Columbia Heights has a transit-themed playground
The Trolley Turnaround playground at 11th & Monroe NW. Image by the author.
This article was first published on July 26, 2018. With playgrounds back open, we needed a reminder that some things can still be fun, so we are sharing this piece with you again.
Nerd alert: Did you know there’s a transit-themed playground in Columbia Heights? It’s at 11th and Monroe NW, where the old 11th Street trolley used to turn around at the end of its route.
Although the actual trolley tracks are gone, the turnaround loop is still visible as a paved plaza area:
Image by the author.
The playground equipment follows a rail theme, with multiple slides and other equipment incorporated into play trains, a ticket booth, and more.
Image by the author.
There are even play tracks under the play trains.
Image by the author.
Although the playground designers seem a little confused about what a streetcar looked like.
Image by the author.
The brick wall lining the back side of the park is inlaid with decorative medalions that look like old Capital Transit Company trolley tokens.
Image by the author.
A historical marker gives you the park’s history.
Image by the author.
It reads, in part:
The first streetcars were drawn by horses and could only carry people short distances, but the introduction of the electric streetcars, capable of traversing more imposing terrain, opened up the hilly suburbs north of the old city, including this park at 11th & Monroe. Back in the trolley era, the streetcar entered from Monroe and exited back onto 11th Street. This turnaround was one of only 22 in the entire District.