Local Guides World
Top Recreation centers in Washington, United States
Top Rated Recreation centers in Washington
Fort Stevens Senior Center
Marie H Reed Recreation Center
Takoma Recreation Center
Washington Tennis & Education Foundation
Edgewood Recreation Center
Rose Park Recreation Center
Friendship Recreation Center
Marvin Gaye Recreation Center
Ridge Road Community Center
Columbia Heights Community Center
Turkey Thicket Recreation Center
Takoma Community Center
Top Reviewed Recreation centers in Washington
Turkey Thicket Recreation Center
Takoma Community Center
Kennedy Recreation Center
Ridge Road Community Center
Edgewood Recreation Center
Anacostia Recreation Center
Sherwood Recreation Center
Hillcrest Recreation Center
Benning Stoddert Recreation Center
Harry Thomas Recreation Center
Fort Davis Recreation Center
Randall Recreation Center
Rose Park Recreation Center
Anacostia Recreation Center
Banneker Recreation Center
Chevy Chase Recreation Center
Marvin Gaye Recreation Center
Columbia Heights Community Center
Taft Recreation Center
Randall Recreation Center
Turkey Thicket Basketball Court
Ridge Road Community Center
Hillcrest Recreation Center
Upshur Recreation Center
Reviews
Good facility. It needs some maintenance, but in general it is a great place for kids and the spray park is fun and clean. I go here with my girls for ballet class. The classes are great.
Really nice big public pool. Free for DC residents; $7 for guests. 4 lap lanes, 2 shallower ends, deep center, and separate fenced-in kiddie pool.
Subbing aqua fitness classes there. Had a ball!
I loved this place. It was clean and well maintained. We went for a pool party. We were able to grill and set up a small moon bounce and tent.
The playground is very nice and clean. We played there until it got hot, then went swimming to cool off. It turned out to be a very nice place to go. They even had an ice cream truck parked at the curb if you wanted a treat.
There is very limited parking, as is typical in DC, but definitely worth visiting with the kids.
They also have basketball courts and football fields.
The playground is very nice and clean. We played there until it got hot, then went swimming to cool off. It turned out to be a very nice place to go. They even had an ice cream truck parked at the curb if you wanted a treat.
There is very limited parking, as is typical in DC, but definitely worth visiting with the kids.
They also have basketball courts and football fields.
Playground, pool, and small recreation center that serve younger children.
Nice gym but the A/C was not on😓
It's nice that the park has climbing and slide structures for small, medium and large kids. What is so horrible and why I continue to have a bad time at this park is that it has become a graveyard for large toys which distracts kids from what the park has to offer. Parents bring their old large toy cars, pushing/walking toys and much more to the park and just leave them. Most of the time they are broken and they just sit there getting rained on (see also: mosquitos). Parents think they are doing something nice by "donating" their toy to the park but I find it to not benefit the kids and believe the park would be better off without these junk toys
Awesome for the kids and sporting events and activities. Room and space for picnic BBQ cookout dod and pet friendly great space to cut up with the little ones for a bit
The river water has been cleaned & the river is open to small water boats ,if you into boating.
The rules you can’t go by the pool,she yells at the kids never go to day summer camp
Outstanding! Huge beautiful pool w tons of chairs and covered seating! $7 for out of town guests. Perfect!
This is full length swimming pool!
My family loves this park. We have been bringing our family here for about seven years. This is a beautiful park and as the nautical theme is very charming. It also has a pool and I used to take fitness classes at the rec. The classes included Zumba, Soka Tribe (a Caribbean dance class) and fitness boot camps before the pandemic. They now have a beautiful museum next door call the Rubell.
Great COVID testing site. Easy parking. No line! Good spacing between people. Way to go DC with the great testing sites!
Beautiful. Close to station. I'm reallu looking forward to visiting during the summer. Da basketball courts are always active and full of energy!!!!
First off, the two gentlemen at the front desk are really great guys. This review is based on the fitness center and the system to register online.
