FAMILY FUN
accessible playgrounds
for kids of
all abilities
Inclusive Fun in the
DMV BY JAMIE DAVIS SMITH
8 Washington’s FAMILY JULY 2021



Every child deserves a place to play, and the D.C. area is home to a number of playgrounds specially designed for
children with physical, developmental or sensory disabilities. Accessible playgrounds provide a way for kids with
disabilities to play alongside their typically developing peers, although you don’t need to have a disability to enjoy
them. In fact, many young children prefer accessible playgrounds because they have so many unique features. Here
are six of the best playgrounds for inclusive fun across the DMV.

CLEMYJONTRI PARK
CHESSIE’S BIG BACKYARD
ROSEDALE PLAYGROUND
OUR SPECIAL HARBOR
HADLEY’S PARK
BLANDAIR PARK
6317 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101
Fairfax’s Clemyjontri
Park is the biggest
— and arguably the
best — playground in
the D.C. area for kids
of all abilities. Every
part of this colorful
playground was
designed with inclusion in mind, from Virginia’s first Liberty Swing
that accommodates wheelchairs to play structures that have ramps
instead of stairs. The two-acre park even includes an accessible
carousel and a trackless train. Enjoy a snack or lunch in the picnic
pavilion, or reserve it for a special occasion.

NATTRASS / E+
1701 Gales St., NE
Washington, DC 20002
Many of D.C.’s
playgrounds have
great themes, such as
trains and math, and
its only fully inclusive
playground is no
exception. Rosedale’s
National Mall theme
includes mini versions of the White House, the Lincoln Memorial,
the Natural History Museum and other landmarks. Among the
specialized equipment are double-wide ramps, a high-backed spinner,
a wheelchair-accessible glider and lots of sensory elements.

12600 Falls Road
Potomac, MD 20854
When it was built more
than 20 years ago,
Hadley’s Park, named
after a local girl with
cerebral palsy, was
the first accessible
playground in Maryland
and one of the first
of its kind in the United States. There are three themed play areas
— a pirate ship, frontier village and castle — each with ramps and
different games and challenges. Brightly colored signs also include
braille for visually-impaired children.

6601 Telegraph Road
Alexandria, VA 22310
Located in the Lee
District Family
Recreation Area,
Chessie’s is a nature-
themed accessible
playground with a
padded rubber floor
surface and wheelchair-
friendly ramps. There’s also a 2,160-foot flat trail with sensory
features designed for kids of all abilities and an accessible tree house
to explore the treetop canopy. Little kids can climb on a pint-size
playground nearby, and don’t forget to take a spin on the Chesapeake
Bay-themed carousel, set flush to the ground for easy access.

6601 Telegraph Road
Alexandria, VA 22310
Near Chessie’s Big
Backyard in the
Lee District Family
Recreation Area is
Our Special Harbor,
the area’s only fully
accessible spray
park. Kids of all abilities can cool down while playing with giant
water-dumping bucks and water cannons, among other Chesapeake
Bay-themed activities. Younger children and those who don’t like to get
soaked by surprise can head to the sand-free “beach” to play with water
tables and fountains that gently spray water.

5750 Oakland Mills Road
Columbia, MD 21045
Opened in May, this new
“play-for-all” playground
in Howard County has
six unique areas enclosed
with fencing. Among the
specialized equipment
are a wheelchair-accessible rocking boat and merry-go-round, plus non-
verbal communication boards to help kids express their feelings. For little
ones who may be overwhelmed by all the activity, there are quiet spaces
and smaller activities near the trees on the periphery of the playground.

The expansive park also includes a section of backyard games, such as
bocce courts, horseshoe pits and croquet courts. n
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