I’ve been pestering the DC Department of Parks and Rec (@DCDPR on twitter) regarding the spray parks – thankfully they have been very informative, and patient with me! Today I heard back from Sean Link, the Aquatic Program Manager for DPR (apparently spraygrounds fall under his domain) with the summer schedule, and also a little info on what had been happening at my local spray parks – Chevy Chase / Livingston Playground and Friendship Rec / Turtle Park. Let’s start with the summer hours (which begin Monday, June 18). Until the 18th, hours are Friday – Sunday, 12 pm – 6pm.
Violet checks out the water at Livngston Playground over Memorial Day weekend
14th & Girard Mon – Fri, 10am – 7pm; Sat 11am – 5pm, Sun 11am – 5pm
14th & Park Mon – Fri, 12pm – 7pm; Sun 3pm – 7pm
10th Street Park Mon – Fri, 11am – 7pm; Sat & Sun 11am – 5pm
Joe Cole Mon – Fri, 11am – 7pm; Sat & Sun 11am – 5pm
Chevy Chase Rec / Livingston Playground Mon – Fri, 11am – 7pm; Sat & Sun 11am – 5pm
Columbia Heights Mon – Fri, 11am – 7pm; Sat 11am – 4pm Closed Sunday
Friendship Rec / Turtle Park Mon – Fri, 11am – 7pm; Sat 11am – 4pm Closed Sunday
Lafayette Mon – Fri, 11am – 7pm; Sat 11am – 4pm Closed Sunday
Palisades Mon – Fri, 11am – 7pm; Sat 11am – 4pm Closed Sunday
Petworth Mon – Fri, 12pm – 8pm; Sat & Sun 12pm – 8pm
Riggs-La Salle Mon – Sat, 12pm – 7pm Closed Sunday
If you would like more specific information on these spray parks, including addresses and locations, you can find it on the DC DPR website.
There’s also been a lot of confusion going around the neighborhood list servs, and the DC Urban Mom message board about what has been on, and what hasn’t. Friendship Rec / Turtle Park has frustratingly not seemed to be on, especially on Memorial day weekend when it was H-O-T. Sean Link told me “At Friendship there was a staffing mix-up- evidently the normal rec person that turns it on was out on leave and his replacement had issues getting it on. That will not reoccur. We have trained up the backups at the site.” This is great news!
Also, Chevy Chase Rec / Livingston Playground was on, but at a trickle the last I saw. Sean told me “We’ve been having some issues with CC, hopefully resolved. It ran great this weekend.” Also, great news….. This playground is so new I was worried that it was having trouble operating already. I can’t wait to check it out now that everything is working properly.
//A few eye witness reports for the spray parks this week : On Tuesday the 5th, around 5pm Livingston was on, but yesterday, Thursday June 7th at about 4 it was not. On Monday afternoon Turtle Park sprinklers were not on, but on Thursday the 7th, they were on. So – I guess at this point it’s a gamble! Thanks to everyone who has been emailing me with their reports!!//
Thanks to Sean Link and DC DPR twitter for helping me get to the bottom of all this so I could share the info with you guys!
FYI, to keep up with all the Department of Parks and Recreation news, “Like” DC DPR on Facebook, or follow them on twitter!
2 Comments
Thanks for the update! But is it just me or is it strange that with the regular summer hours, they are closed on Sundays and have such limited hours on Saturday? Seems like they’d want longer hours on the weekends!
I was bummed about the Sunday closures… but honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are actually on. I was just sending an email to my moms club saying that I think often “corporate DPR” has a different policy than what the actual park caretaker does. I don’t recall Turtle Park being off Sundays last summer….. Let’s hope it’s not true! Thanks for your comment!
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