On a gorgeous February day with temps warming quickly, I decided Pebble and I needed an adventure. I asked which playground she wanted to go to, and she picked Lake Waterford. She also asked me to pack a picnic lunch. This has truly been an unusual winter without any snow to speak of and more warm days than cold, but that has meant, at least, that we can play outside more without having to bundle up as thoroughly. The address for this park is 830 Pasadena Road in Pasadena, MD. As you pull into the lot, you can see ball fields to your right, as well as the restrooms. As far as I know, the restrooms are open most of the year. I’ve never been here and not been able to use the bathrooms. The playground is to the left, just past a wooded area with plenty of picnic tables. FYI, the playground is fenced in, but the fence is a wooden rail-style on 3 of the sides, which kids can climb over or under. On the fourth side, the entrance is wide open so pay attention if you have a runner.
Pebble happily ran from the music area to the see-saw to the mini zip line to the aeroglider. On the aeroglider, she met another friend her age, and the two of them hit it off. She and her new pal ran around the playground having a grand old time! It was wonderful to see how much Pebble enjoyed having a friend at the playground. Normally, she is the one tagging after her sisters and their friends.
Around lunchtime, her new friend had to head home, but her new friend’s mom and I exchanged phone numbers so the girls could get together again soon. Pebble was sad her new friend had left, but she perked up when I suggested that we find the perfect picnic table for our lunch. Pebble picked a table outside the playground with a view of the tennis courts. Why? She wanted to watch a couple in the tennis courts who were throwing a ball for their dog who’d bound down to the end of the court, grab the ball, and then not give it back. Pebble sat there, eating lunch, and giggling.
After lunch, we left the picnic things in the car, along with Pebble’s vest and sweatshirt that were no longer needed thanks to the warm sunshine, and wandered down to see Lake Waterford. We watched the ducks for a while, and crossed the bridge over the dam to get a better look at the fish ladder. After a bit, we headed back up to the playground to play just a bit longer. Pebble wanted to make sure we took a turn on the double swing with mom doing all of the work! Before long we had to head home to grab the older two kiddos from school. It was a fun outing, and Pebble was looking forward to seeing her new friend again soon. Happy trails!
https://www.aacounty.org/departments/recreation-parks/parks/lake-waterford/