First, you need to upload your ID to join but even trying various ways and getting phone support which was truly horrible by the way, I did not get the option to upload the ID. Truly horrible customer service person on the phone eventually emailed me a link that I was able to use. Now the fitness center is a small room without much equipment at 4 p.m. on a Friday. So there really wasn't much I could do as far as working out because everything was taken. It is free though so if you're in a situation where you really can't pay, this may be better than nothing but I don't think it's worth a 30 minute walk for me each way. Also, the lockers are on the third floor where the fitness room is on the main floor.... So people just put their jackets on the floor the fitness room. Can't bring your book bag inside because people use bookbags to steal the hand weights. I didn't even ask where people change.
The guy in the front knows the state of the gym because when I was leaving he asked if I was going to come back. Lol.
I'll give it two Stars instead of one because the staff is nice, it's free, and what do I expect from a community center? Lol.
First, you need to upload your ID to join but even trying various ways and getting phone support which was truly horrible by the way, I did not get the option to upload the ID. Truly horrible customer service person on the phone eventually emailed me a link that I was able to use. Now the fitness center is a small room without much equipment at 4 p.m. on a Friday. So there really wasn't much I could do as far as working out because everything was taken. It is free though so if you're in a situation where you really can't pay, this may be better than nothing but I don't think it's worth a 30 minute walk for me each way. Also, the lockers are on the third floor where the fitness room is on the main floor.... So people just put their jackets on the floor the fitness room. Can't bring your book bag inside because people use bookbags to steal the hand weights. I didn't even ask where people change.
The guy in the front knows the state of the gym because when I was leaving he asked if I was going to come back. Lol.
I'll give it two Stars instead of one because the staff is nice, it's free, and what do I expect from a community center? Lol.
I go for my son's boxing class. They have a cool workout area for boxing, with 4 treadmills, a couple of practice rings and other equipment. The basketball gym is usually not occupied. The is a small dance studio and game room also, but all those things are usually closed when we get there.
Ridge Road Community Center Outdoor Amenities Includes a Football Field, Baseball Field, Playground, Basketball Court and a Outdoor Swimming Pool. The ground and small parking lot was clean.
The backpack give away was awsome...DC police were kind and welcoming!
Adorable recreation area for children with multiple play structures, benches, picnic areas, and a splash pad. Several toys and items left by the locals and most children are monitored by parents. Restrooms on site but don't always have toilet paper. Busy on the weekends and hot days, but otherwise manageable.
Tough because this is my home and I love it!!! However the Anacostia Pool is posted as a 6pm closing time however they close at 5:45pm. All I needed was 10 minutes!!! Again I love this place and space, this spot was my 1st summer job at 16, just hurt.
Less than 1! Currently enrolled in the 3rd summer camp session. Age range too broad for rec admin to properly care for campers. See a little girl being unclothed at the pool by a male staffer. Planning to file a formal complaint.
Great place for family gatherings and kid friendly environment. Staff is always pleasant and welcoming to everyone. Excellent customer service and facility and staff are always available to assist you in any way. Always available parking. Very pleasant atmosphere.
Perfect for children under 7 years old. But the Bathroom Oh My God needs an urgent renovation please this is Chavy Chase.
I am posting this mid 2022- they just renovated the place and place looks so much better and fun...nice breeze comes from trees and u feel cool in some parts even in the afternoon so that's a plus...also 2 playgrounds one for toddlers and big kids.
Played a football game there and it was a well taken care of facility. The only thing about the field is that it doubles as a baseball field so the seating is a bit quirky if it isn't a baseball game you're attending.
Great field but could be better. There is no water or restrooms nearby. Also, the parking is very limited. It is hard to find a good spot after 7 pm even when you have a game schedule
New rims and baskets. All types of programming for the kiddies. A track for walking or running. A playground for the kids, and a workout area for adults outside. Turkey thicket is a nice place to exercise or relax, and recreation center has a pool, a workout room, and various game rooms in addition to a basketball court / volleyball court.
Bathrooms are dirty. Space is good The toddlers have a separate really run space. Dog park. Tennis court. Baseball diamond. Picnic tables and benches. Overall it's a good spot.
My kids love their parks.
I just hate how you have to search for a grill. Or wait till someone is finished grilling.
Probably best to bring your own grill during memorial and 4th of July.
