Maplewood-Alta Vista Park
The Equipment
All new equipment was installed in 2011, including an ages 5 to 12 large turreted piece with four slides and lots of fun climbing entries. It can be tough to keep an eye (or hands) on little ones on the higher areas. The playground has two climbing walls and a few standalone climbers, as well. Another structure for ages 2 to 5 has a tunnel and three slides (including a bumpy one). Separately, there is a school bus to climb all over and engage in pretend play. Two regular swings, one bucket, and one adaptive swing are also here. A pair of tennis courts (there’s a switch to light nighttime play), a football field that shares grass with two baseball/softball fields, and a four-backboard basketball court are right next to the playground. Just beyond is a wood-chipped area with three low-to-the-ground cement sculptures — dragon, fish, and frog — meant for playing on.
The Scene
Just off Rockville Pike and south of the Beltway, in the Pooks Hill/Maplewood neighborhoods, this park has two picnic tables and a rec building (available to rent). The playground gets some shade from a row of trees next to it. A parking lot off Alta Vista Road has ample parking. On the other side of the park, on Linden Avenue, there is two-hour street parking.
Age Recommendation
All ages
Restrooms
A portable potty is in the parking lot.
Review and photos by Kathleen Seiler Neary.,
,
All ages,
,
