around and team sports--I've witnessed many soccer matches being played here. There's a decent parking lot that can accommodate quite a few cars but when it gets busy, you can easily park on Annandale Road (just please don't block the driveway to my parents' house).
In this day and age, when most kids are immersed in the virtual worlds of video games, the internet and social networking, it's important for parks like Roundtree to exist. Visiting the park now, decades from when I first explored this magical place, I get transported back in time, my six year old self bristling with the same sense of freedom and imagination I felt back then, and I just feel thankful that it still exists. read more