I just hate how you have to search for a grill. Or wait till someone is finished grilling.
Probably best to bring your own grill during memorial and 4th of July.
This has been a kid friendly, neighborhood park for well over a decade, now. The splash features are kids' favorites. Thankfully they've finally fenced off the ball field to prevent dog owners from letting their pets poop where kids play. That upgrade was a long time coming.
This is a very nice playground and recreation area - but one that is known to many. There is a baseball field here, done small kids toys and equipment, some basketball courts and a smaller area for intermediate kids (say 11 and under). There seems to be an office there as well as some restrooms that are icky...
There was a homeless gent there, but I haven't seen him in av while - wish him good luck.
Plenty to do here and recommend for daytime fun.
There was a homeless gent there, but I haven't seen him in av while - wish him good luck.
Plenty to do here and recommend for daytime fun.
There are tennis courts, a basketball court, playgrounds and plenty of trees for shade. There was a local group playing by the grassy area last time I was there. Tennis courts tend to get very busy on the weekends, so make sure to write down your name on the board. People tend to play longer than an hour which can get annoying. It’s relatively easy to find parking.
The Marvin Gaye Recreation Trail (4.1 miles rountrip)
I did it alone but other women may feel nervous about this trail. If you’re nervous about urban settings then I wouldn’t recommend this trail. If you feel comfortable in a city or urban setting (like me) then this is a short and sweet 4 mile ride.
There’s a mix of flat/paved trail, sidewalks, and crossing a few streets. I enjoyed stopping at the signs to learn more about Black history. I also loved that there were a few community vegetable gardens along the way. The trail was low-key empty except for a few people walking their dog. The dog walkers were very friendly and courteous. All of the dogs were on leashes and the owners moved to the sides allow my bike to pass. I followed this path using the AllTrails map but it was a bit inaccurate towards the end. It leads you to a pair of stairs. I walked my bike down the stairs to continue the path to the end but ended up improvising and taking a slightly different route to get back. The trail has about 3 or 4 small playgrounds along the way. It also has a little splash pad for small kids. There’s not much “scenery” per se on this trail but I appreciate it being in an urban neighborhood which adds fitness, greenery, and Black history to the area. The recreation center was fire. It looks brand new though I didn’t go inside. The main park at Marvin Gaye Recreation Center is really nice too. The park is filled with music notes and the ground of the picnic shelter is painted like a piano. Definitely nice for this area. There was also an INTENSE basketball game next to the main playground. Idk if they were auditioning for the the NBA or what lol but it was packed. Too packed for me during COVID so I took a pic from a distance and left lol.
Overall, it’s nice to have this in the area. It’s so easy for beginners/newbies. The beginning is mainly flat and slightly downhill. Returning was mainly flat and slightly uphill. It didn’t require me to take any breaks as a beginner though I stopped for a few pics and a sip of water. This trail also has city bike rentals for those who don’t own a bike
I did it alone but other women may feel nervous about this trail. If you’re nervous about urban settings then I wouldn’t recommend this trail. If you feel comfortable in a city or urban setting (like me) then this is a short and sweet 4 mile ride.
There’s a mix of flat/paved trail, sidewalks, and crossing a few streets. I enjoyed stopping at the signs to learn more about Black history. I also loved that there were a few community vegetable gardens along the way. The trail was low-key empty except for a few people walking their dog. The dog walkers were very friendly and courteous. All of the dogs were on leashes and the owners moved to the sides allow my bike to pass. I followed this path using the AllTrails map but it was a bit inaccurate towards the end. It leads you to a pair of stairs. I walked my bike down the stairs to continue the path to the end but ended up improvising and taking a slightly different route to get back. The trail has about 3 or 4 small playgrounds along the way. It also has a little splash pad for small kids. There’s not much “scenery” per se on this trail but I appreciate it being in an urban neighborhood which adds fitness, greenery, and Black history to the area. The recreation center was fire. It looks brand new though I didn’t go inside. The main park at Marvin Gaye Recreation Center is really nice too. The park is filled with music notes and the ground of the picnic shelter is painted like a piano. Definitely nice for this area. There was also an INTENSE basketball game next to the main playground. Idk if they were auditioning for the the NBA or what lol but it was packed. Too packed for me during COVID so I took a pic from a distance and left lol.
