Laurel Library/Emancipation Park
507 7th Street
Laurel, MD
Today I’m sharing a FOUR PART adventure that only involves getting your kids out of the car ONCE! Nothing better than being able to do multiple fun things without having to buckle and unbuckle 3 kiddos in the car seat a million times. 🤪
On this adventure we:
⭐️ Checked out books at the library
⭐️ Visited a new playground
⭐️ Played at a splash pad
⭐️ Grabbed curbside pick up at a local favorite!
This was my girls FIRST time being back in a library since COVID. They had just really started to get to the age where they could enjoy it, and then the world shut down 😩 I was so excited to bring them back to check out books! A few things about PG county libraries – masks are required regardless of vaccination status and children’s play areas are closed (meaning the section with toys, play kitchen, etc.) Otherwise, the libraries are open for business! Laurel Branch library was recently renovated and is beautiful 😍 The kids section was dinosaur themed and included a volcano couch and dinosaur fossils on display in the floor! 🦕 We shared the space with only one other kid the entire time we were there.
Just outside the library is Emancipation Park. This park, run by @cityoflaurel was renovated in 2017 and includes a splash pad (open daily from 12-2) and a playground with a shaded pavilion and picnic tables.
After checking out books at the library, we headed to the playground to play and have lunch in the pavilion. Our last stop was the splash pad and we were concerned at first because it was after 12 and the fountains were not on. There was also a sign saying the splash pad was closed for the season (but I knew this wasn’t the case since I had been in touch with the Laurel Parks dept.) We were getting ready to give up when we finally realized that there was an unmarked pole with a touch-sensor to activate the fountain! Just touch the top of the pole and the fountain runs for about a minute at a time.
After we were done playing we picked up lunch from Pasta Plus – IMO this is a MUST stop if you are in the Laurel area. This small, family owned Italian restaurant has been operating since 1983 – they make their pasta and bread fresh daily and have been featured on Food Network! They are currently open for curbside carry out only and you must call ahead and and pay for your order over the phone. Just pull right up to the curb, give them your name and they’ll bring out your food. This time I got the ravioli burro, but literally anything I’ve ever gotten from there has been amazing!
🚽 Bathrooms 🚽: super clean bathrooms in the library
👩👧👦Solo w/ kids?👩👧👦: yes!
🛒 Stroller friendly?🛒: yes
🅿️: big parking lot at the library
⏰: 2-3 hours
🧺 Picnic Tables: yes, under covered pavilion
🐶 Dog friendly: park is, but not the library (obviously)
🏖 Shade: not much shade except for the covered pavilion
Maryland Kid Adventures 