Mommy FTW

Heads up moms!  The Wilson Aquatic Center is scheduled to close for its yearly maintenance / cleaning from Sunday, August 26 through Saturday, September 8, 2012.

Also, after labor day weekend (September 3, 2012) the sprinkler parks across the city will be shutting down for the 2012 summer season.

Violet enjoys the last moments of summer fun at Chevy Chase Rec. It's been fun, Summer 2012!

So get out there and enjoy them while you can! And get ready to head back to the Wilson Aquatic Center once it re opens in September!

For all the details regarding the closing and maintenance schedule for ALL the DC DPR Spray Parks, Outdoor pools, and Indoor Aquatic Centers, check out the DC Department of Parks and Recreation website.

Come and enjoy a free party at Turtle Park on Friday, July 27th from 5:30 – 8:00 PM.

A moon bouce, hot dogs, and sno cones - basically my son's idea of heaven. And it's free!

Bring the kids and the whole family and enjoy FREE Sno-cones, moon bounces, face painting, popcorn, music, hot dogs.

This event is brought to you by Restoration Church is collaboration with Friendship Recreation Center (Turtle Park), DC Parks & Recreation.

I will be there with my kiddos – see you there!

FYI – I found out about this event via the Friends of Turtle Park email list serv – if you’d like to sign up for it, check out their website.  And to keep up with what the Department of Parks and Rec is doing, follow them on twitter!

How many times have you gone to the playground in the summer, only to be surprised that the sprinklers are turned on (I’m looking in your direction, moms I met yesterday at Chevy Chase playground!).  It certainly happens here in DC often enough – DPR has set summer hours and dates for the spray parks, but no one seems to actually follow them.  Don’t be that mom with the toddler staring longingly at the other kids cooling off in the water – keep a bag of supplies in the trunk of your car or in the bottom of your stroller at all times.  You never know when it will be time to have some sprinkler fun!

Cameron is actually in his swimsuit and coated in sunscreen - so I must have been really on my game this day!

Here’s what I always have in my summer fun bag – keep in mind, I’ve got 2 kids, so my bag has 2x the supplies!:

2 towels for drying off after.  Even with all this heat, the water is chilly, and the kiddos can get cold at the end.

2 diapers – regular – not swim (both for Violet, Cam doesn’t wear them)  I only bother using swim diapers for actual swimming.  They are expensive, and for sprinkler play I just leave Violet in a regular diaper then change her out after.

2 Rash Guards (optional) – one for each kid.  This way you can just take off their shirts, put on the rash guards, and let them go.

2 changes of clothes – one for each kid.  If I am feeling really lazy, I’ll just let the kids go in in their existing outfits, then change them after.  There is really no need for full on swim attire – you can  skip the rash guards if you don’t have them / don’t want to bother.

Sunscreen!

It’s not exactly rocket science, I know – but so many times I hear parents saying at the park “You can’t go in because I didn’t bring your swimsuit.”  With just a little preparation – you will always be ready!  Just be sure to replenish your summer fun bag when you get home so next time it is ready with fresh supplies.

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!

///UPDATE Check this post for summer hours for the DC spray parks and info on Turtle Park and Livingston Playground///

//UPDATE – I’m getting a lot of google traffic to this post so I wanted to add some more information.

First, per the official DPR press release, until June 18th, outdoor pools and spray parks are only open on the weekends (including Fridays).  The hours of operation are 12pm – 6pm. After June 18th, spray parks and pools will be open on a “summer schedule.”  I am still waiting to hear back from DPR as to what that exactly means.  And FYI, it seems like parks are basically doing whatever – I heard that Livingston was on Thursday, 5/31 even though according to the official DPR policy it wasn’t supposed to be.

Second, this weekend Turtle Park spary park (Friendship Rec) was not on.  I heard a rumor that some of the tiles needed to be replaced and they were waiting for DPW to do this.  A friend of mine was at Turtle Park Thursday 5/31 and said it was not on.

Third, this weekend Livingston playground spray park (Chevy Chase Rec) was on, but at a low level.  I talked to DPR on twitter (@DCDPR) and they said the problem had been fixed.  I have not been back to check personally.

I will continue to update with more info as I get it.//

We’ve had some hot days so far this spring here in DC, and the kids and I have been anxiously awaiting the opening of the spraygrounds for the summer season.  Well, the wait is almost over!