Overall, it’s nice to have this in the area. It’s so easy for beginners/newbies. The beginning is mainly flat and slightly downhill. Returning was mainly flat and slightly uphill. It didn’t require me to take any breaks as a beginner though I stopped for a few pics and a sip of water. This trail also has city bike rentals for those who don’t own a bike
Decent kids playground basketball courts and fields for all ages .. love the splash park the most .. this park def needs a renovation as the bathroom and building seems like it has not been touched in 30 years ..
My kids love it at splash park nice n beautiful playground . they need set up the charging station outside. So we Don't have to go in the rec center to recharching our phones while my kids are outside ...
Great place to hike near the Anacostia watershed
I haven't been in this park in over 20 years. I was truly impressed with how clean it is and the many park police that were roaming the grounds. This is truly an historical park for African Americans that were raised in SE, DC. Large clean grassy areas, pool, playground facilities and plenty parking. A great place to host any event. Hats off to the city....WELL DONE WITH THE UPKEEP!!!
I really enjoyed myself it's the first time I visited that park. I love the way the park is set up no matter where you are you can see your children. I plan to give a birthday party there this July.
Good Farmers Market on Wednesdays. Mostly prepared foods, with two fish vendors, and one produce vendor. Plus one scratch vendor. A lot of bakeries including Mediterranean. One stand with prepared Mediterranean food.
Anacostia Pool & Recreation Center is located at Anacostia Park. Amenities Include a outdoor Pool, Playground, Tennis Courts, Soccer/Football Fields, Baseball Fields, Basketball Court, Picnic Tables, Walking Trail Along the River and Plenty of Open Space, Parking and Bike Rentals at the Park.
The employees constantly sanitize the indoor equipment and interact with the children. Parents should bring their own wipes and disinfectant spray for the outdoor playground equipment. Each employee has been very friendly and amenable.
rec center needs total make over. The tennis court is the busiest in the city but in a terrible condition. if it rains it’s just water paddle everywhere. The fence is falling off the light for evening is dim. DCPR if you are listening please do something.
The facility is great, but we have had multiple bad encounters with the staff. They will commonly gratuitously order you to do things in the pool that are not on the rule board. Power tripping.
After construction of a new pool ,football turf and basketball courts....this place is absolutely 💯 amazing, know as a true jewel in the City ! Also check out the new recreation center aswell .
Nice playground and easy to park at considering its in Georgetown. It gets a bit crowded though which is concerning during the current pandemic.
Great COVID testing site. Easy parking. No line! Good spacing between people. Way to go DC with the great testing sites!
Cute little playground nestled between tall buildings and the highway. The pool is closed, but the tennis and basketball courts were quite busy. There is also a small soccer field. Picnic tables and benches are shady, but the playground itself offers little shade. Bathrooms closed.
The center was okay, despite a very bad computer lab. The computers were very slow and only a few would be working decent at one time. Accessing them was a pain also.
Outstanding, it was so nice to see people of all national origins having a peaceful and enjoyable experience.
Cute, small playground. There are also basketball and tennis courts, a baseball field and a walking path. Plenty of benches. The rec center has a bathroom. Street parking only.
Woodridge Warrior a lot of youngsters with good Character!
Me and my friends go down every Sunday to play basketball. I love this park. Peaceful, the pool helps for a good breeze, and its relatively clean for the most part.
Lifetime Family playground 5 generations of playing on dat playground
I have come here a lot because my kid loves the splash park, natural shade from trees and usually it pretty empty early in the morning before noon in the summer.
My children love this playground...they ask to go all the time. It is a nautical theme which is really cute. I remember when it was a mcdonalds where that big bldg is in the background...i wish it was still there. It feels like someone is watching u over your shoulder...it's hard to explain and weird. Anyway, we will still visit sometimes. It's never dirty or crowded...just a cute playground just right for little kids!
I love to workout there. The staff are always personable; Smiling and laughing; Having fun with the community, always. It is just that the ewuipment is outdated. That is the only thing I would change. Update the equipment, guys!
