Puget Sound playgrounds built or updated since 2001

This
list reflects playgrounds built or updated since specific Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) playground guidelines were issued in 2001.
Many playgrounds built between 1992 (when the ADA was enacted) and 2001
are also accessible to varying degrees. Most playgrounds built prior to
1992 are not considered accessible, although curb cuts, paths and other
minor modifications may have been made to improve access. For more information, check the Parks and Recreation Web site for the municipality in question.

Restrooms, where noted, may be closed seasonally.

BELLEVUE

Bovee Park, 1500 108th Ave. N.E., Bellevue
accessible restrooms
quiet neighborhood playground with lots of upper-body strengthening
equipment; wooded trail with gravel paths
Crossroads Park, 16000 N.E. 10th St., Bellevue
accessible restrooms at the Community Center (coming soon)
large variety of equipment sited amidst a shady grove of trees
Downtown Park, N.E. 4th and 100th Ave., Bellevue
accessible restroom
castle theme compound playstructure best suited to younger kids; one
challenging climber; enough spring horses for a posse of knights;
dragon toy; lots of grass, shade, and many fountains
Evergreen Park, 15655 Lake Hills Blvd., Bellevue
no restrooms
well equipped neighborhood playground; large sand pit with two sit-upon
backhoes, small compound playstructure; spring toys, swings; half
basketball court adjoins playground
Kelsey Creek Park, 13204 N.E. 8th Pl., Bellevue
restrooms not accessible
tot playground
Lewis Creek Park, 5808 Lakemont Blvd., Bellevue
accessible restrooms
accessible basketball court some distance from playground
lovely site with play features well integrated; spring toys; large
compound play structure; tot playstructure; swings; long paved curving
nature trail
PARK HOPPING FAVORITE
Meydenbauer Beach Park, 419 98th Ave. N.E., Bellevue
accessible restrooms
basic medium-sized compound playstructure overlooking swimming area; view of Lake Washington
Newcastle Beach Park, 4400 Lake Washington Blvd. S.E ., Bellevue
accessible restrooms
coal train theme with train playstructure; large compound playstructure
with interesting equipment; swings; playground abuts swimming beach
Spiritridge Park, 16100 S.E. 33rd Pl., Bellevue
accessible restrooms coming in 2006
medium-sized compound playstructure; swings
Wilburton Hill Park, 12001 Main St., Bellevue
accessible restrooms some distance from playground
climbable spider web; mix of old and new equipment; zipline cable ride; hand-over-hand bars; swings

EDMONDS

Frances Anderson Park, 700 Main, Edmonds
no restrooms
large compound playstructure; tot playstructure; climbing wall
Marina Beach Park, end of Admiral Way South, Edmonds
no restrooms
bright new compound playstructure (over wood chips) right on the edge of the beach
Seaview 184th Street Southwest and 80th Avenue West, Edmonds
accessible restrooms
peaceful setting surrounded by trees; well-thought-out equipment
provides plenty of challenges; three steering wheel play features

ISSAQUAH

Black Nugget Park, 1953 24th Ave. N.E., Issaquah
no restrooms
small neighborhood playground with two medium compound playstructures
Central Park, 1907 Park Drive N.E., Issaquah
accessible restrooms
very large compound playstructure with many interesting features; tire
swing; climbing wall; spring seesaw
Tibbetts Valley Park, 12th Avenue Northwest and Newport Way, Issaquah
accessible restrooms
small playground for younger children

KENMORE

St. Edward's State Park, 14500 Juanita Drive N.E., Kenmore
accessible restrooms but no paved path from restrooms to playground
large partially fenced wooden playground with Northwest theme and lots of fun equipment

KIRKLAND

North Kirkland Community Center and Playground, 12421 103rd Ave. N.E., Kirkland
accessible restroom
train theme compound playstructure for younger kids; medium- sized
compound playstructure; swings; spring toys; gently sloping hills for
rolling
PARK HOPPING FAVORITE

LYNNWOOD

Meadowdale Neighborhood Park, 5700 168th St., S.W., Lynnwood
accessible restrooms
cool art installation made from cedar harvested at park site during
construction; two compound playstructures; cable ride; digging area
strewn with giant boulders
Spruce Park, 16864 36th Ave. W., Lynnwood
accessible restrooms
accessible basketball court abuts playground

