by Katharine (mom to Henry, pre-3’s)
When I became a parent I anticipated that I would be spending some time at parks. I did not anticipate going to the park in January or that I might actually begin to enjoy a cold, wet trip to the park. However, that newfound joy does not keep me from welcoming the increase of sunshine and longer days. It makes me hopeful that we can spend even more days at drier parks. Of course, by the park I do not mean only View Ridge Playfield. Surprisingly there are parks all over Seattle, although none I’ve found yet with swings to rival our beloved local park (except maybe Laurelhurst). I asked my son to weigh in on which parks we should recommend however, he tends to rank all parks by the number and diversity of trucks in the sandpit, which tends to be a fairly narrow criteria. I’ve included his reviews with a few other helpful evaluative factors such as equipment diversity, popularity on a sunny Saturday, age appropriateness and size. Please know that most parks were tested with a 2 and ½ year old boy, other parks recommended by my fellow Pre-3 parents were tested with 3 and 2 ¾ year old boys, so your park needs may be different. Please know we did not ask only parents of boys about parks, they are simply the only ones who responded to my survey. Please also be aware that we have not been to every park in Seattle, if you have other great parks to recommend, especially if you have a daughter, please let us know and we will add them. I hope there are enough parks here to keep your family busy for weeks. Let’s go to the park!
Discovery Park: 3801 Discovery Park Blvd, WA 98199
It may seem odd to wax poetically about swings and sandpits and then immediately introduce a park that we have been to many times but still have not visited the playground on site. But if you like Dr. Seuss, stick with us. Discovery Park is so much better than a playground but it has one if you need it! A beach, meadows, forests, and breathtaking Sound views make for as one Pre-3 mom put it, “a great place to run and burn off energy.” It is also a great place to explore the natural world; find birds that don’t visit your house or the insects that live under logs. Stopping by the Environmental Learning Center is a easy way to get a free map and some advice on how to tackle the park if it is your first time. It is also the place to get a free 3 hour parking permit for the 8 space parking lot at the beach. Parking permits are issued to visitors if they are over 62 years of age or have children under 7 or have a physical disability or injury that prevents them from making them the 1.5 mile hike to the beach. The permits are popular on beautiful days but the park offers lots of other distractions while you wait for a permit.
Froula Park: 7200 12th Ave NE, 98115
We have nicknamed this park Brigadoon because the only hint a park exists there is a sign. Nestled between a neighborhood and the reservoir are two play structures, slides, teeter totter, good swings (2 baby, 4 regular), medium sized sandpit (three trucks but “needs an excavator and a dump truck”), a long field for running in and kicking balls, lots of shade from big, beautiful trees and peekaboo city views. There is only street parking. It does not have paths for practicing bike riding but does have tennis courts, which I may not be implying are also good for practicing bike riding. Very sparsely attended, mostly by one or two families that live very nearby at a time. In fact, on our first visit, one father asked if we had just moved into the neighborhood and then made us swear not to tell too many people about this park. If I am stricken with a mysterious illness, please remove this article.
Madison Park: E Madison St & E Howe St, 98112
Madison Park has a different style of play structures than most playgrounds in Seattle that appeals to kids of many different ages. It widened both our eyes at the possibilities of what sort of trouble an ambitious 2 ½ year old could get into. It also has slides and medium sized swings but only one baby swing, leading to long lines occasionally. The cool zip-line makes up for it and provides an easy distraction from an occupied baby swing. There is a large grassy area for running around in and large animal sculptures to attempt to identify or climb. There is no sandpit but that did not keep another Pre-3 family from also recommending it too. On one side are the shops and restaurants of Madison Park and on another side Madison Park Beach. This confluence of fun means that on warm summer days parking can be hard to find but until its warm enough to swim in Lake Washington or at least lay on the beach pretending that you might, street parking is possible.
Magnolia Playfield: 2518 34th Ave W, 98199:
(A warning: the pictures on the Seattle Parks’ website are out of date, check out yelp for more accurate pictures)
A fun park with lots of medium height swings (4 baby swings, regular swings), two play structures (one geared towards toddlers, one for older kids), a ferryboat that kids and maybe a mama can ride or propel between two docks by turning a large crank. A medium size sandpit with a good number of trucks but I’ve heard “the sand is rough and there is too many rocks. I want to play in the woodchips.” Some shade, a short walk to the shops in Magnolia village, and a few picnic tables. There is street parking or parking in the lot for the Magnolia Community Center right next door. Although I could see it getting busy, we’ve been there on a sunny Saturday with two little league games were on the adjacent fields at the same time and there was still enough room for all to play.
Maple Leaf Reservoir Park: 1020 NE 82nd St, 98115
Although I have once driven by this park and seen it literally teeming with children, every other time it has been a very pleasant place to visit. Every other time it was a cloudy day, so take note. The playground is built with a nature theme and features a mix of many interesting things for the younger set. It’s a good spot to change up a child’s play routine. There are lots of medium sized swings and all the usual equipment, just presented in unusual ways, for example one slide glides down a hill and the sandpit is bordered by large rocks. There is also a paved loop for riding bikes, and a grassy area. If you climb the large stairs to the north, you will find an even larger open space for those days when even playing on a park and climbing a long staircase is not enough.
Meadowbrook Playfield, Annie’s Playground: 10533 35th Ave NE, 98125
This is a fun playground with lots of ways to climb and swing. There are three large climbing structures, swings, a teeter-totter, and a merry-go-round. The sandpit is large. It has a cave but it is open enough that you will not need months of physical therapy after you extract your child out of it, unlike the caves at the zoo. It’s a popular playground that can get really full during multiple baseball games on the adjacent fields but has plenty of space to play even for the sunny Saturday crowd.
Meridian Park: 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, 98103
I confess, I have not been to this park yet but since one of my fellow Pre-3 parents recommended it, I am excited to go check it out. It has some shade for those sunny Saturdays, a great sandpit and lots of grass to run around in. Although it is in a busy area, large shrubs and a fence help it feel secluded and peaceful.
Ravenna-Eckstein Park: 6535 Ravenna Ave NE, 98115
This playground is hidden behind the community center but walking around the corner reveals a great space with play structures that appeal to a range of ages, a green space for running around and a large paved area for practicing riding a bike or bouncing a ball. The swings are short but there is a tire swing to make up for it. In the far corner of the grassy area is a community garden with lots of friendly lady bugs and often gardeners eager to answer questions.
Woodland Park Playground: 1000 N 50th St, 98103
Another park recommended by a fellow Pre-3 family! This park has unusual climbing structures, some shade for sunny days and a great sandpit. There are also medium sized swings and lots of big rocks for inspiring stories of giants, excavators or giant excavators.