Beautiful grounds. You get to meet nice people. I also have a garden plot at the community garden that is on the grounds of Hillcrest Recreation Center. Peaceful and quiet except the music of children playing.
We watch little league there. Nice baseball field. Good viewing area. Parking can be a hassle but usually find a spot. If you are going to baseball field ignore Google map last half mile.
Wonderful playground area for small children! The experience would be that much better if parks and recreation ever cut the grass at this park!
Tennis courts are not great but usuable when it's not raining. Great fields for soccer, football and baseball. Nice courts for basketball. Great pool and playground area. The center itself needs to be renovated.
Hillcrest Recreation Center has one of the best playgrounds East of the River. It's open on weekends and has several large play areas for kids. They also have an area with picnic tables for adults to grill and enjoy family time. The playgrounds themselves are divided between smaller kids and older kids. If you have kids in the area, go here when the weather is nice. They also have a splash park in the summer!
Great place to take the family. There's an indoor pool, a huge playground area for kids, tennis court, basketball court inside and out, and a large field the kids can play on. Plus there's a track around the field that you can walk or jog on.
REC DAY is the best that happens at Randall Park each Fall. Great job #DPR #FitDC #WeAreWashington #Seriously
The track is smoothly paved. The basketball court has rims that are still attached. Indoor swimming pool, fitness center, basketball court, and more. I'm easy to please so 5 stars. Why not?
Fun water features during the summer. My 3 year old loves it so I don't mind its issues.
The park used to be gorgeous but is not very well maintained. Better maintained than most parks this side of the river, though (has all it's swings intact). Feels safe due to the layout and sight lines to both ends of the block, but also makes it a good spot for dealers.
The park used to be gorgeous but is not very well maintained. Better maintained than most parks this side of the river, though (has all it's swings intact). Feels safe due to the layout and sight lines to both ends of the block, but also makes it a good spot for dealers.
They need to update the basketball court. They need to include a shaded area for the ballers. Good bump though. I plan on going back when my body heals. Also it's just a nice area. Everyone is cool. There's arguing on the bball court but that's a "formality".
Outside of this place is awesome. Sort of like a get away. Beautiful splash park, nice colored themed area. Nice picnic area with grills. Huge play ground with spots/equipment to do some exercise. Wrap around track. Very decent spot.
Great little park with lots of kids. Somewhat overzealous rules, such as kids not allowed toys and flotation devices not provided by the pool. Great place for community, though.
Great park for summer! Children’s park for all ages, basketball courts, toilet was pretty clean & the water fountains are fabulous! Lots of shade to sit in. Definitely busy on the weekends, but worth the drive!
My school is across from it. We go to this park for Recess and just to chill.
The splash park area and new basketball court is nice, but too many thugs in the area. Drug deal are common here. Not a place to bring kids. I wish local police would patrol like they used to.
I play pick up basketball here fairly regularly, and would say I have a good time doing it. It's mostly neighborhood kids and some adults that play more on the weekends. There's also tennis center with at least two courts, a large space for baseball/soccer, and the rec center itself.
Highly recommend if you want to get some exercise in! There's decent street parking nearby that's paid parking but its free on Sunday!
Highly recommend if you want to get some exercise in! There's decent street parking nearby that's paid parking but its free on Sunday!
A unique playground inspired by the musical genius, Marvin Gaye, this location boasts creative design equipment shaped like different instruments. Many of them really play music. Next door there is an amazing indoor recreation center that offers a safe place for the youth and seniors of the community.
It's a nice park with good slides abs swingers for toddlers and young kids. They have a variety of play things. My last visit it needed a good sweeping, its never been like this before. I'm guessing it may have been windy
I love this park! Not only very convenient for the neighborhood but also very practical! It has a basketball field, 3 tennis courts and two practice walls! I love to spend some times here and practice my strokes when I get a chance! I definitely recommend this tennis courts if you looking for nice ones in the NW area!
Fun place for kids and baseball
This is a wonderful facility with a welcoming vibe. The dance room has a beautiful floor and mirrors for practice. The accoustics for our music were much better than I've seen at other similar venues.
