When summer comes, we’re looking for all the ways to stay cool, especially when the heat can be overbearing. As it gets dangerously hot outside and Washington, D.C., declares a heat emergency, it’s important to be careful and protect yourself from the extreme heat.
This week will be a hot one, but the good news is that some of the best places to cool off, including NOVA Parks waterparks, are open.
In response to the heat wave, cooling centers, splash parks and other centers are open so people can get relief from the blazing sun.
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In D.C., spray parks will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Labor Day, excluding scheduled maintenance. Starting June 24, all of D.C.'s public outdoor pools will follow their own summer schedules and will be open six days a week. Happy Hallow Children's Pool, Park View Children's Pool and Lincoln Capper Children's Pool will be open five days a week. Here's more info on outdoor pools.
In Montgomery County, The Water Park in Bohrer Park will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Aug. 23.
Prince George's County's parks department says pools will generally operate in two sessions, with the second session's hours depending on the day. Some aquatic facilities are closed for cleaning and maintenance; check for more information on your local pool here.
Here's a list of splash pads, water parks and pools so you can stay cool while still getting some time outside safely.
DC splash parks
Ward 1
14th & Girard streets
14th & Girard streets NW
Daily: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Columbia Heights Community Center
1480 Girard St. NW
Daily: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
14th & Park Road (Columbia Heights Civic Plaza)
14th Street & Park Road NW
Thursdays–Tuesdays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Wednesdays: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Harrison Recreation Center
1330 V St. NW
Fridays–Wednesdays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Thursdays: 2–6 p.m.
Park at LeDroit
319 Oakdale Place NW
Saturdays–Thursdays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Fridays: 2–6 p.m.
Westminster Playground
911 Westminster St. NW
Daily: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Ward 2
Kennedy Recreation Center
1401 7th St. NW
Wednesdays–Mondays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Tuesdays: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Stead Park Recreation Center
1625 P St. NW
Thursdays–Tuesdays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Wednesdays: 2–6 p.m.
Ward 3
Chevy Chase Recreation Center
5500 41st St. NW
Tuesdays–Sundays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Mondays: 3–8 p.m.
Friendship Recreation Center
4500 Van Ness St. NW
Wednesdays–Mondays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Tuesdays: 2–6 p.m.
Guy Mason Recreation Center
3600 Calvert St. NW
Daily: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Hardy Recreation Center
4500 Q St. NW
Fridays–Wednesdays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Thursdays: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Macomb Recreation Center
3409 Macomb St. NW
Tuesdays–Sundays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Mondays: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Palisades Community Center
5200 Sherier Place NW
Tuesdays–Sundays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Mondays: 2–6 p.m.
Ward 4
Fort Stevens Recreation Center
1327 Van Buren St. NW
Daily: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Lafayette-Pointer Recreation Center
5900 33rd St. NW
Daily: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Petworth Recreation Center
801 Taylor St. NW
Tuesdays–Sundays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Mondays: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center
501 Riggs Road NE
Fridays–Wednesdays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Thursdays: 2–6 p.m.
Takoma Playground
300 Van Buren St. NW
Wednesdays–Mondays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Tuesdays: 2–6 p.m.
Ward 5
Edgewood Recreation Center
3rd and Evarts streets NE
Tuesdays–Sundays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Mondays: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Joseph H. Cole Recreation Center
1299 Neal St. NE
Wednesdays–Mondays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Tuesdays: 3–8 p.m.
Edgewood Recreation Center
3rd & Evarts streets NE
Tuesdays–Sundays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Mondays: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Joseph H. Cole Recreation Center
1299 Neal Street NE
Wednesdays–Mondays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Tuesdays: 2–6 p.m.
Langdon Pool Deck
2860 Mills Ave. NE
Operates on Langdon Park Pool schedule
Thursdays: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Reservoir Park Recreation Center
N. Capitol and Channing streets NW
Daily: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Ward 6
Eastern Market Metro Park
701 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
Tuesdays–Sundays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Mondays: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
King-Greenleaf Recreation Center
201 N St. SW
Thursdays–Tuesdays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Wednesdays: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Potomac Avenue Triangle Park
1216 Potomac Ave. SE
Daily: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Watkins Recreation Center
420 12th St. SE
Saturdays–Thursdays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Fridays: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Ward 7
Benning Stoddert Recreation Center
100 Stoddert Place SE
Thursdays–Tuesdays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Wednesdays: 2–6 p.m.
Fort Davis Community Center
1400 41st St. SE
Tuesdays–Sundays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Mondays: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Hillcrest Recreation Center
3100 Denver St. SE
Thursdays–Tuesdays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Wednesdays: 2–6 p.m.
