The Park Less Traveled: 7 Seattle Parks to Discover
Written by Elise Gruber
Filed under: Outings and activities Family fun Ages 3-5
4a. Meadowbrook Playfield, Meadowbrook/Lake City
Lesser known than nearby Magnuson Park and tucked away behind Nathan Hale High School, Meadowbrook Playfield features the wonderful Annie’s Playground, multiple well-maintained playfields, and lighted tennis courts. The playground itself is worth the visit with its multiple slides, numerous swings for all ages, teeter-totter, sand pit, and colorful tiled seating and walls. This is a great playground to take siblings because the toddler portion is really fun and centralized. The playfields are often hosting baseball games, but are otherwise great swaths of grass for running dogs and kids.
Other pros: Thornton Creek runs next to the playground, which can provide great stick/rock throwing opportunities. (The creek can have high bacteria counts in the summer so it’s not recommended to let kids wade in it.) There's also easy access to a top-notch track over at Nathan Hale, the pool at the nearby Meadowbrook Community Center (Family Swim is best), and easy parking both near the park and at the Community Center. There is a public restroom next to the middle playfield.
Challenges: It can get very hot at the playground, though there is one covered picnic table area. And the students from the nearby high school sometimes overrun the playground during lunchtime, producing trash, inappropriate language, and an annoying reminder that your kids will turn into teenagers.
Logistics: There is plenty of parking at the playfield. Here are directions and more information for the Meadowbrook Playfield.