Super friendly customer service, the main staff at the front desk all know me by name and I appreciate that. The children's programs, especially the early childhood programs, seem strong and well established. I've only ever come here to use the weights, and I've become significantly stronger and bigger, given the limited tools to work with. It is a less known gym in DC, so it is usually very easy to get in and out while achieving a full workout- within 45 minutes. They really need to clean the weight room and locker rooms more thoroughly, though. I would volunteer to deep clean it myself if they'd let me. I dropped chalk in the locker room once and the residue was there for the rest of the week, the rollers are used out of order, the majority of the lockers' fixtures are busted and/or the lockers stink and have old gym clothes in them - it's not cool, our tax dollars pay for the wages paid here, and more stern/attentive management could go a long way. I've also inquired about donating money to improve the weight room facilities via email but was never replied to. Overall, I like the neighborhood vibe, the friendliness of the staff, and the ease of accessibility to the facilities.
Large park with plenty of facilities, including pool and numerous tennis courts. Can get a bit crowded and doesn't have the newest and best maintained equipment, but is still a great spot, especially with the usual high demand for tennis courts elsewhere in the neighborhood.
There's a nice track and baseball field here. If you come to this track don't bring anything you don't want to run with. There are homeless people in this area and they are known to steal your stuff while you're working out. Other than that it's safe. At night it's lit up (most of the time). If you go at night or once it's dark, I suggest to go with a buddy. If you don't have a buddy you'll be okay. I've never been hurt or had anything stolen. I've heard stories of people getting their stuff taken and they ended up chasing down the homeless guy lol.
Great park and playground with basket, tennis, seesaw, monkey bars, swings, baseball field l, toilets. It's well kept and family friendly, but much to my son's dismay, the basketball court is often busy with adults playing so he doesn't get a go at the hoops.
This is our favorite local park. Love the theme and extra features! And the mature trees surrounding it are great. Ample areas for kids to play with good fencing so that they can't escape.
Also, the pool is wonderful in the hot summer months. I DO NOT LIKE THE FACT that they make folks exit the pool every hour and sit on the sides for 15 minutes so the staff can take breaks; this does not happen in other DC pools! They should work on getting enough lifeguards so that the kids and families can have uninterrupted playtime.
I have worked out in the gym several times and found it very inviting and clean. I enjoyed my work out. The staff is variable, I found the staff that works with the Senior Citizens to be the most friendly.
Also, the pool is wonderful in the hot summer months. I DO NOT LIKE THE FACT that they make folks exit the pool every hour and sit on the sides for 15 minutes so the staff can take breaks; this does not happen in other DC pools! They should work on getting enough lifeguards so that the kids and families can have uninterrupted playtime.
I have worked out in the gym several times and found it very inviting and clean. I enjoyed my work out. The staff is variable, I found the staff that works with the Senior Citizens to be the most friendly.
The courts (tennis) have been resurfaced and they're all kinds of awesome...
It's clean and safe, but the bathrooms could stay open later. They also book some sports on top of each other in the Baseball Field.
Really pretty legit. Decent weight room, basketball court, computer lab, fitness classes. Free for DC residents. I go there regularly and am glad this exists in my community.
Think about this: private businesses (Washington Sports Clubs), nonprofits (YMCA), and government (parks and recreation) all provide gyms. I am a millennial minimalist, a pro government democrat, and community diversity loving socialist; so I will go with the CoHi community center every time. Basketball open gym Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday's: free! Weight room: small fee. Community: priceless.
Great neighborhood. lots of kids to mingle with. Great basketball courts outside. The locals love being outside.
My kids have practice and some of their events here occasionally. It's a decent field and recreation center. The grounds are well lit at night. Easily accessible by car and bus. The only issue is that the locals usually come and hang out there. They curse and smoke and act up, not all the time but more times than not. Wouldn't be a problem if there weren't children around. Other than that it's OK.
They do not have any contingency plans for communicating when they have groups using their center for after hours events. They could have a messaging system that would include bus routes, events for the week or month, and contact numbers in case of emergency or weather conditions, street closures, etc that will affect attendees. But, they only answer their phones during working hours, and have no such options. Please talk to the Friends of Rose Park to get some action on this important line of communication.