Marvin Gaye Park at Division Avenue
Division and Foote streets NE
Thursdays–Tuesdays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Wednesdays: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Marvin Gaye Recreation Center
6201 Banks Place NE
Thursdays–Tuesdays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Wednesdays: 2–6 p.m.
Ward 8
Fort Greble Recreation Center
Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue & Elmira St. SW
CURRENTLY CLOSED
Outdoor pools are also open. Here's information on D.C.'s pool locations and hours.
Maryland splash pads and pools
Montgomery County, Maryland
Fountain on the Square at Rockville Town Square
200 East Middle Lane, Rockville
Mondays–Saturdays 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sundays 12 p.m.–8 p.m.
SplashPark at South Germantown Recreational Park
18056 Central Park Circle, Boyds
Tuesdays–Sundays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; closed Mondays
301-670-4680
512 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg
Daily: 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
301-258-6445
Go here for more information on the county's seven outdoor pools.
Prince George's County, Maryland
1901 Glenn Dale Blvd., Glenn Dale
Outdoor pool: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays: 12–3 p.m. & 3:30–8 p.m.; second session is Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays: 12–3 p.m. & 3:30–6:30 p.m.
301-352-8980
3901 Hamilton St., Hyattsville
Outdoor pool: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays: 12–3 p.m. & 3:30–8 p.m.; second session is Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays: 12–3 p.m. & 3:30–6:30 p.m.
hamiltonpool@pgparks.com
J. Franklyn Bourne Memorial Pool
6500 Calmos St., Capitol Heights
Outdoor pool: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays: 12–3 p.m. & 3:30–8 p.m.; second session is Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays: 12–3 p.m. & 3:30–6:30 p.m.
301-350-4422
5000 Wheeler Road, Oxon Hill
Outdoor pool: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays: 12–3 p.m. & 3:30–8 p.m.; second session is Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays: 12–3 p.m. & 3:30–6:30 p.m.
301-894-1150
Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex
8001 Sheriff Road, Landover
The leisure pool is open Mondays & Wednesdays: 6 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Tuesdays & Thursdays: 6 a.m.–noon & 4 p.m.–5:30 p.m.; Fridays: 6 a.m.–8 p.m.; Saturdays: 9 a.m.–3 p.m., and Sundays: 12–5 p.m.
301-583-2400
Rollingcrest-Chillum Splash Pool
6122 Sargent Road, Chillum
General swim hours: Sundays–Thursdays & Saturdays: 12–5 p.m.; Fridays: 12–9 p.m.
Check here for the full schedule.
301-853-9115
Go here for more outdoor pool locations and hours.
Virginia splash pads and pools
Arlington County, Virginia
3514 22nd St. S.
Sprayground hours: Mondays & Thursdays: 2–8 p.m.; closed Tuesdays; Wednesdays & Fridays: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; weekends: noon–8 p.m.
1516 N. Lincoln St.
Sprayground hours: Mondays & Thursdays: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; Tuesdays & Fridays: 2–8 p.m.; closed Wednesdays; weekends: noon–8 p.m.
1800 N. Highland St.
Sprayground hours: Mondays & Tuesdays: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; Wednesdays & Fridays 2–8 p.m.; closed Thursdays; weekends: noon–8 p.m.
6060 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Mondays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Tuesdays–Thursdays: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Fridays–Sundays 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
703-534-3437
Go here for information on fees.
1600 S. Hayes St.
Sprayground hours: Daily: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
See here for info on pools in Arlington County.
Fairfax County, Virginia
Cub Run Rec Center Leisure Pool
4630 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly
Sundays: noon–6 p.m.; Mondays–Fridays 4–9 p.m., noon–6 p.m.
703-817-9407
Our Special Harbor Spray Ground
6601 Telegraph Road, Franconia
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays: 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Wednesdays: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; weekends: 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m.
703-922-9841
Free for families; $5–$10 admission fee required for organized groups
Water Mine Family Swimmin' Hole
1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston
Daily 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
703-246-5929
Go here for more information on fees.
Here's information on Fairfax County's public pools.
Loudoun County, Virginia
17501 Franklin Park Drive, Purcellville
Through July 31: weekdays: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; weekends: 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Go here for a complete list of hours for the summer.
540-338-7603
Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park splash pad
22831 Hanson Park Drive, Aldie
Daily: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
571-367-8360
Landsdowne Town Center interactive fountain
Belmont Ridge Road, Leesburg
Daily: from early morning to dusk
See the town center's Facebook page for updates on maintenance.
20365 Exchange St. Ashburn
Daily: 10 a.m.–8 p.m., weather permitting
For updates and closures, follow @oneloudoun on Instagram
Go here for information on Loudoun County's pools.
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