MERCER ISLAND

Mercerdale Park, 77th Southeast & Southeast 32nd, Mercer Island
no restrooms
swings; train playstructure; large compound playstructure; nearby skate park
Roanoke Park, 70th Southeast & West Mercer Way, Mercer Island
no restroom
pirate ship theme compound playstructure in quiet neighborhood with
great Lake Washington view; tire swing and hand-over-hand rings are not
wheelchair accessible as their enclosures lack curb cuts
Deane's Children's Park/Dragon Park, 5500 Island Crest Way, Mercer Island
restrooms
castle play structure, swings, dragon, slides, climbing dome, Sound Garden instruments, picnic shelter, tennis courts nearby

REDMOND

Anderson Park, 7802 168th Ave. N.E. at Redmond Way, Redmond
accessible restrooms
swings; tire swing; large compound playstructure; slug theme spring
seesaw; sand pit with sit-upon backhoe; playground nestled among tall
trees
Perrigo Park, 9011 196th Ave. N.E., Redmond
accessible restrooms
large compound playstructure; swings; sit-upon backhoe in small sand
pit; spring chicken toy; large covered picnic area; 0.4 mile loop trail
around sports field; park is very close to Redmond's historic 1913 Red
Brick Road

RENTON

Gene Coulon Beach Park, 1201 Lake Washington Blvd. N., Renton
accessible restrooms
bright and busy park on Lake Washington features tons of unique
innovative equipment including many pieces for upper-body conditioning;
so huge that keeping track of more than one kid may be difficult on
sunny crowded days; all-ages appeal
PARK HOPPING FAVORITE
Jones Park, Wells Avenue South at Cedar River, Renton
restrooms not accessible
sited near the bank of the Cedar River as it meanders through downtown;
lion-mouthed playstructure; three spring toys including a bulldozer;
giant sea serpent; giant frog at ground level; nearby arbor for quiet
or creative play
PARK HOPPING FAVORITE
Sunset Court Park, 1150 Harrington Ave. N.E., Renton
no restrooms
two compound playstructures; swings; basketball court adjoins playground; park is fenced
Windsor Hills Park, 432 Windsor Way N.E., Renton
no restrooms
neighborhood park with large compound playstructure

SAMMAMISH

Bill Reams East Sammamish Park, Northeast 16th and 214th Avenue Northeast, Sammamish
accessible restrooms
two large compound playstructures; spring toys; covered picnic area
Northeast Sammamish Neighborhood Park, Sahalee Way and Northeast 36th Street, Sammamish
no restrooms
one small, one medium compound playstructure; basketball court
Pine Lake Park, 228th Avenue Southeast at Southeast 24th Street, Sammamish
accessible restrooms
two climbing walls; basketball court; swings; two large compound
playstructures featuring diverse equipment; spring airplane; cool
"Finger Park" wheelchair accessible path for driving toy vehicles
(Hotwheels/Matchbox size)
PARK HOPPING FAVORITE

