Turkey Thicket Playground And Spray Park

Turkey Thicket Playground and Spray Park at Michigan Avenue NE is one of Washington DC's best-kept free summer secrets — and once local families discover it, it becomes a warm-weather staple. The Turkey Thicket Recreation Center complex includes a quality outdoor playground and a free spray park that opens seasonally, creating a combination that's genuinely rare among DC's free family resources.

The spray park is the star attraction from Memorial Day through Labor Day. On hot DC summer days — and summers in DC are hot and humid — free outdoor water play is invaluable. Turkey Thicket's spray park features water jets and splash features that kids ages 2 through 12 absolutely love, and the price (zero) makes it an unbeatable value compared to admission-based water parks and splash pads.

Bring swimsuits, towels, and a full change of dry clothes.

The playground adjacent to the rec center is a full DC Parks and Recreation outdoor facility with equipment appropriate for toddlers through tweens. For days when the spray park isn't operating, or for families with mixed-age kids where some want to splash and others want to climb, the playground handles the full range.

The rec center building has restrooms with changing facilities — essential for spray park visits. The building itself hosts DC DPR programming year-round, including gym space and community activities.

The Brookland neighborhood, just 10 minutes walking along 12th Street NE, has grown into one of DC's best casual dining areas with Good Stuff Eatery, Busboys and Poets, and independent restaurants. A spray park morning followed by a Brookland lunch makes for an excellent and very affordable DC family day.

For DC families and visitors looking for free summer water play, Turkey Thicket Spray Park is the answer. It's one of the city's best free family amenities, period.