In the heart of Vienna, a simple turf field has become the center of middle school community culture. Popularly known by the name of “Waters” is Vienna’s Caffi Fields. Stretching back for years, Waters has served as more than just an epicenter for sporting activities; it’s a space for friendship, socializing and shared adolescent chaos.
The “Water Kids,” as they’re known, have used Waters as a huge aspect of their middle school memories and life. After school, backpacks thud onto the ground as kids group together, filling the air with laughter, shouts and arguments over pickup football rules. Some come to play sports, while others gather in groups to gossip or go get food at nearby restaurants. No one ever needs a plan; Waters is where you can go to always have a given activity.
“The most enjoyable part about going to Waters is hanging out with friends for sure,” middle schooler Connor Bryant (’29) said. “My favorite activity is playing sports with friends like football and pickup soccer. After that, we walk to Chipotle to also hangout.”
Waters is where friendships deepened, crushes were revealed and independence was tested. Parents often relied on the unspoken rule that kids would “be at Waters,” making it a default meeting spot and a popular preteen safe haven after they walked to the field straight from school. While these kids had the actual field as a hangout spot, many would migrate around to other places nearby. Most popular preteen spots include the Chipotle, Walgreens, Mobil Gas Station and the new Crumbl Cookie all located on Maple Ave.
“Honestly, there is a lot of crazy that happens at Waters, and it’s fun to be a part of it,” middle schooler Henry Pollinger (’29) said. “I bike to Waters, and from there, my friends and I go to the gas station and the shopping center with Chipotle to get food. A lot of rizzing happens, and it’s very funny.”
While social media and cell phones have reshaped how kids connect, Waters continues to draw middle schoolers after the final school bell rings. The same enthusiastic energy persists, and Madison students often reminisce about their days as Water Kids, remembering the drama and good times of those after-school afternoons.
“Waters was very exciting, every Friday you could go and meet friends from a new school,” Preston Lee (’25) said. “It was fun to branch out and meet new people, each week just felt more fun than the last. Every Friday you would get home, and everyone would rush over to Waters to hang out for a couple of hours before it got dark out. Say for high school experience, it helped you make friends with new kids easier and that you already knew more people from other schools.”
In a world that is constantly changing, Waters serves as a reminder that sometimes the simplest places can hold the most significance. For Vienna’s youth, it’s not just a turf field; it’s a community.