On Monday, Mayor Vincent Gray cut the ribbon on the Hillcrest playground, making it the 21st D.C. playground to be renovated under the city's multi-million-dollar "Play DC" playground renovation program.
The new playground, located behind at the Hillcrest rec center at 3100 Denver St., SE, is like "night and day," Hillcrest Community Civic Association president Karen Williams told Elevation DC.
"Before, I think we had two pieces of climbing equipment." Now, she says, the area has "a whole lot of diversity." The old playground was focused on young children; the new park has equipment for all ages from toddlers to adults, including a spray park, a walking path with mile markers, a
Mobius climber, and a "
We-saw," a multiperson see-saw. Contractor HRGM Corporation, based in D.C., also improved the park's safety by updating the fencing and adding better lighting.
The playground is "the fulfillment of a dream," Williams said at the ribbon-cutting.
The neighborhood of Hillcrest is located in Ward 7 in the far southeast of the District. Notable residents include Mayor Gray, who has lived in Hillcrest for over 25 years.