McLean Central Park (1468 Dolley Madison Blvd, McLean, VA 22102) features an adorable, train themed playground, and is very popular. Ample parking is available at the Dolley Madison branch of the Fairfax County public library, and connects to the picnic and playground area by a walking trail. (Restrooms are also available at the library, during library hours obviously.) My kids are nuts about the train themed play structure and also enjoyed the variety of slides available. They could not get enough of pretending to eat in the “dining car” or shouting “all aboard” while they climbed the steps to the slide. They also spent a lot of time scheduling the “arrival” of the train. As far as I’m concerned, this combination of pretend and physical activities is a big, big win.
The size of the slides and climbing equipment mean that this playground is probably best geared toward younger kids. If you have mixed age kids,
there is lots of green space for frisbee or other active games right next to the playground.
There are plenty of picnic tables, even outside the reservable gazebo, and a walking trail goes right by the park. (I plan to test drive it with the jogging stroller someday soon!) The playground surface is mulch. There is plenty of shade. The playground area is not enclosed, but there is a wide buffer between the playground and the road or parking lot.
Because this spot is popular, you may wish to plan your visit for a “non peak” time to make sure your kids can enjoy their favorite activities (particularly if they like swings) more easily.
If you would like to reserve the gazebo for your party or event, visit the reservation page for availability and rental application.
