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New stops for your playground circuit
As we know all too well, the year 2020 delivered a big stink pie in terms of family fun, including no new playground openings — and even the existing ones were off-limits for a very long time!
Thankfully, the pace of playground debuts picked up in 2021. We’ve gathered them all here, from incredible, one-of-a-kind play stops to quieter neighborhood park renovations. Make it your family’s New Year’s resolution to put these fabulous new (or like new) playgrounds on your route. Happy playing!
Juanita Beach Park, Kirkland
Lovely lakeside Juanita Beach Park opened its new playground to the cheers of Eastside families. This accessible playground features wide-open turf surfaces, adaptive swings, and play structures for the preschool and school-age sets. Sensory features include drums, steering wheels and spinning colored discs.
Bring swimsuits on summer visits to take advantage of the beachfront location and swanky new bathhouse changing rooms.
West Fenwick Park Playground, Kent
The colorful new playground at Kent’s West Fenwick Park will make you do a double take. It looks like some kind of life-size rainbow board game for kids; could it be real? Indeed, it is. This one-of-a-kind playground caused quite a stir when it opened last summer, attracting legions of families. This phenomenal playground is worth a visit from anywhere. Give yourselves ample time to spend at this playground paradise; your kids will never want to leave.
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton
The terrific new playground at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park is the cherry on top of an already beloved park. This destination playground features 11 (!) slides and a dome-shaped rope climber that’s like something from an obstacle-course-based reality TV show. Kiddos will also find plenty of ways to spin, swing and explore.
The park’s grassy expanses abut the Lake Washington beachfront — convenient access for a dip when the weather is warm enough!
Sunset Neighborhood Park, Renton
The new playground at Sunset Neighborhood Park in Renton is one with a truly unique feature. Let us say right now: If you’re a parent or caregiver with a fear of heights, you may not love this place. But, if you have trustworthy climbers or kids who love risky play, let ’em loose on the Neptun XXL pyramid. Holy cow, they are not kidding about the XXL!
The climbing structures are the centerpiece of this new playground, but for tots, you’ll find fun and colorful play elements much closer to the ground. Parents and caregivers will appreciate the covered picnic tables for shelter from the drizzle.
Battle Point Park, Bainbridge Island
If you live in the Seattle area, you’ll need to plan a bit of a day trip to visit the newly renovated KidsUp Playground at Bainbridge Island’s Battle Point Park. But it is so worth it! The showstopper here is a 47-foot-long custom ferryboat play structure. You won’t find anything like it anywhere else in the world.
Forest Park Playground, Everett
Everett’s popular Forest Park unveiled its new, accessible playground in late 2020, and it’s a winner. Kids can run or roll over the wide turf spaces, hide in the hidey-hole, play the chimes or roll onto the surface-level spinner. There are swings and slides here, among many other play elements. Don’t forget to say hello to Rosie the Elephant!
Totem Lake Playground, Kirkland
The bright and inviting new playground at Kirkland’s Totem Lake Park is a must-visit play stop, but most Eastside families won’t have to go far out of their way to play. The Totem Lake area is an errand-running destination for many of these families, and the playground is conveniently located right by Trader Joe’s.
Climbing is a focus here — good for developing those gross motor skills — and kids will find ladders, balance steps and a cone-shaped cargo climber. When the kids scramble up to the green structures resembling phone booths, explain to them what a telephone booth was.
North Kirkland Community Center Playground, Kirkland
Space Force! The awesome new space-themed playground at North Kirkland Community Center especially appeals to young fans of the solar system, but all kids will blast off here. Stand commandingly atop a planet just as The Little Prince did and clamber aboard the space shuttle climbing structure. There’s a ropes-and-rings climber and small slides built into a slope. Officially, this playground opened at the end of 2020, but we couldn’t offer this list last year, so we’re including it here. Plus, it’s so worth the voyage!
Suquamish Shores Natural Play Area, Suquamish
The unique Suquamish Shores Natural Play Area welcomes families to climb on its resident orcas and spend time learning about the first inhabitants of the region we call home.
The Suquamish Museum and Chief Seattle’s gravesite prompt a discussion of the Suquamish Tribe’s culture and history, and a visit to the playground offers a glimpse of the Lushootseed language with posted signs. Kids will love climbing the giant boulder, sliding down the slide and taking a turn in the huge rope basket spinner.
Loyal Heights Playfield, Ballard
Scads of Ballard families live within walking distance of Loyal Heights Community Center and playfield, and the new playground there is a hit. It isn’t the biggest or flashiest on this list, but it’s perfect for families cruising through the neighborhood. Tons of youth sporting events take place at the adjacent playfield, and younger siblings brought along will appreciate this handy play spot.
There’s also a small path for practicing fledgling biking or scootering skills, as well as a basketball hoop and restrooms at field level, which are often open even when the community center building isn’t.
Heron Park, Mill Creek
The play elements of Heron Park’s new nature-themed playground mimic its surroundings. Play equipment is in shades of green and brown, with tall trees and a heron or two to be spotted by sharp-eyed kids. The merry-go-round here lets kids propel themselves with a center steering wheel. Older kids who like climbing will find lots to scale.
This smaller playground caters to Mill Creek families and those from surrounding areas.
Lakewood Play Area, Seattle
Recently unveiled updates at this neighborhood park have combined new and existing elements in a super new playground design. Community members said they wanted to keep the stone wall and the sandpit, so designers joined a fun new play structure with those elements. A bridge connects the wall to the all-ages structure, and various steps and ladders lead up and over to a half-enclosed tube slide.
