Evans Parkway Neighborhood Park
The Equipment
With renovations completed in 2015, this playground has an industrial aesthetic with silver poles reminiscent of pipes. There’s a large structure with just one slide but several challenging climbing options. The structure aimed at little kids has two slides and is connected to a rope grid that still held interest for my five-year-old son. A bouncy horse seesaw, a one-seat spinner bowl, and a rotating ring piece are also within the wood-chipped area, along with one bucket, one adaptive, and two regular swings. In one corner, a chain-link fence is arranged as a very small maze that is see-through; I didn’t see any kids show interest in it on our visit.
The Scene
Sustainable site design, construction, and maintenance were all factored into the renovations of the park, which is at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Evans Parkway. The playground is set back very far from busy Georgia Avenue, with two half-courts for basketball and a large grassy area providing a buffer. Nine benches surround the playground, plus there’s a large canopy over two picnic tables on a cement area. The canopy is the best bet for shade in the park, since almost all trees are newly planted. Signs near the playground ask visitors to stay out of the meadow-in-progress areas.
The playground is set next to a pair of tennis courts and a brightly painted cement circle area. Kids ride bikes and scooters in the cement area and out on the paths that wind through the park. Along the paths are large stone slabs with local plant and wildlife pictures and names etched in them (I read online later that the small holes in the slabs are for peering at the habitat of what is depicted on the stone). On our stroll, we found a butterfly garden and went over the striking post-modern-looking bridge above a small stream.
Age Recommendation
2-12
Restrooms
None
Review and photos by Kathleen Seiler Neary on July 7, 2015.,
Free,
2 to 12,
,
