By Erica Barker
Now that spring has arrived, it’s time to get outside and play! In addition to Chessie’s Big Backyard at Lee District Park featured in last month’s issue, one of my favorite local playgrounds is at Potomac Yard Park, which offers two inclusive playgrounds for different ages, separated by a splash park.
If you haven’t gone to the splash park area, it’ll be the perfect spot when the weather heats up again. Fountains turn on Memorial Day weekend and there are plenty of picnic tables for relaxation or to have a low-key party.
We stick to the toddler side, which has a layout similar to the older kids’ side but a lower profile with slides and steps closer to the ground. You’ll also find swing sets, balance beams, drums, and those dizzy-ing spinning chairs.
One really fun feature is a maze with tons of interactive panels to encourage motor and sensory development. The maze is perfect for crawlers to new walkers (and even runners!). We take our son there often to practice on stairs that have smalls steps with railings. The playground’s big and never feels crowded. There’s lots of room for kids to wobble, toddle, and run without bouncing off each other.
Here are my top picks for your upcoming weekends:
April 6: Join the LEGO Club at the James M. Duncan Jr. Branch library in Del Ray from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. or head to story time from 11:00 to 11:40 a.m. at the Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library for stories, music, and dancing.
April 13: Head down to Old Town from 10:00 to 5:00 p.m. for an Easter Egg Hunt in the Old Town Boutique District. Sneak in some power shopping while your little ones try to find the giant egg hidden in participating boutiques.
