This is a great playground with themed equipment. Entirely enclosed, the play equipment is…read moremusic-themed with musical notes and guitars in honor of Marvin Gaye. There are trash and recycling bins and even a Capital Bikeshare dock nearby.

The playground was packed with kids having the absolute best time, and there seemed to be at least…read moretwo parties happening in the nearby pavilions. But despite all of that, the park is so expansive that it never really felt crowded. One thing to keep in mind is the weather when you visit. On hot days, a lot of the playground equipment gets extremely hot and can become difficult to touch, so timing your visit definitely matters. We happened to pick an ideal day and were able to really explore and enjoy the park. I also wish we had been there when the train and golf course were open because both looked like they would have been so much fun! Overall, a great expansive park with plenty to explore and lots for kids to enjoy. We had a wonderful time!

Watkins Regional Park is truly a hidden gem! I recently took my 4-year-old niece, and she…read moreabsolutely loved every minute of it. The Wizard of Oz-themed playground made such an impression on her that we've been watching The Wizard of Oz on repeat ever since our visit. It was so much fun seeing her imagination come to life as she explored all the themed play areas. One thing I really appreciated was that there's something for kids of all ages. There are plenty of play structures and activities to keep everyone entertained. The park is also very family-friendly, with lots of shaded benches and picnic shelters where I could comfortably sit, relax, and keep an eye on her while she played. After the playground, we walked across the street to ride the carousel, which she absolutely adored. They also have a train ride, but unfortunately it wasn't operating during our visit. That just gives us another reason to come back! Next time, we're planning to visit the farm and meet all the animals. I can't believe such a special place is just a few miles from home. If you're looking for a fun, affordable outing with children, Watkins Regional Park is definitely worth the visit. We can't wait to go back!

Indeed a hidden gem! Playground, lots of space for kids (and adults) to run around, splash pad in…read morethe warm months, and a very nice building with restrooms, meeting rooms, and more. You have to sign in to use that facility but the staff was friendly and it's no big deal. As a parent I also appreciated that you have to enter a gate and it's a little bit outside (or inside, rather) the rest of the neighborhood. Great place to host an outdoor birthday party.

If I could give zero stars, I would. This place is disgusting. There is absolutely no soap or paper…read moretowels in the bathrooms, and they are so f'ing lazy that the toilet paper is on the floor - not properly refilled. That is unsanitary and disgusting! Second, the people at the front desk are incredibly unprofessional. How are they still employed?

Ridge Road Recreation Center proves that the best playgrounds are East of the River. Located just…read moreoff of Fort Dupont Park in Benning Ridge, the recreation is more like a campus with a recreation center, pool, courts, a field and an epic playground. There's parking along the street. The playground itself is less busy compared to other playgrounds and kept well. There's one high-tech activity for kids and plenty of slides, climbing structures and rest areas for parents. Restrooms are nearby.

Took the kids here while in a visit to D.C. It's super clean. My kids loved the playground and want…read moreto go to the pool there when it opens. We'll definitely come back here on our visits.

Benning Stoddart Recreation Center is a modern recreation center on the border between Fort Dupont…read moreand Benning in Ward 7. It's right next to the Washington Tennis and Education East Capitol Campus. The inside is closed due to the pandemic, but the space-themed playground in the front is open. There's a small splash park (also closed during the pandemic), swings, several slides and equipment for kids to climb on and grow in confidence. Parking is free right in front of the recreation center.

Playground small but sufficient for young children. Huge problem - DPR staff refused to open the…read moreoutdoor restrooms on a Saturday. Wet Children frequently slipped and fell walking inside of the recreation center to use the indoor bathroom. On a different visit, we noticed the outdoor restrooms lacked soap, sanitizer or paper towels. Perhaps, DC should eliminate these restrooms and contract for port a potties.

We were looking for a playground near Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, which is how we ended up here as…read moreit's pretty far from our Arlington home. The playground has a cute castle theme with a twisty slide shaped like a dragon. There are a couple of swings and also a little kid area with the same castle theme. There are no bathrooms but there is a portable. There are a few benches, a tennis court, a baseball field, and a short trail nearby. The playground surface is padded, which is always great for when kids inevitably fall down.

This park is a community park near the Cheverly Racquet and Swim Club. The park itself has a few…read morefields and a large playground with a side for younger kids and one for kids age five and older. Both sides are shaped like a castle. There are benches and nearby trees offer shade.

Fort Lincoln Park is a fascinating place! It's on the Maryland-DC border in NE DC near the city's…read moreonly Costco. It's a large park with plenty of street parking nearby. They have benches, courts, and play areas throughout the park. They also have these large wooden huts connected by a network of wooden bridges. It's old, but such a unique park in DC. It's one of my favorites!

This is my absolute most favorite park for children in Washington DC…read more Ft. Lincoln Park (not to be confused with Lincoln Park on Capitol Hill) takes me back in time to my own childhood, before all the overprotection and padding of our current generation of kids. Here my boys (6 and 3) can challenge themselves and play with some "risk". The brick pyramid fort and the scrambling hill with concrete slides (oh how '70's) are the bomb. When we arrive, parking along Ft. Lincoln Drive or in the tennis court parking lot, we simply let them loose and don't bother them again for the next hour or so. We can leisurely walk under the beautiful Honey Locust trees and enjoy the amazing sunsets. There are benches on the grass and under the 5 open air structures, all with amazing trees. Bear in mind that the park was built in 1969 and clearly shows some wear. The trees have pushed up the bricks in many places, and the city has only maintained the landscaping at a minimum, but nevertheless this park has excellent character. If you are a overly protective helicopter parent (I know, you tell yourself you're not), then you will not like this place. Here kids can get scraped knees, fall down off brick structures, and rip up good clothes on the old concrete slides. BUT... if you are a parent that believes in challenging your children, and you have confidence in their ability to learn from navigating "risks" then this is a terrific place to bring the kids. ============== I'm including a link to this audio article with the idea that this park is a gem of times gone past. http://www.npr.org/2014/03/20/291922339/kids-these-days-growing-up-too-fast-or-never-at-all ============== Lastly, I want to make a prediction. To tell you the truth, Ft. Lincoln Park is nearly always quiet and deserted. I am forever wondering where are all the 5 million people in the DC metro area? I somewhat avoided writing this review for fear that I would open the floodgates, only to turn around and find the park filled with people clamoring to the city about the "dangers" of loose bricks and lack of rubber padding under all the stone and concrete play-spaces. THEN, after DC Government receives all these complaints about the park from the legions of overprotective parents, they will be forced to come in and destroy this historic space in favor of plastic slides and "protected" play areas. Let alone the loss of the beautiful old brick walkways to new "pavers' etc. I really do understand that if many people start frequenting the park, that improvements will need to be made. The question is, should the park be "restored" or "updated"? SO - I make you this appeal. Once you visit the park, ask yourself questions about what is best here. When we bring Ft. Lincoln Park into the 21st Century, should we "modernize" it to our current sensibilities, or "restore" it so we might learn something from this late 20th century experiment. SAVE FORT LINCOLN PARK! http://tclf.org/landscapes/fort-lincoln-park ---