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.
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
- Northwest DC (19)
- Northeast DC (7)
- Southeast DC (9)
- Southwest DC (1)
- Beyond DC: Virginia and Maryland
- 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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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!
Click here for 30 Splash Pads in Northern Virginia
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.