Cooling off at Turtle Park

As of Saturday, May 26th at 12 noon the spray parks (and outdoor pools) in DC will be open!  For me, that means I’ll be spending a lot more time at Turtle Park and Chevy Chase (aka Livingston) playgrounds.  Hope to see you there!

Click the image to see the list of pools and spray parks by DC Ward

FYI, to keep up with all the Department of Parks and Recreation news, “Like” DC DPR on Facebook, or follow them on twitter!

///UPDATE Check this post for summer hours for the DC spray parks and info on Turtle Park and Livingston Playground///

Hooray!  Today I received an eye witness report that the sprinklers at Chevy Chase Playground (aka Livingston Playground) are finally up and running as of 1130am this morning!   The hours of operation will be 11am til 7pm DAILY – this sprinkler park is in fact open on SUNDAYS! The water comes on in ten minute cycles (on for 10 minutes, off for 2 minutes) but the button on the top of the red “hydrant” in the middle of the spray ground will keep it on continuously (see picture).  See you there!!

A picture from the testing phase - note the red hydrant in the middle which keeps the water on.

Chevy Chase Playground (often called Livingston Playground because of its location) is located at 4101 Livingston Street Northwest, Washington D.C. It is within walking distance from the Friendship Heights Metro Station (on the Red Line) and, there is also plenty of street parking.  For more pictures and information on the rest of Chevy Chase Playground (which was just renovated) check out my earlier post.

///UPDATE Check this post for summer hours for the DC spray parks and info on Turtle Park and Livingston Playground///

Update on Tuesday August 2nd – the sprinklers are ON!!

Update on Wednesday July 27th – DPR announced at the meeting Tuesday evening that they are working on the drainage problem at present and hope to re-lay the concrete/cement on Thurs/Fri this week. They hope to turn the sprays on again on Monday August 1st to test whether the problem has been fixed.

Original post – It seems like all the moms in NW DC are asking “When are they going to open the spray park at Chevy Chase Playground?!”  It’s so hot out, and it’s hard to be patient.  Today I sent a tweet to the Mayor (@mayorvincegray) asking if he could help and at least get some information about when they plan to fix the drainage issue.  I just got his response: DPR tells me that work to repair should start Monday and take a couple of weeks. I understand impatience in this heat!

So there you have it – I wish I had better news to report!  In the mean time, check out the other DC sprinkler parks – I posted a list just the other day.  And, don’t forget about the Wilson Aquatic Center.  It’s a great way to beat the summer heat.

Still not open - and it sounds like it will be awhile.

FYI – There will be a community meeting with DPR regarding Livingston Street Park on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 6:30 PM. During this meeting DPR will review the additions to the park, areas that need attention, and the timeline for repairs or remaining installations (spray park, sand box, benches, etc.).

Who: DPR Staff, Director Aguirre, CM Mary Cheh and Community
When: Tuesday, July 26, 2011
6:30 PM
Where: Chevy Chase Community Center Multi-Purpose Room
5601 Connecticut Avenue, NW

///UPDATE Check this post for summer hours for the DC spray parks and info on Turtle Park and Livingston Playground///

This week Cameron, Violet, and I, went to check out the sprinklers at Friendship Park (Turtle Park).  He had a blast, so I wanted to find out where we could find more “Spraygrounds.”  I contacted the DC Department of Parks and Recreation on twitter (@DCDPR) and they pointed me to a list of all the Sprinkler parks in the District. Here’s the list:

Cam cools off in the Turtle Park sprinklers

14th and Girard Street Spray Park - 14th and Girard Street, NW
14th and Park Road Spray Park - 14th Street and Park Road, NW
Benning Stoddert Spray Park - 100 Stoddert Place, SE
Columbia Heights Spray Park -  1480 Girard Street, NW
Friendship Spray Park - 4500 Van Ness St., NW
Lafayette Spray Park - 5900 33rd Street, NW
Palisades Spray Park - 5200 Sherrier Place, NW
Petworth Spray Park - 801 Taylor Street, NW
Riggs LaSalle Spray Park - 501 Riggs Road, NE

UPDATE – As of Today, 8/2/11 the sprinkler park at Chevy Chase Playground is OPEN.  For more info: http://mommyftw.com/the-sprinklers-are-on-at-chevy-chase-livingston-playground/

For more information on hours of operation and contact phone numbers for the sprinkler parks, check out the Washington DC Department of Parks and Recreation website.

