Best New Seattle-Area Playgrounds of 2022

So many playgrounds, where will you go first?

Wow, we thought that 2021 produced a bumper crop of playgrounds, but 2022’s bounty of new playgrounds puts it right at the top of the cargo climber! Yep, a bonanza of new playgrounds opened this year — and we love them all.

From cozy neighborhood spots to worth-a-drive-from-anywhere destination playgrounds, check out these new play stops to put on your route. We’ll see you there!

Up first: Lakeridge Playground

Lakeridge Playground

Sweet new Lakeridge Playground in South Seattle presents a Goldilocks-style menu of play options. The layered cargo climber offers a Papa Bear-size challenge. The Mama Bear middle structure includes a bridge, tower and spiral slide, and on the Baby Bear structure, the little tots will find a small climbing wall, a double slide and sensory panels. Bring your whole crew and discover each kid’s “just right” play spot.

Next stop: Westside Park

Westside Park

The new playground at Redmond’s Westside Park really bucks local new playground trend. Most new playgrounds around here feature molded plastic equipment. Not this spot. Here your crew will encounter unique play structures made of natural wood logs set in a variety of angles and arrangements. In addition, this playground claims the first zipline in the Redmond park system. All that along with swings, trails, sport courts and a picnic shelter will keep you happy for hours at this fun spot.

Next stop: Fairmount Playground

Fairmount Park

West Seattle’s updated Fairmount Playground serves up an enticing main play structure with towers, ramps, bridge and rope climbers. And don’t forget rings! Kids can traverse these play elements in a zillion different circuits and will try to navigate them all. Tall evergreen trees decorate the play equipment and give it some Northwest flair. Nearby find an exciting retro teeter-totter and a ferry boat play structure original to the park.

Next stop: Edgewood Community Park

Edgewood Community Park

Another unique new playground, Edgewood Community Park easily earns can-entertain-for-hours playground status. This spot features the kind of stuff kids really, really love, even more than the best manufactured play structures: a real tractor! And next to the tractor, there’s a two-story play barn! Swings, a zipline, giant old tires … you can see how this playground is well worth an extended. And if you haven’t heard of the city of Edgewood, find it in Pierce County, east of Fife, south of Auburn and north of Puyallup.

Next stop: Kennydale Beach Park

Kennydale Beach Park

What petite Kennydale Beach Park lacks in size, it makes up for in location. This fun new Renton playground sits right on the sand next to Lake Washington! While it’s an ideal spot for a summer swim, it’s fun to play by the lake in any season. Two play structures — the one for younger kids shaded — and two fun diggers will entertain your crew. A picnic on the pier is a fine idea, too.

Next stop: Depot Park

Depot Park Playground

All aboard for the super-cool new playground at Lacey’s Depot Park! The Depot District is a multi-phase project by the city of Lacey designed to serve local residents with a depot building replica, community gathering space, future museum and, of course, the awesome train-themed playground. Kids can climb aboard the locomotive, imagine they’re chugging down the line, and jump and run from car to car. A clock tower ensures all riders board the train on time. Classics like hanging rings, a climbing wall and a slide complement the train structure.

And this playground has a bonus: a food truck rotation! Follow Lacey Food Truck Depot on Facebook to see who will be there serving up dinner. (Genius)

Next stop: Mercerdale Park

Mercerdale Park

The new playground at Mercer Island’s Mercerdale Park is sure to attract train fans from far and wide. The centerpiece here is the Mercer Island Express train, complete with tracks painted along the cushy rubber surfacing. We are totally on board for one-of-a-kind custom playground equipment like this.

But there is lots more to see at this beloved spot, known as Train Park. Expansive connected play elements invite kids to travel with pathways, bridges, ladders, platforms and slides. At the perimeter of all this, kids will find swings, musical elements and an exciting cargo-net cone spinner. This is another new playground earning stay-for-hours status. Plan accordingly!

Next stop: South Lynnwood Park

South Lynnwood Park

The fantastic new playground at South Lynnwood Park invites all kinds of imaginative play. On their visit, our reviewer’s kids spotted “pirates” from the upper deck of the two-story tree house, and evaded “baby dragons” by zipping down the firefighter’s pole. Your crew can spin away from invaders, hand-over-hand it through the “jungle,” put on a show at the drum kit or sneak off to the accessible swings — if the dragons are on their heels.

This new playground also offers shade on a hot summer day a beautiful mural to admire and soft turf underfoot.

Next stop: Emma Yule Park

Emma Yule Park

The city of Everett pulled out all the stops for the new playground at Emma Yule Park. This is another playground that qualifies as a worth-a-visit-from-anywhere destination. There seem to be acres of play equipment here, from a tot-sized area to a structure with a rope bridge, a twisty slide and climbing discs. The Sensory Wave climber allows kids of all abilities to pull themselves through an S-shape using molded grips and handholds. Our reviewer’s kids loved the face-to-face double swing. But the highlight, even among the many features of this colorful playground, is the play element called the Trirunner, kind of a zipline-plus-carousel combo that resembles a carnival ride, but on a kid-sized scale. Guaranteed your crew will love it.

Next stop: Cascade Park

Cascade Park

Nature has been a popular theme at new playgrounds lately, with equipment in shades of green and brown meant to mimic trees and rocks. The new playground at Renton’s Cascade Park takes a different approach: Its equipment sports super-bright colors and our reviewer’s kids ooohed and aahed over it at first sight. The centerpiece here is an extra-wide purple slide, designed for multiple kids to descend together. It’s a winner!

In addition to the slide, kids will find two different sizes of climbing domes, and lots of balance and upper-body-strengthening challenges. Definitely swing by this nifty new neighborhood park when you’re in the area.

Next stop: Chestnut Ridge

Chestnut Ridge Park

The central climbing tower at the new Chestnut Ridge Park playground is designed for kids ages 5–12. But don’t try to keep your determined preschoolers away. Ascending through the platform levels to the top of the tower and descending the double slide is too much fun to miss for the littler guys.

In addition to the tower, cone spinner and rope bridge, the neighborhood spot in Kent features a terrific valley view. Add to that some climbable artwork and a large covered picnic shelter, and you’ve got the recipe for a sweet play stop when you’re in Kent.

Next stop: Hawks Landing

Hawks Landing

Well, the secret is probably out, but with good reason. The unique new playground called Hawks Landing is so cool, it warrants a visit from anywhere. In all our playground reviews over all these years, we’ve never seen a main play structure like this. It’s a bright green elevated net climber tube tunnel thingie. Get it? Decorated with faux trees, it’s perhaps supposed to feel like a canopy walk atop the forest. Or could it be a huge green snake, resting among the treetops? It doesn’t matter. Your kids will go wild for it.

Find Hawks Landing in the planned community of Tehaleh, in Bonney Lake. The playground is part of the development, but it — and all other parks and trails in Tehaleh — are open to the public.

Next stop: Newport Hills Woodlawn Park

Newport Hills Woodlawn Park

A kid from Seattle, one from the Eastside and another from the South Sound want to get together for a playdate — what’s the optimal spot to meet in the middle? Easy! It’s the newly completed playground at Newport Hills Woodlawn Park. This last playground on our list is another in the “one of a kind” column, and we dig it. The play equipment here will really appeal to advanced climbers of elementary age. Little tots won’t be able to reach the highest heights, but there is a large disc swing, a slide nestled in among climbing rocks and a smaller cone spinner. For grown-ups to get moving, check out the adult exercise stations that feature a good view of the play area.

So what are we waiting for? Let’s go play.