Walt Hundley Playfield

Looking for a spot in West Seattle to kick a soccer ball, throw a football, toss a baseball, play lacrosse, or sling the Frisbee? Situated behind Our Lady of Guadalupe and a block off 35th Walt Hundley offers a lot of open space to enjoy on a NW day. The park also offers a stunning view of downtown Seattle as well as the Cascade Mountains. It's a great place to fly a kite if you are in need of open sky. The bathrooms are open and well they are park restrooms but work in an emergency. Pretty cool spot to let the kids run free and wide.

Ratings for this park:                                         
Age: 1-18
Playground: Yes, good for up to 6 or so
Bike Area: Yes, long path through out the park
Sports Equipment: Yes; tennis court, field for football, soccer, lacrosse, or pretty much anything, and baseball backstops through out.               
Highlights: Open sky and amazing view into downtown on a clear day. One of the highest points in Seattle proper. 
Crowd Levels: Never seems to be to  crazy, there are league soccer games from spring-fall but even then there is open area to be had.
Hours: Dusk till dawn

Hiawatha Park and Community Center

Nestled just off West Seattle's California Ave Hiawatha park offers families large playing fields, playground, and large amounts of grass area. Contained on the grounds is Hiawatha Community Center and bordering to the south is West Seattle High School. The park offers a natural setting while still featuring great playing areas.

Ratings for this park:                                         
Age: 1-18
Playground: Yes
Bike Area: Yes but limited unless done on dirt walking path or courts 
Sports Equipment: Yes; basketball, tennis, track, soccer, long jump pit, discus throwing ring, and football field.              
Highlights: Setting and overall space. Can make you feel like you are the only one there even though there are plenty of people in the park 

Crowd Levels: Seems reasonable most time except during high school events
Hours: Dusk till dawn

Dawson Playfield

 Sticking with our Southend park tour, our next stop is just a little further south from the Portland Avenue Park, the Dawson Playfield in Midland, WA. This is a real hidden gem for those seeking play equipment; the playground boast a ton of options from slides to climbing structures and swings. Adjacent to the playground is a large covered picnic area perfect for watching kids during our rainy NW days. Dawson Playfield also has tennis courts (although they needed to be resurfaced), basketball hoops, baseball field (once again the surface was pretty dicey), and a small gravel walking path. This park is not huge but because of the play equipment is a recommended stop for families in the Midland, Tacoma or Puyallup areas. 

 

 

Ratings for this park:                                         
Age: 1-10
Playground: Yes
Bike Area: Yes but limited unless done on gravel walking path or courts 
Sports Equipment: Yes                Highlights: Size and variety of what the playground offers. Crowd Levels: Only been once and no one was there.   
Hours: Dusk till dawn

Click here for directions on Google Maps.

Portland Avenue Park

The Portland Avenue Park is our first Tacoma, WA park featured on the PSPPG. This park is just south of I-5 off the Portland Avenue exit. The park has a playground with limited play equipment that caters to younger children. However the parks footprint is very large that boasts a large open play area with walking path along with a basketball court, and tennis courts. There is also a wading pool (click here for details) and community center on site so I'm sure at times this park can get hopping. But if you are looking for a place to fly a kite, kick a soccer ball, play catch, or just relax under the covered gazebo in our unpredictable NW weather this could be a great spot for those in the local Tacoma area. 

Ratings for this park:                                         
Age: 1-18
Playground: Yes but for younger kids                         
Bike Area: Yes but limited unless done on gravel walking path          Sports Equipment: Yes                Highlights: Big open field perfect for flying kites or playing sports.   Crowd Levels: Only been once and no one was there.   
Hours: Dusk till dawn

Click here for directions from Google Maps.

Jones Park

I stumbled upon Jones Park in Renton, WA one day when I was out on a business call. The park is just north of the old downtown area and is bordered on one side by the Cedar River. The park is smaller but the play equipment had many unique features that are worth checking out if you have kids under the age of 6. This park also offers a ton of shade, see the tree made gazebo, for pinics and a walking path next to the river. If you are looking for a unique way to get your kids out for a day come play at this park and then walk the short distance to the Renton City Library for some reading time. Overall this park is a great find for those who live close and need to run little legs.

Ratings for this park:                                         
Age: 1-6 (maybe a little older depending on the kids)
Playground: Yes                                                   
Bike Area: No                                                    Sports Equipment: No                                
Highlights: Next to the Cedar River which is always fun for the kids.                               Crowd Levels: Only been by a few times but every time the park has been empty.     
Hours: Dusk till dawn

Click here for direction via Google Maps