Story by Gina Dropik

Photos by Christopher Anderson

The community of Potomac Knolls is located in Fort Washington in Prince George’s County. It is a neighborhood of 40 streets and more than 600 homes. Housing styles of all types can be found within Potomac Knolls, including ramblers, split levels, colonials and more.

Residents enjoy a neighborhood pool, two pond areas and a walking trail within the community. The Potomac Knolls Community Center offers residents an event room that can be rented for parties and gatherings. Debra Proctor, director of the community center, said the pool is open yearly from the Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day.

A day care facility, called The Playground, is also housed in the community center. Monica Lampkins is a resident of the community and also the owner of The Playground. “We offer childcare, Monday through Friday, from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.,” said Lampkins.

The facility also offers a summer camp for children ages 2 through 12. “During camp we take field trips, go swimming, do arts and crafts and take weekly trips to Six Flags,” she said. Lampkins has lived in the community for more than a decade and raised her two children there.

The Potomac Knolls Homeowner’s Association offers a full calendar of special events throughout the year, including picnics, an annual Family Day, Halloween and Christmas parties for kids, a Valentine’s Day Ball and a Christmas Ball for adults.

“It is such a pleasant environment. Everyone is very friendly and inviting,” said Lampkins. “There is always something to do.”

The community is bordered by Indian Head Highway and not far from the Capital Beltway, which allows quick access too much of the metropolitan area. Washington, D.C., is just 10 miles to the north and Alexandria, Va., is just five miles away.

Proctor noted that the National Harbor, a 300-acre waterfront destination, opened in nearby Oxon Hill in spring 2008. This mixed-use attraction includes hotels, restaurants, retail stores, condominiums, a full-service marina, a convention center and commercial office space set along the Potomac River, according to the Web site.