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Allen Pond
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
3 reviews for Allen Pond
3 reviews in English
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Review from Kat E.
Oakland, CA
1/13/2008
Remember the days when "going to the mall" in Bowie meant strolling through the near-vacant halls of Market Place and Freestate? If you wanted to rent a movie, you went to Metro video or Video Unlimited, and when you drove down Old Chapel you saw horses rather than housing?
Ahh yes, how our little Levitt town has changed over the years. Fortunately, like the neighborhoods that are arranged alphabetically, some good things can't be bulldozed by money hungry developers, and Allen Pond is invariably one of those good things.
In high school, I was in this silly little band that played a youth festival held by the city in Allen Pond. I remember the Bowie Blade reported over 200 kids showing up. It was probably more like 50, but God bless the city of Bowie for trying.
Fourth of July was another story entirely. It could be 105 degrees outside with 200% humidity and you'd still see people camping out early with their picnic blankets and lawn chairs ready for fireworks. Get there any time before 4 pm and you'd be walking 2 miles to your car at the end of the day, glow necklaces making rainbow halos around your hanging, tired appendages. And depending on your company, well-worth the exhaustion.
British Car Day is a fond memory as well. Lines of meticulously well-kept regal babies of middle-aged men like my dad. I remember liking the hot dogs available, looking for shade at all costs, feeding the ducks at the pond, and telling my dad I wanted a red convertible MG when I got older.
I played softball in the fields, had girl scouts parties in the pavilion, birthday parties at the park, and figure skating lessons at the rink.
When I got older, it was broom ball at the rink, "hanging out" in the park while my friends tried to sneak a few underage smokes (oh, the days of teenage apathy and angst), and a Mt. Oak youth group fourth of July challenge involving packets of unsweetened blue kool-aid gone terribly, terribly wrong in front of the caboose and about 150 of my peers (and thousands of fourth of July fireworks-goers). And of course, the aforementioned youth concert.
Even when there weren't malls worth visiting, there was Allen Pond Park, and I hope, despite urban sprawl and corporate takeover, that's where it will stay. -
Review from Sarah C.
7/11/2009
.:*'*:. ......... I liked those boom boom pows ......... .:*'*:.
.:*'*:. ....... Them fireworks flashin' with style ....... .:*'*:.
.:*'*:. They danced and flickered much swagger .:*'*:.
.:*'*:. ........... Pond is near gal pal's house ........... .:*'*:.
.:*'*:. .... Was I three thousand and eighth??!! .... .:*'*:.
.:*'*:. .. HUGE crowd - too close at arm's length . .:*'*:.
.:*'*:. ......... Still dig the boom boom booms ........ .:*'*:.
.:*'*:. .......... July 4th's boom boom booms .......... .:*'*:.
.:*'*:. .................. Fan of this spot now!! ................. .:*'*:. -
Review from Sunny D.
Washington, DC
5/21/2010
allen pond is THAT park. you know the one that explodes into activity on the first warm day of the year - kids everywhere, young couples cuddling on blankets and having romantic picnics, birthday parties, BBQs, frisbee/softball/soccer/football/basketball games, people walking/jogging/biking/skating, and on and on. it's got something for everyone and EVERYONE seems to be there. yet, with 85 acres it rarely feels crowded enough to hinder your experience. (rarely - but on occasion it does get to be a lot.)
the somethings for everyone include:
-baseball/softball diamonds
-soccer/football fields
-basketball courts
-a skateboard...um...pool? (IDK what these are called, but they look like drained pools w/ a bunch of divets & hills in them)
-playgrounds for tots, bigger children, and one that is 100% accessible for physically challenged ones too (major points for that!)
-horseshoe/volleyball pit
-an [indoor] ice skating rink (open july through april; closed may & june)
-the POND, of course, where you can fish, and/or go paddle-boating (boat rentals from memorial day to labor day only).
-bike/run/walk trails, the main one being the one that goes around the pond and also has an adorable large gazebo overlooking same [if you take the detour up the little peninsula/hill to the side]
-picnic/BBQ set-ups - some just benches & tables, some w/ grills, and some under covered pavillions (i believe you can reserve the latter for parties)
-a mini ampitheatre
-lots and lots of trees great for reading a book or catching a nap under
additional info:
there's usually an ice cream truck stationed in the parking lot, parked across from the ice rink/closest to the pathway that goes to the bathrooms and the tot playground. park on the other side if you want to avoid pleas from your little ones for treats.
the boy and i like to take our old bread to the pond and feed the ducks & swans. some of the swans are very aggressive though, so watch out!
the mini-ampitheatre is really just a small wood deck-like stage with an overhang, but is still very nice for their open concerts in the summer - sunday afternoons, free, and usually small groups/artists. seating is just cop a squat on the lawn and BYOF, but it's a great way to spend an sunday afternoon. you see lots of couples and families doing picnics while enjoying the entertainment.
parking is limited, especially on very nice days, sunday concert afternoons, and on the 4th of july for fireworks, so get there early.
you can enter the park via car from mitchellville road or northview drive and on foot/bike/skate from nottinghill drive as well (one of the paths actually runs along nottinghill).
i certainly haven't been to every single park in bowie, but i'd still venture to guess that this is one of the best WRT diversity/options.Listed in: education & enrichment
