Pohick Bay Regional Park Playground (6501 Pohick Bay Dr, Lorton, VA 22079) enjoys near total shade, and is enclosed by a chain link fence on the street side. (It is open to woods on the back side of the playground.) The playground surface is mulch. The playground is perfect for the 5 & up demographic. Littler kids will need to be supervised closely and all kids should be supervised to make sure play is not getting too rough. The only element that was a problem for my toddler was the stepping stones. He isn’t quite tall enough or agile enough to be able to cross them by himself, but he is quite stubborn enough to keep trying, which meant I had to keep stopping him. Your mileage will obviously vary depending on whether your kid believes you when you say something is dangerous.
The playground is themed with woodland details, and the equipment is both challenging and fun. There are some fairly uncommon climbing toys that were new to my kid. (As you may have noticed, he gets to go to a lot of playgrounds, so that’s saying something.) There are four benches for parent seating, the parking is ample and fairly close, and the restrooms are not far off. We were there on a weekday afternoon. Aside from a few sort-of busy periods, we had the place to ourselves. If you get bored on the playground, there is the covered observation deck by the restrooms (I’m told you can spot eagles from that vantage point) and, of course, throwing rocks in the river from the beach to extend your fun.
The breeze off the water not only kept us cool and comfortable, it also kept the bugs at bay. There is a large, wooded picnic area just across the street from the playground, so you can pack a picnic and make a day of it here. There are also boat rental and kayak tours available, if you have older kids or are leaving them at home. (I can’t quite see my one year old in a kayak, can you?)
Updates: Some of the photos from 2012 show open railings with high drop-offs. Another mom and I emailed the park, and they responded immediately saying they would evaluate the equipment. These railings have been replaced and the playground is now safer! Moral of the story: If there is something dangerous, call or email whoever maintains it! (I sent photos.) They don’t want our kids to get hurt either.
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