36 DC Splash Parks and Pads - Updated 2023

Washington DC Summer Activities

As a parent in the swampy heat of Washington DC, I cannot recommend taking your kids to a DC splash pad enough! My kids (ages 10 and 7 now) have loved splash pads since they were toddlers. Splash pads are a refreshing oasis of water-filled fun, with fountains and sprinklers providing endless entertainment.

DC Splash parks and pads

It's amazing to me that almost every playground in DC has a splash pad component! There are 35 in DC, with 33 run by DC Parks and Recreation plus The Yards Park Wading Pool and Georgetown Waterfront's Water Feature. 16 of the DCPR ones are open early this year from May 15 - 28, 2023. Yards Park should open May 20,2023 and the rest open Memorial Day Weekend which is May 27, 2023.

Table of Contents

  1. Northwest DC (19)
  2. Northeast DC (7)
  3. Southeast DC (9)
  4. Southwest DC (1)
  5. Beyond DC: Virginia and Maryland
  6. Swimming Gear We Use

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Northwest DC Splash Pads

Northwest DC Splash Pads - Open Before Memorial Day

1) Chevy Chase Recreation Center

Splash parks chevy dc

One of my kids' favorites because there are a lot of fun toys that parents have left to play with! Shaded playground and restrooms in the rec center as well.

Opening Dates: May 15 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 5500 41st Street, NW 20015

Hours May 15 - May 27, 2023 : Noon to 4 PM

Hours May 27 - Labor Day: Tuesday - Sunday: 10 am - 8 pm, Monday: 3 - 8 pm

Link to Playground Post


2) Guy Mason Recreation Center

guy mason splash pad

Wonderful playground with interesting slides, sand pit and small splash pad.

Opening Dates: May 15 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 3600 Calvert Street, NW 20007

Hours May 15 - May 27, 2023: Noon to 4 PM

Hours May 27 - Labor Day: Thursday - Tuesday: 10 am - 8 pm, Wednesday: 3 - 8 pm

Link to Playground Post



3) Lafayette-Pointer Recreation Center

Opening Dates: May 15 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 5900 33rd Street, NW 20015

Hours May 15 - May 27, 2023: Noon to 4 PM

Hours May 27 - Labor Day: Thursday - Tuesday: 10 am - 8 pm, Wednesday: 3 - 8 pm

Link to Playground Post


4) Macomb Recreation Center

Sweet neighborhood playground with lots of shade, small splash pad and small sand pit.

Opening Dates: May 15 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 3409 Macomb Street, NW 20016 (near the National Cathedral)

Hours May 15 - May 27, 2023: Noon to 4 PM

Hours May 27 - Labor Day: Tuesday - Sunday: 10 am - 8 pm, Monday: 3 - 8 pm

Link to Playground Post


5) Columbia Heights Community Center

Opening Dates: May 15 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 1480 Girard Street, NW 20009

Hours May 15 - May 27, 2023: Noon to 4 PM

Hours May 27 - Labor Day: Wednesday - Monday: 10 am - 8 pm, Tuesday: 3 - 8 pm


6) Kennedy Recreation Center

Splash parks dc Kennedy

Large playgrounds near Shaw neighborhood!

Opening Dates: May 15 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 1401 7th Street, NW 20005 (DC Alley Museum is a couple blocks away!)

Hours May 15 - May 27, 2023: Noon to 4 PM

Hours May 27 - Labor Day: Wednesday - Monday: 10 am - 8 pm, Tuesday: 3 - 8 pm

Link to Playground Post


7) Petworth Recreation Center

Opening Dates: May 15 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 801 Taylor Street, NW | 20011

Hours May 15 - May 27, 2023: Noon to 4 PM

Hours May 27 - Labor Day: Tuesday - Sunday: 10 am - 8 pm, Monday: 3 - 8 pm


8) Harrison Recreation Center

Opening Dates: May 15 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 1330 V Street, NW 20009

Hours May 15 - May 27, 2023: Noon to 4 PM

Hours May 27 - Labor Day: Friday - Wednesday: 10 am - 8 pm, Thursday: 3 - 8 pm

Link to Playground Post


9) Park at LeDroit

Opening Dates: May 15 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 319 Oakdale Place, NW 20001

Hours May 15 - May 27, 2023: Noon to 4 PM

Hours May 27 - Labor Day: Saturday - Thursday: 10 am - 8 pm, Friday: 3 - 8 pm

Link to Park Post


Northwest DC Splash Pads - Open Memorial Day Weekend

10) Georgetown Waterfront Park Splash Fountain

Opening Dates: I'm not sure but I would guess Memorial Day. Will update after I visit!

