The ribbon-cutting on Noyes Playground is scheduled for the week of July 8, according to DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) chief of staff John Stokes.
The playground was, until
groundbreaking in February 2013 a grassy field. Now it sports picnic tables and grills, a playground for children, water fountains, a walking path, a community garden and a multi-purpose field. The playground also has an adult fitness area with five workout stations from ENERGI, a system that has been installed at other DC parks to "rave reviews," Stokes says. The system goes beyond pull-ups and sit-ups to engage the whole body in stretches, balancing exercises and more. The system also has scannable codes so users can pull up instructional videos on their smartphones.
"Most parks are green greenery," Stokes says. "When we renovate our parks we're making a more friendly environment. We want there to be activities from toddlers all the way up to senior citizens. These are not just playgrounds; these are play spaces."
The Play DC initiative calls for 32 playgrounds to be renovated by Oct. 13. The list includes three other Ward 5 playgrounds and six in Ward 8, four in Ward 7, and three in Ward 6.