By the way, if your toddler is a little water shy, check out an earlier post I wrote about helping your toddler warm up to going in the sprinklers.

UPDATE – Yesterday we went to check out the Palisades Spray Park and the water was NOT on. I talked to some people at the park and they said it is usually NOT on – so if you are looking for some sprinkler fun, I wouldn’t bother heading over there!  Check out Friendship Park instead.

///UPDATE Check this post for summer hours for the DC spray parks and info on Turtle Park and Livingston Playground///

I was pretty bummed last fall when I learned that Chevy Chase Playground (Livingston Playground) was closed for renovation.  But, now that the playground has re opened and everything is brand new (and totally awesome!) I’ve decided it was worth the wait!

One of the big draws of the new space is the water feature (sprayground / sprinklers), but unfortunately, we will all have to wait a little longer for this to open – there seems to be a drainage issue that is still being worked on.  But from what I saw of the water area it looks pretty great.  All the kids were staring at it longingly!  The DPR employee I talked to said he thought it would be ready to go in about a week.  UPDATE – as of 8/2/11 the sprinkler park is open!!

But, let’s cover what is there – There are 4 play structures of various sizes which are perfect for the toddler set. Cameron, at 2.5 could navigate pretty much all of them on his own.  Certainly some of them are made for the littler kids (but he had just as much fun on these).  I tried to include lots of pictures so you could get a feel for the place.

I think his favorite thing was the climbing wall / mountain which after a few attempts he was able to do on his own.  The whole playground surface is covered in soft rubber, which makes for easy falls.  There’s plenty of space to run in between each play area, and lots of trees around (to be fair it was a cloudy day so it was hard for me to really evaluate the amount of shade).  There are a few benches for sitting, although more would be nice.  I didn’t see many trash cans, though there are some.  There are 2 toddler swings and 2 big kid swings.  The toddler swings were in high demand.  There is also another separate playground area for bigger kids which I didn’t check out yet.

If you’re near by, its definitely worth a trip!  There’s plenty of street parking, and once those sprinklers are fully operational I think this will be a favorite summer spot for us (and lots of others too!)

Chevy Chase Playground (often called Livingston Playground because of its location) is located at 4101 Livingston Street Northwest, Washington D.C. It is within walking distance from the Friendship Heights Metro Station (on the Red Line) and, as I said, there is also plenty of street parking.

Lots of moms in the DC area have mentioned to me that I really need to check out Clemyjontri park.  Every time someone said it, I had no idea how to spell it so I didn’t look it up online.  I also knew that it was in Virginia (I wasn’t sure where) so I assumed it was a trek from my house.  I’m so happy that earlier this week a friend from out of town sent me a message on facebook saying she wanted to meet there with the kids.  Now I had the spelling – and a reason to go!  As it turned out Clemyjontri is just over the river in McLean VA – which happens to be only about 15 minutes from my house.  Cameron, Violet, and I headed over and had an amazing time!  I took some pictures, but they really don’t do it justice.  You might also want to check out a google image search for Clemyjontri Park to see more pictures and get a better feel for it.

Clemyjontri park was given by the Lebowitz family and named after their four children: Carolyn (CL), Emily (EMY), John (Jon), and Petrina (Tri).  Clemyjontri playground is designed to be a place where children who use wheelchairs, walkers or braces, can have a parallel playground experience of fun and exploration – because of this, there are lots of ramps everywhere which makes it really easy for kids to play (and moms like me to follow with their strollers!)  Aside from this great accesability, what really makes the park is it’s size.  It is HUGE.  The best way to describe it is basically as an amusement park for toddlers.  I have never seen a playground so large.  There are lots of little sub sections with themes – vehicles, trains, music, a maze, the list goes on. It even has a carousel in the middle ($1.75 a ride).  The only things I was wishing for were sprinklers and more shade (it was hot out!!) but really, given the totaly awesomeness of the park, I can’t really complain.  FYI – there’s plenty of parking, and bathrooms for potty breaks.

Clemyjontri park is located at 6317 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101.  For more information on the play structures of the park, and the donors, check out the Fairfax County Park Authority website.