During this time of year, it is the perfect opportunity for your child to take advantage of the warmer weather by playing outside at local parks.  This will improve and integrate their motor skills learned in therapy and help keep them active in a fun environment! Here are some places that you and your child/children can visit:

1. Clemyjontri Park (McLean)

This large playground has a bridge with small steps and narrow beam for balance, monkey bars and hanging rings for upper body and core strengthening, and agility pods for jumping to increase power.  There are several opportunities for pretend play as there are musical instruments to play and bouncy vehicles to fly or drive.  This is also considered an adaptive park for kids who are primarily wheelchair users.

2. Westover Park (Arlington)

Along with a traditional playground, they have a mini climbing wall, roped ladders with balance discs, tall cylinder steps, and baby-friendly swings.  This is also great for children interested in sports while having a basketball court, sand volleyball court, baseball field (great area for kickball too!), and a soccer field.  The park has direct access to several paved trails nearby as well which are perfect for improving endurance by biking and/or walking. Additionally, there is a small pavilion with picnic tables if your family wants to enjoy a meal after playing.

3. Quincy Park Playground (Arlington)

This exploratory park has several sections that can serve as stations for a playground circuit “workout”.  Your child can improve whole body strength in the climbing area with turf mounds with pull ropes, hexagon ladders, rock climbing wall, and nets.  There are also balance, spin, and swing areas that have fun equipment such as a sharable nest saucer web swing to increase vestibular input for sensory seekers.

4. Haley M. Smith Park (Herndon)

Its newer playground has climbing ladders of various shapes and surfaces and a narrow tunnel, making it a perfect obstacle course for children to improve their functional strength, balance, and coordination.  It has a baseball field and basketball and volleyball courts for recreation as well.

5. Bready Park (Herndon)

This has fun objects like spinning chairs, a seesaw, and a standing bouncer, all of which are great for sensory seekers.  There is also a tall climbing net and a freestanding log roller which are great to improve your balancing skills!

Summer Family Fun!

I hope your family will be able to visit one of these parks this summer and enjoy the beautiful weather.  It is important to continue to stay active in the community outside of scheduled therapy to get the most benefit from your care.
– Katrina Ortiz, PT, DPT 4/28/25