The Playground is Open!

It has been under construction since Spring and it changed our walking path at the neighborhood park. So after several months of being hidden behind a covered fence, the new playground opened today! We thought something was up because all of the exterior fencing was removed. The only fences that remained were those that were protecting the new grass that was planted. It was also obvious something was up because the parking lot by the library was quite busy which is unusual for a Sunday. So we started our morning walk headed back to the old path. And the new playground had a lot of visitors! It is quite a change from the old one. The elements are for a variety of ages and there are separate sections based on that. Several new park benches were added and a winding path takes you past the playground and towards the sheltered area where bands and other activities will perform. In front of that is a seating area with a small handicapped parking lot for access. Several new trees and other plants have been added with a rain garden. One of the issues was poor water drainage so hopefully the new design will mitigate that problem. From what we could see the kids and the parents were finding everything to their liking. When we left there were even more people coming. 

A Walk in the Park

If at all possible we prefer to walk outside somewhere in the neighborhood rather than the shopping mall. Of course, with inclement weather we have no choice. Neither one of us likes using a fitness center. It’s just not comfortable. But maybe one day it may be our only option. Walking the concrete jungle of Capitol Hill was difficult in summer and on rainy days, so we spent some time wandering around Union Station. Now we look forward to putting in about two miles every day walking through McLean Central Park. It’s been about four months since we started using it, and many of the faces - and dogs - are becoming familiar. Every one is quite cordial and pleasant - very unlike our old neighborhood and much more like the midwestern feel we were used to. We’ve seen a few hawks, deer, and cardinals. The foliage is now changing from late summer to early fall. We wonder what fall and winter will look like. The rainstorm last month created a bit of a mess, but everything has been put back in order. It’s nice to have this walking option and it reminds us of a smaller version of Grant Park along Lake Michigan in our old neighborhood. I’m glad we are both able to use the space and hope we can for many more years to come.