Best Rainy Day Parks and Playgrounds Around Seattle and Beyond
Photo:
The trees at Lakewood Playground provide excellent rain cover. Photo: Natasha Dillinger
Lakewood Park, Seattle
Nestled in a South Seattle neighborhood, not far from larger Seward Park, Lakewood Park welcomes kids and families for play.
While most playgrounds we’ve visited feature two distinct play structures — one for the ages 2–5 set and another for ages 5–12 — parents of multi-aged kids won’t have to keep switching their gaze between structures at Lakewood. Park designers here stuck to one comprehensive structure, with age-appropriate elements for toddlers to tweens, so everyone can play together. Multiple climbing approaches provide access to the structure. My daughter loved climbing up the castle-like stone walls before leaping to the ramp and dashing down the tube slide. We saw younger kids gleefully coasting down the ramp astride tricycles and dump trucks.
A giant empress tree provides shade in summer — and surprisingly excellent rain cover — to the playground. This is thanks to the thoughtful placement of play structure footings around the tree’s significant roots.
Location: Lakewood Park is located at 5013 S. Angeline Street in Seattle.
Warm up: You’ll find coffee a couple of blocks away at Caffe Vita. For a brunch option, check out Geraldine’s Counter in Columbia City. We picked up brisket and mac and cheese at Lil Red.
— Natasha Dillinger
