Beat the Heat at Potomac Yard Park and Sprayground

By: Piper S.

My daughter and I spent the most recent scorcher of a 95 degree day at Potomac Yard Park and Sprayground, a welcome relief while neighborhood pools are not yet open during weekdays. The park was busy but not crowded, with no more than 25 children enjoying the sprayground at the busiest time. There are 2 separate, very large and completely fenced in playgrounds, one for ages 5-12, and one for the under-5 crowd. Each playground offers unique and highly interactive equipment, like musical components, a maze, climbing walls and hammocks, in addition to the typical swings, slides, and monkey bars. By noon the playground equipment was extremely hot, and the cool water was so refreshing I didn’t mind my little one filling her bucket and drenching me! We found a corner of shade to share a picnic lunch while watching the planes and trains pass by.

A few important things to note: There are no bathrooms at the park, so plan to do a quick bathroom break at the nearby Target or Dunkin Donuts. There is also very little shade, though benches and picnic tables are plentiful. Do not forget the sunscreen, hats and water bottles.

Location: Easily accessible with plentiful street parking. Located at 2501 Potomac Avenue in Alexandria, VA. Please note **THERE IS NO BATHROOM AT THE PARK** but there is a large shopping center with a Target, IHOP, Dunkin Donuts and numerous other shops, restaurants and a movie theater all less than a 5 minute drive from the park. The sprayground operates from 10am-9pm daily. Consider combining a trip across the bridge with a shopping trip to Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, or the Old Town farmers’ market.

Cost: Parking is free, as are the park and sprayground.

Will we go back: Most definitely! Unlike other spraygrounds in the area that can be overcrowded and reach capacity, the openness of Potomac Yard Park and the variety of playground and sprayground structures keep my little one busy for hours! Plus she enjoys ending the day with an ice cream cone at the nearby Baskin Robbins afterwards 🙂 I advise visiting early morning or late afternoon, as the playground equipment can get uncomfortably hot for the children and the lack of shade can really drain them.

Connect with Potomac Yard Park and the City of Alexandria