SEATTLE

Beer Sheva Playground, 8650 55th Ave. S., Seattle
restroom not accessible
peaceful wooded playground on Lake Washington; swings; two medium compound playstructures; spring toys
Benefit Park, 9320 38th Ave. S., Seattle
no restrooms
two small and one medium compound playstructure; sand play area; spring
toys; paved loop trail path surrounds entire park; standing stone art
piece "Common Ground" by Joe Wheeler
Cascade Playground, 333 Pontius Ave. N., Seattle
no restrooms
peaceful park tucked into the very urban South Lake Union neighborhood;
partially fenced; enormous playstructure with greatly diverse
components; sit-upon backhoe diggers; smaller tot compound
playstructure; Cascade P-Patch abuts playground
PARK HOPPING FAVORITE
Cowen Park, 5849 15th Ave. N.E., Seattle
accessible restrooms
zipline cable ride
Flo Ware Park, 28th Avenue South & South Jackson, Seattle
no restroom
tiled art entryway; two medium compound playstructures; swings; tables with embedded gameboards
Homer Harris Park, 2401 E. Howell St., Seattle
no play equipment yet, but coming soon
no restrooms
swooping path; cool sculptures by Central Area artist Monad; view
Park honors athlete and physician Dr. Homer Harris
Licton Springs Park, 9536 Ashworth Ave. N., Seattle
accessible restrooms
basic playground is enlivened by a curving path embedded with tiled
games from many countries and animal footprint tiles.
accessible path through adjoining natural portion of the park
Madrona Playfield, 3211 E. Spring St., Seattle
restroom not accessible
tot compound playstructure; sand area; swings; spring toys; large
compound playstructure with fun cargo net sling area; partially fenced;
tennis court and accessible basketball court adjoin playground
Meadowbrook Playground/Friends of Annie's Playground, 10533 35th Ave. N.E., Seattle
accessible restrooms
Pacific Northwest theme including beautiful salmon migration tile
mural; covered picnic area; wide variety of equipment including an
enormous compound playstructure with four slides.
PARK HOPPING FAVORITE
Meridian Playground, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., Seattle
restrooms not accessible
children's book theme; many touch-friendly bronze sculptures; peaceful
setting in an old orchard behind the Good Shepherd Center
Oxbow Park (Georgetown Park), 6400 block of Corson, Seattle
no restrooms
historic Hat and Boots structures; medium-sized compound play structure
Pratt Park, 1800 S. Main, Seattle
accessible restrooms
groovy water spray features designed by Central Area artist Monad;
swings; large compound playstructure
Pinehurst Playground, 12029 14th Ave. N.E., Seattle
no restrooms
smaller neighborhood playground with fun quirky equipment; small
basketball court adjoining is also accessible.
Soundview Terrace, 2500 11th W., Seattle
no restrooms
tiny but gracefully poignant playground tucked into the steep hillside
on the south slope of Queen Anne
View Ridge Playground and Wading Pool, 4408 N.E. 70th St., Seattle
restrooms not accessible
large, interesting compound playstructure; covered sandbox and picnic
pavilion; good assortment of swings
West Magnolia Playfield, 2518 34th Ave. W., Seattle
restrooms (not accessible) are in the Magnolia Community Center
large playground with many less common pieces of equipment
Westcrest Park, 9000 8th Ave. S.W., Seattle
accessible restroom
large compound playstructure; spring seesaw and spring toys; swing

SHORELINE

Shoreview Park, 700 N.W. Innis Arden Way, Shoreline
accessible restrooms
fun, three-level compound playstructure with four slides and pirate spy
glasses; tot compound playstructure located near tennis courts
PARK HOPPING FAVORITE
Paramount School Park, 15300 8th Ave. N.E., Shoreline
accessible restrooms
park of playground is fenced (no gates); covered picnic area; climbing wall; nearby skate park

VASHON

Ober Park, 17130 Vashon Highway S.W., Vashon Island
accessible restrooms in administration or library buildings during business hours

WOODINVILLE

Rotary Playground, 19518 136th Ave. N.E., Woodinville
accessible restrooms
three great quirky playstructures; natural-style climbing rock; wall
for spray painting graffiti; picnic tables with built-in game boards;
covered picnic pavilion; skate/bmx park adjoins playground; entire
complex fenced
PARK HOPPING FAVORITE

KING COUNTY Parks Department playgrounds reported to be recently upgraded: (not assessed by Park Hopping)

Big Finn Park, Northeast 138th & Juanita Drive, Kirkland
Petrovitsky Park, 16400 Petrovitsky Rd. S.E., Renton
Enumclaw Park, 28511 Enumclaw-Chinook Pass, Enumclaw
Dockton Park on Maury Island, 9500 S.W. Dock St., Vashon
Maplewood Park, Southeast 138th Street & 144th Avenue Southeast, Renton

Older playgrounds worth noting:

Bellevue: The Cecil V. Lowe Specialty Park
led the greater Seattle metropolitan area when it opened in 1988 as an
admirable pre-ADA attempt at playground accessibility. Located on the
grounds of Bellevue's Sherwood Forest Elementary School (16411 N.E.
24th St., Bellevue), the aging wooden playstructures have ramps. The
park also features a barrier-free sand play area, roll-through activity
board maze, ramp-accessed slide, and giant spring teeter-totter. The
swingset is now missing seats, the wooden suspension bridge lists
alarmingly to one side, and there are no bathroom facilities. The
public may not use this park when school is in session. A renovation of
this playground is pending.
Kirkland: Peter Kirk Park Playground
(202 3rd St., Kirkland) opened in 1997 and was specifically planned to
be accessible. An early take on ADA playground access, the structure
boasts ramps but lacks some of the safety features: one ramped area
ends in a wide unmarked plunge down several steps.
Edmonds: Sierra Park For the Blind,
190th & 81st Avenue West. A paved path leads through a forested
area marked with Braille signs describing various species of trees.
There are no restrooms and the small playground is not accessible.