Looking for a day of fun on a budget? Visit Allen Pond Park in PG County! At this 85-acre multi-use park you’ll find a fitness trail, picnic sites, two playgrounds, walking and biking trail, ball fields, and a basketball court. It’s also home to the Bowie Ice Arena, Bowie Skate Park, Robert V. Setera Amphitheater, and Opportunity Park. After seeing all this park has to offer, you’ll be wondering why you haven’t been spending more time there.
The pond itself sets a beautiful relaxing landscape for whatever you set out to do at Allen Pond Park. Make a day of it by feeding the ducks and casting a line to catch some fish. Pack a lunch or grab something from the Skating Arena snack bar and take a short hike along the trails to find a shaded Gazebo and have a picnic in the woods. Then head over to the fitness area to work some of your lunch off or rent a paddle boat for 30 minutes and peddle away. Whatever way you choose to spend your time here, we are sure you’ll be back because you won’t be able to do it all in one day.
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Photo by Dunks Photography -
Photo by Tammy Taylor -
Photo by Dunks Photography -
Fitness area
Fishing
You will definately want to go fishing from the shore at Allen Pond’s 10-acre stocked pond. Persons 16 years of age and older must have a Maryland fishing license (obtainable at Maryland Department of Natural Resources). Each license must have a trout stamp. Check out the video below to see how the DNR stocks the pond several times a year.
The most popular species caught here are Largemouth bass, Rainbow trout, and Bluegill. Please use your best judgement when determining where you can fish, and make sure you follow local rules and regulations.
Boathouse
The boathouse at Allen Pond Park offers paddle boat rentals on weekends and some holidays (The Boathouse is also open Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.) A paddleboat rental is a great way to introduce a youngster to boating in a safe and enjoyable way. If you are into cardio-fitness, try renting a paddle boat for 30 minutes and paddling around Allen Pond to get a good workout. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. They will provide you with a Personal Flotation Device that you are required to wear.
Allen Pond Park Paddle Boat Rentals for 30 minutes are $10 regular boats, $15 for character boats. Cash and credit cards are accepted for boat rental payments.
May 29 – August 2021 | Saturdays and Sundays | 1 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. |
September – October 6, 2021 | Saturdays and Sundays | 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. |
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Photo by Jenny Orellana -
Photo by Rishawn Biddle
Hiking
Looking for a quick hike? This trail is for you. Allen Pond is a 0.7 mile lightly trafficked loop trail and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is best used from March until November. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. If you are looking for a longer hike, 4 laps around this trail equals 2 miles.
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Photo by Dunks Photography -
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Photo by Dunks Photography -
Photo by Dunks Photography -
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Photo by Dunks Photography
The Playgrounds
The Opportunity Park playground includes a tot lot with forgiving artificial surfaces, and equipment with easy-to-hold grips. The playground for school-age children is fully ramped and wheelchair accessible. In both areas, tactile mazes, tick-tack-toe games and alphabets appeal to the visually impaired. The wheelchair-accessible Nature and Sensory Trail provides 7 interactive stations including a fragrance box.
This playground has a smooth surface throughout, and a path for a wheelchair to travel, not just to the playground, but within it as well.
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Photo by Yana Hanes -
Photo by Laura Kelly -
Photo by Taria Robinson -
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Bowie Ice Arena
This year-round indoor ice arena offers group and private lessons, figure skating, hockey, public skating, summer camps, birthday parties, and has a full service pro shop and snack bar. When it first opened in 1971 it was only a seasonal facility, but today the Ice Arena is open for skating July through April each year.
Public skating $6 adults, $5.50 under 16, family sessions $13, skate rental $3. DJ Session includes skating, skates, and a DJ $9. Hours vary. Discounts are available for City of Bowie residents as well as groups and families.
With the reopening of the facility in July, there will be no restrictions in place regarding masks or distancing. Daily temperature checks and health screenings along with waivers will still be required. Locker rooms will be open for users.
The Summer camp options include a half day of ice skating camp for children 3-6 yrs old and a full day camp for 6 yrs and older. Specialty figure skating and hockey camps. Camps usually last one week and cost between $100-$300.
Bowie Skate Park
Bowie Skate Park has a 10,000-square-foot skating facility for skateboarding and inline skating. A helmet is required while skating. The use of bicycles and scooters (or any other device that has handlebars for steering) at this facility is not permitted. It is designed to challenge all skill levels and abilities. Admission is free and the park is open daily from sunrise to 10 p.m. The skate park includes a bathroom and sheltered picnic area.
The street course offers numerous skating elements including rolled banks, pump bumps, kinked rails, steps, quarter-pipes, and a unique snake run that connects the bowl deck to the street course. For vert skaters, the bowl varies in depth from 4 to 9 feet and sports an over vertical cradle that will challenge the most advanced skaters.
The Bowie Skate Park is a non-staffed facility and is a skate at your own risk facility. Skaters and parents must understand the City is not able to monitor and govern conversations held by spectators and skaters. It is the parent’s responsibility to determine if they are comfortable allowing their children to use the facility.
Monday – Sunday; Sunrise to 10 p.m.*, provided the ramp surfaces are dry and free from snow and ice. Lights will be turned on by request only until 9 p.m. daily. Call a Park Ranger at 240-508-3881 to request lights.
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Photo by Kim Hoff Gardner -
Photo by Let the Good Times Roll Photography
Robert V. Setera Amphitheater
Sunday Sunset Concerts at Allen Pond Park are Back Starting July 11th. Each Sunday evening from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, the City of Bowie hosts a free concert at the Robert V. Setera Amphitheater at Allen Pond Park. Concerts are from 7 – 8 p.m. and are canceled in the case of inclement weather.
If you can not make it to Allen Pond Park for the concert, you can still view the concerts on Sunday evenings at 7 p.m. on: Comcast Channel 71 & 996 or Verizon Channel 10.
Other Prince George’s County Places to Visit
🚗 National Wildlife Research Refuge
🚗 Imagination Playground Tour
🚗 Watkins Regional Park
🚗 Free Yoga in the Park
🚗 Clearwater Nature Center
🚗 National Harbor
🚗 Lake Artemesia Natural Area
🚗 @montpelier_farms
🚗 Merkle Natural Resources Management Area and Visitor Center
🚗 National Colonial Farm at Piscataway Park
🚗 College Park Aviation Museum
Let us know of any other PG County places we should know about on our social media or email us at artdirector@jecoannapolis.com. –Jenny Cardoza