Address: Intersection of Wisconsin Avenue, NW, and K Street.

Hours: Unknown

Link to Park Post


11) Hardy Recreation Center

Splash parks dc hardy

Opening Dates: May 27, 2023 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 4500 Q Street, NW 20007

Hours: Friday - Wednesday: 10 am - 8 pm, Thursday: 3 - 8 pm

Link to Playground Post


12) 14th & Girard Street

Opening Dates: May 27, 2023 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 14th & Girard Street, NW 20009

Hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 10 am - 8 pm, Monday: 3 - 8 pm


13) 14th & Park Road (Columbia Heights Civic Plaza)

Opening Dates: May 27, 2023 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 14th Street & Park Road, NW 20011

Hours: Thursday - Tuesday: 10 am - 8 pm, Wednesday: 3 - 8 pm


14) Palisades Community Center

Opening Dates: May 27, 2023 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 5200 Sherier Place, NW 20016

Hours: Wednesday - Monday: 10 am - 8 pm, Tuesday: 3 - 8 pm

Link to Playground Post


15) Westminster Playground

Opening Dates: May 27, 2023 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 911 Westminster Street, NW 20001

Hours: Wednesday - Monday: 10 am - 8 pm, Tuesday: 3 - 8 pm

Link to Playground Post


16) Friendship Recreation Center

Opening Dates: May 27, 2023 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 4500 Van Ness Street, NW 20016

Hours: Wednesday - Monday: 10 am - 8 pm, Tuesday: 3 - 8 pm

Link to Playground Post



17) Fort Stevens Recreation Center

Opening Dates: May 27, 2023 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 1327 Van Buren Street, NW 20012

Hours: Wednesday - Monday: 10 am - 8 pm, Tuesday: 3 - 8 pm


18) Takoma Community Center

Opening Dates: May 27, 2023 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 300 Van Buren Street, NW 20012

Hours: Saturday - Thursday: 10 am - 8 pm, Friday: 3 - 8 pm

Link to Playground Post


19) Stead Recreation Center - Currently under renovation
Updates here on the DCPR Website


Northeast DC Splash Pads and Parks

Northeast DC Splash Pads - Open Before Memorial Day

1) Turkey Thicket Recreation Center

DC Splash parks turkey

Harder to see in this picture but the splash pad is just behind the playground where the blue and white lighthouse is.

Opening Dates: May 15 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 1100 Michigan Avenue, NE 20017

Hours May 15 - May 27, 2023: Noon to 4 PM

Hours May 27 - Labor Day: Thursday - Tuesday: 10 am - 8 pm, Wednesday: 3 - 8 pm

Link to Playground Post


2) Edgewood Recreation Center

Opening Dates: May 15 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 3rd & Evarts Street, NE 20002

Hours May 15 - May 27, 2023: Noon to 4 PM

Hours May 27 - Labor Day: Tuesday - Sunday: 10 am - 8 pm, Monday: 3 - 8 pm


3) Marvin Gaye Park at Division Avenue

Opening Dates: May 15 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: Division & Foote Streets, NE 20019

Hours May 15 - May 27, 2023: Noon to 4 PM

Hours May 27 - Labor Day: Thursday - Tuesday: 10 am - 8 pm, Wednesday: 3 - 8 pm



4) Marvin Gaye Recreation Center

Opening Dates: May 15 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 6201 Banks Place, NE 20019

Hours May 15 - May 27, 2023: Noon to 4 PM

Hours May 27 - Labor Day: Friday - Wednesday: 10 am - 8 pm, Thursday: 3 - 8 pm


Northeast DC Splash Pads - 3 Open Memorial Day Weekend

5) Riggs-LaSalle

Opening Dates: May 27, 2023 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 501 Riggs Road, NE 20011

Hours: Friday - Wednesday: 10 am - 8 pm, Thursday: 3 - 8 pm


6) Joseph H. Cole Recreation Center

Opening Dates: May 27, 2023 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 1299 Neal Street, NE 20002

Hours: Wednesday - Monday: 10 am - 8 pm, Tuesday: 3 - 8 pm


7) Langdon Park Outdoor Pool with Splash Pad inside

Opening Dates: May 27, 2023 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 2860 Mills Avenue, NE 20018

