Bluemont Playground
329 North Manchester StreetArlington, VA 22203
Website ~ Map Link
Bottom Line: This is a wonderful park, completely re-done in 2010, with modern equipment and lots of thoughtful touches. This park will appeal to all ages, and caregivers will appreciate the close proximity to bathrooms and ample shade. This is also a great park for would be riders with the bike trail right at hand. 5/5 stars!
Note: This review focuses on the playground area, not Bluemont Park as a whole.
Also Worth Noting: I almost said the playground is "fully enclosed", but then realized, while it it gated towards the parking lot and trails, the woods/undergrowth form a natural boundary on the backside, which might not deter intrepid explorers (mine had too much to do in the park boundaries to notice). The creek runs close to the park and makes for easy wading, a potential plus or minus, depending on your view.
The Review:
Yesterday was my first time checking out the Bluemont playground, which completed renovations in fall 2010. If I had known what I was missing, I would have gotten here sooner!
Bluemont Park has two entrances with separate parking lots. To get to the playground, you’ll want to use the southern entrance, 329 N. Manchester St., which is closer to Rte 50 (instead of Wilson Blvd.)
The playground is nestled under the trees at the end of the parking lot. It’s not completely shady, but many parts of the playground were shaded from the adjoining trees while we were there in the morning. The playground has play areas for both the older and younger age groups.
The elementary-aged section features a giant play structure that resembles a train — a nod to the history of Bluemont and the railway station that used to exist there.
It has many fun features Adam enjoyed exploring. The music maker was a popular spot, and he loved that the surface in front of the train looks like tracks.
Next to the train was a set of big kid swings — four regular swings, plus a tire swing.
There was also a pseudo-boulder climbing net thing that looked interesting.
The other section of the park was clearly designed for the younger set. It has an adorable farm theme.
There is a set of two bucket swings in this area.
This section also includes a spacious sandlot with nice white sand. It appears to have a water pump, similar to the set-up at Parkhurst, but it also looked like it wasn’t working.
One of the nice things about this park is that there is ample seating and much of it is shady. There were lots of benches, several picnic tables, and a “seatwall” that made it easy to find somewhere to sit and chat while the kiddos play.
Beyond the playground, the stream runs close-by. This could be a positive or a negative, depending on the kid and the mom :). It’s not deep enough to be dangerous, but you can definitely get into and get muddy. There are several places you can access the creek in the park.
Bluemont is also a great park for new bike riders, as well as ride-on toys. There is a basketball court next to the playground, as well as several paved trails that connect with the bike path.
Lastly, the bathrooms are right next to the playground, along with a water fountain.
Bluemont is a lovely park with many thoughtful and fun features. The only drawback I can think of is that it is not fenced, which could be a concern if you have a “free range” kind of kid. I had a great time with my three year old and look forward to bringing my older kids (7 and 5) here soon.
Find more parks by visiting my main Arlington Parks & Playgrounds page.
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Great Park! We also enjoyed the five minute walk down the bike trail (just past the tennis courts) to the red caboose on the right. It is an antique caboose that is now open to walk through. There are newpapers articles posted to read and lots of books on trains you can browse.
Bluemont Junction is definitely a fun stop. It’s been a while since I’ve been over there — I know it used to be open on weekends but not mid-week. It would make a great short bike ride destination for younger riders. Thanks for the comment!
Amazing park! I liked that it was well shaded, and near a brook & bike path. The kids had a great time! Short walk to the old caboose, where we met Moss (works in the museum inside). Bathrooms, picnic tables, etc… What a great day!