Photo:
Play in the shadow of the Space Needle at Seattle Center’s phenomenal Artists at Play playground. Photo: Nancy Chaney
Explore top adventure playgrounds in Seattle
A topic of debate in recent years has been whether we are giving kids enough opportunities to take physical risks in their free play. One way for parents and caregivers to encourage kids to safely test their limits is to seek out local parks that offer more challenging playground equipment.
Playground design continues to evolve, and today’s risky playground elements are more likely to include tall rope climbers than super-high swings or steep slides. We’ve gathered up some old and new favorites offering a variety of elements, all sure to thrill adventure-loving kids.
These Seattle-area playgrounds offer steep slides, tall climbers, high swings and zippy zip lines. (Note: Of course, use your judgment and read signage at parks for safe play guidelines to make sure your child is playing within his or her limits.)
- Sprinker Recreation Center
- Othello Playground
- Rainier Beach Playfield
- Wilburton Hill Park
- Sunset Neighborhood Park
- Jefferson Park
- Artists at Play playground
- Dune Peninsula
- Cowen Park
- Fisher Creek Park
- Emma Yule Park
- Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park
- Roxhill Park
More great Seattle-area parks and playgrounds to explore: |
Editor’s note: This article was originally written many years ago and was most recently updated by ParentMap’s family fun editor, Meredith Charaba, on May 14, 2025, with a thorough fact-check and an interactive map so you can easily plan an adventurous playground day. Natasha Dillinger and Nancy Chaney also contributed to this article.