Hours: Pool Hours


Southeast DC Splash Pads and Parks

Southeast DC Splash Pads - 2 Open Before Memorial Day

1) Fort Davis Spray Park

Opening Dates: May 15 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 1400 41st Street, SE 20020

Hours May 15 - May 27, 2023: Noon to 4 PM

Hours May 27 - Labor Day: Tuesday - Sunday: 10 am - 8 pm, Monday: 3 - 8 pm


2) Watkins Spray Park


Opening Dates: May 15 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 420 12th Street, SE 20003

Hours May 15 - May 27, 2023: Noon to 4 PM

Hours May 27 - Labor Day: Saturday - Thursday: 10 am - 8 pm, Friday: 3 - 8 pm

Southeast DC Splash Pads - 7 Open Memorial Day Weekend

3) Canal Park

Canal Park is a fun park in Southeast DC that is a splashpad in the summer! They have restaurants (pizza and sushi) and a restroom inside.

Splash parks canal dc

Opening Dates: I am not 100% sure but guessing May 27, 2023 Memorial Day Weekend.

Address: 200 M Street SE, Washington, DC 20003 

Hours: Will update when I find out! 2 years ago they said this on their website: "Water features are on from 10 am - 8 pm daily. For the dancing fountains, the system resets for 10 minutes every hour for additional filtration."

Link to Park Post


4) Yards Park Wading Pool, Waterfall, and Splash Pad

DC Splash parks yards

The Yards Park is the coolest spot for families in the summer! It includes a huge wading pool (about 2 feet deep?) and water fall and splash pad on top. All along the riverfront! fountain. We park in the Yards Lot Q right behind District Winery on 4th St. and Water St. SE. Weekdays it's $2-2.50 an hour and weekends it's $1.50-$3 per hour.

Opening Dates: Water features are anticipated to open by Saturday, May 20, 2023.

Address: 355 Water Street SE, Washington, DC 20003  

Hours: Will update when I find out!

Link to Park Post


5) Eastern Market Metro Park

Opening Dates: May 27, 2023 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE 20003

Hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 10 am - 8 pm, Monday: 3 - 8 pm

Link to Playground Post


6) King-Greenleaf Recreation Center

Opening Dates: May 27, 2023 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 201 N Street, SW 20024

Hours: Thursday - Tuesday: 10 am - 8 pm, Wednesday: 3 - 8 pm



7) Potomac Avenue Triangle Park

Opening Dates: May 27, 2023 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 1216 Potomac Avenue, SE 20003

Hours: Friday - Wednesday: 10 am - 8 pm, Thursday: 3 - 8 pm


8) Benning Stoddert Recreation Center

Opening Dates: May 27, 2023 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 100 Stoddert Place, SE 20019

Hours: Thursday - Tuesday: 10 am - 8 pm, Wednesday: 3 - 8 pm


9) Hillcrest Recreation Center

Opening Dates: May 27, 2023 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: 3100 Denver Street, SE 20020

Hours: Wednesday - Monday: 10 am - 8 pm, Tuesday: 3 - 8 pm


Southwest DC's Only Splash Pad and Park

Fort Greble Recreation Center

Opening Dates: May 15 - Labor Day (but sometimes extended by the Mayor)

Address: Martin Luther King Jr. Ave & Elmira St, SW 20032

Hours May 15 - May 27, 2023 : Noon to 4 PM

Hours May 27 - Labor Day: Tuesday - Sunday: 10 am - 8 pm, Monday: 3 - 8 pm

Link to Park Post


Beyond DC - Splash Pads in Virginia and Maryland!

splash pads virginia

Click here for 30 Splash Pads in Northern Virginia

splash pads Germantown

Click here for 13 Splash Pads & Pools in Maryland


Swimming Gear for Splash Pads

#1 Favorite Sun Hat: We've used these hats for 6 years! (Originally from REI bought found on Amazon) 2,700, 5-star reviews with UPF 50 and Smart Strap which is safer to help prevent choking.

#2 UPF Rashguard Shirts: I purchased this one for my daughter because I like the mock neck. Tons of colors and sizes and a great price.

#3 Water Shoes: Great to have water shoes to help your kids not hurt the bottoms of their feet. I always look for covered/reinforced toes which these have. Lots of colors and styles for girls and boys.

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