Newark Park Playground is a Kid-Friendly Haven in Northwest Washington, D.C.

The playground at Newark and 39th Streets, NW, is a fun, family favorite for a number of reasons. It is fully enclosed with a fence and has mature trees that provide nice shade in the summer.  There is plenty of street parking around the playground and it has equipment that entertains both my eight-year-old and my four-year-old because it is appropriate for kids of all ages.

At the top end of the playground, there is a merry-go-round, a see-saw, and a swing set. There is only one baby swing, but there are two swings for the bigger kids, as well as a swing for children that have a disability.  In addition, there are two slides that are built into a mound in the middle of the playground, making them perfect for the littlest sliders.

At the lower end of the playground, there is a larger climbing structure with lots of interesting ways to climb up and multiple slides. It includes monkey bars that aren’t too high off the ground, making them fun for children who are still gaining confidence.  For the toddler set, there are some interesting interactive features with things to turn that make sounds and display colorful gears. There’s a xylophone, too, but it was installed upside-down, which is marginally annoying (you have to swing the hammer UP in order to strike the key and make a noise). If you want to sit down for your snack, the playground has picnic tables.

If the family dog needs some exercise, there is also an enclosed dog park next to the playground.

Hungry? Stop here for some food!

One of the perks of this playground’s location is that it is also walking distance from a delicious margarita.  Or dinner, if that’s more appropriate. There are two great family-friendly restaurants nearby – 2 Amy’s (for pizza) and Cactus Cantina (for Mexican) - making it easy for an afternoon of play followed by an early dinner.  If you’d rather grab a sandwich, Jettie’s has a location on Macomb Street. For a treat or coffee, head to Open City at the National Cathedral and enjoy it in the beautiful Bishops Garden!

Know before you go

While this is definitely one of our favorites, there are a few things about Newark Park playground that we don’t love.  There are water fountains, but no bathroom facilities. The nearest bathroom is at the Giant grocery store at Cathedral Commons (as an FYI, there are two Starbucks on Wisconsin Avenue, one of them located inside the Giant).  In addition, this playground has a lot of mosquitos in the summer months, so bring your bug spray. Finally, if you have an infant in the crawling stage or any small child that likes to put things in his or her mouth, avoid this park in the early fall when the acorns are falling because the playground is carpeted in acorns and you will spend the entire time scooping acorns out of your child’s mouth.  While these are good things to know in advance, this is still an excellent playground! 

Looking for More Activities? 

Visit the Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library! It's a quick drive from the playground and caters to families.