Glover Archibold Park borders Burleith on the north and west. This park is administered by the National Park Service. Although Burleith is very close to the center of the city, a 5 minute walk into the park can bring you into the middle of the woods, with no house in sight. Trails through the woods link Burleith to the C & O canal towpath and to Rock Creek Park.

Two sections of Glover Archibold Park are open areas that are special recreation areas for Burleith and Glover Park. The lower Green Lot is at 37th Street and Whitehaven Parkway, and the upper Green Lot is north of 39th Street, between Burleith, Hillandale and Glover Park. There is a baseball diamond in the upper Green lot. This space is also a popular for dog-walking.

Duke Ellington Field is an athletic field north of Reservoir Road, between 38th and 39th Streets, which was once the home field for Western High School. It includes a running track and a football field. Western has been replaced by Duke Ellington School of the Arts, which has no competitive athletics program. Today, the field is managed by Wilson High School and used for many of their games. Other users include the Police Boys and Girls Clubs and several local elementary and high schools. When there are no scheduled activities, the field is open for public use.

Montrose Park (Georgetown), off R Street between 30th and 31st Streets, is a large city park with tennis courts, trees, and open areas. Montrose Park is adjacent to both Oak Hill Cemetery and Dumbarton Oaks Park, and provides an entry to Rock Creek Park (along Lovers Lane).

There are several high-quality playgrounds and recreation centers within walking distance of Burleith, and many more a short drive or bus ride away. Many of these have recently been renovated.

Tot Lot - at the Corcoran School, 35th St near S St. Beautifully renovated by the Corcoran in 2000, it includes a small but feature-packed metal structure, swings, playhouse, sandbox. Suitable for children 5 years and younger.

Volta Park Recreation Center - Volta Place at 33rd St. (0.5 mi.-walk/D2 bus). Volta Park is the site of the local public pool, has a popular softball diamond, and is well cared-for by an enthusiastic "friends" group. A fenced, mulched play area with both "younger" and "older" structures, monkey bars, and sandbox, and an enclosed concrete area with picnic tables for toys. Urban, crowded at times.

Guy Mason Recreation Center - Calvert St near Wisconsin Ave. (0.5 mi.-walk). Large new play area surrounded by grass, near Guy Mason recreation center. Tall twisty slide, spring toys, lots of swings, big sandbox. Good place for a picnic from Whole Foods or Rocklands.

Montrose Park - R St east of Dumbarton Oaks, down the rope walk. (1 mi.-walk/drive). Renovated in 2001, with all new equipment. Nearby is a fun hedgerow labyrinth. Great lawn for running and woods for hiking. Can be crowded at times.

Hardy Recreation Center - Q St and 45th St, west of Foxhall Rd. (0.75 mi.-drive/D4 bus). Renovation has added some new metal structures.

Palisades Park Recreation Center - off Sherrier Pl near Edmunds Pl, (2 mi.-drive/D4 bus). The most athletic playground, great for "basic training." Big wooden structures, tall tube slide, walls to climb, monkey bars, poles to slide down. Small but fun sandbox.

Friendship Recreation Center and Friendship Park (aka Turtle Park) - Van Ness St at 45th St, (2.5 mi.-drive). The most social playground; almost always crowded. Large fenced area with a variety of activities, centering around a huge sandbox with turtle statues. Wooden trains, play houses, lots of swings.

Macomb Recreation Center - Macomb St near 34th St. (1.5 mi.-drive). Social, busy, not crowded except when daycare groups are there. Good place for exercise. Lots of room (on three levels). Wooden, child-scale structures, a rope climber, wooden train, creative toys to climb on. Soccer classes in the field nearby.

Stoddert Recreation Center - Calvert St at 40th St. (0.75 mi.-walk, D2 bus). Currently being renovated and will open in a fantastic new facility in the Fall of 2010.

Mann School - Macomb St near New Mexico Ave, (1.75 mi.-drive). Near Sutton Place Gourmet. Great for athletic kids. A huge tube slide goes down the hill. Large area with 2 playgrounds; a child-size wooden structure for younger kids and a modern metal structure for older kids. Not busy, except for soccer players.

Rose Park - P St at 26th St. (1.25 mi.-drive/D2 bus). One new medium-size metal climber/slide, and a fenced area a little distance away with a geodesic climber, sandbox, swings and animals. Very quiet.

Jelleff Community Center - 3265 S St, or directly behind the Wisconsin Ave Safeway. Jelleff is a club with nominal dues ($25 annually in 2010) that offers a wide variety of athletic and enrichment activities for children of all ages, from infants to teenagers. For more information call 462-1317.