The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) plans to install a new state-of-the-art spray park at Upshur Recreation Center, located at 14th Street and Arkansas Avenue, NW. This new spray park will offer children and their families a fun and safe play area to cool off. DPR has developed three design options for the spray park.

We need your help in deciding which design to install at Upshur Recreation Center. Feedback from the community will be solicited at the September 19, 2006 meeting of the 16th St. Neighborhood Association. This meeting will take place at the Nazarene Church at 4401 16th St., NW, at 7:30 pm. DPR plans to install the spray park in 2007.

If you have any questions about the planned Upshur Spray Park, or would like to express a preference for one of the designs, please contact Sharon Dendy at (202) 673-7692 or Tanya Washington at (202) 673-2032. Comments should be received by close of business September 29, 2006.

A spray park is a water playground containing a variety of spray fixtures that are fun, safe and interactive. Because water is drained away before it can accumulate, the risk of drowning in a spray park is eliminated. The spray components comply with ADA safety standards, providing a safe and accessible play area for those in wheelchairs. A range of spray features are chosen to accommodate the needs of various age groups from toddlers to teenagers. Three design alternatives have been developed.

Option 1 : “The Dragon*”
A giant, spiral shaped dragon inhabits the park. Children can begin at the tail near the seating area and run through arches and ground sprays until they reach the head of the creature. The dragon wraps itself around a circular ground spray set on top of a mound.

Option 2 : “The Islands*”
Two tropical islands rest in a teeming ocean. Each island contains tall plant spray fixtures as well as ground sprays that create surf at the ocean’s edge. The sea is inhabited by whales, a dragon and an abandoned anchor.

Option 3 : “The Curve*”
Diverse spray fixtures are arranged along a curve extending the length of the park. Ground sprays are located at the western edge of the park, near the seating area; two arches and a wave tunnel are placed at the top of the curve; and interactive spray features are placed at either end. In the center of the curve, ground sprays surround a spilly-soaker which randomly drops buckets of water on the children standing beneath it.