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 Fresh Fields or Rocklands. Popular, lots of international
kids.
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 seedy
but fun hedgerow labyrinth. Great lawn for running and woods for hiking. Never
crowded.
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. Not crowded,
not much entertainment nearby.
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. Surprisingly empty. Soccer center. Listrani's
restaurant is nearby.
Turtle Park Recreation Center—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 and School—Calvert St at 40th St. (0.75
mi.-walk, D2 bus). Recreation center is small fenced area for younger kids, with
older equipment. Always kids there, but not crowded. School playground is
extensive, with new metal structures behind the school. Not much used outside
school hours.
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 Boys and Girls Club—3265 S St, or directly behind the
Wisconsin Ave Safeway. Jelleff is a club with nominal dues ($20 annually in
2001) 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.