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(21 posts)

The playgrounds ARE pathetic

Started 3 years ago by mom2soren
Latest reply from westseattledood

mom2soren
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I'm looking forward to an upcoming move to WS due to the natural beauty & strong community feel.

However, I find the playgrounds to be disturbing. I haven't yet driven by a playground that isn't ugly, empty, and with sparse, metal, unappealing equipment. Since these playgrounds are used infrequently during the week, I would be reluctant to take my preschooler there by myself -- for fear of wierdos lurking in the bushes, or gang crime.

What's going on? The rest of Seattle has an abundance of playgrounds with complex wooden climbing structures, about 6-10 swings, fancy slides and beams, wading pools for summer, and wood chips -- these parks are usually well-populated, with stay-at-home parents during the week and crowds on the weekends. I do not live in an affluent area, yet I can think of 5 beautiful, amazing playgrounds within 3 miles from my house.

Why are the parks here so under-funded? Are they paid for out of a different budget? Are there beautiful ones hiding somewhere? How can I advocate for better playgrounds for our children?

Posted 3 years ago #
pam
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You aren't looking in the right places - Alki Elementary and Whale Tale Park, Lafayette, Schmitz Park, Arbor Heights, Lincoln Park, Hiawatha, the new park on Alaska and 48th..... most initiated by PTSA's and community with matching grants.

Posted 3 years ago #
mom2soren
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Thank you, Pam.

Posted 3 years ago #
RainyDay1235
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High Point (water tower/Myrtle) has three wonderful playgrounds. Two are used for the schools (Guadalupe and High point Elementary) but are kept open to the public outside of school hours, with another very nice one smack-dab inbetween.

And Lincoln Park's playground is amazing....

Posted 3 years ago #
JenV
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Roxhill Park is also pretty sweet.

http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?id=464

really cool big castle structure for kids to run around in/on, swings, lots of open space. A lot nicer than it used to be for sure.

Posted 3 years ago #
Gina
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Outside of school hours, all entrances to the Lafayette playground are chained and locked, with the exception of the 45th SW entrance that has 4 stairsteps. At times the handgrip for the hang and glide is chained when school is closed.

Hope this helps folks with toddlers in tow save a few steps!

Posted 3 years ago #
HMC Rich
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Lincoln Park's Dragon Den (that's what we call it) is fun. Our two year loves it and there is a small zip line there for kids just a little older. It is situated by the parking lot which is relatively close to the Fauntleroy Ferry. Ercolini Park is a nice little park as said up above at 48th and Alaska. Puget Ridge Tot Lot past Home Depot up the Hill is a neat little park.

The wading pools we visit are at Hiawatha Community Center (Next to West Seattle High School towards Safeway). Delridge Community Center has a nice wading pool as does Lincoln Park North End.

For just plain fun exploring the beach I like taking our son to Lowman Beach Park. It has Rocks, Logs and is not very busy. It is extremely small with only a dual swing set and that is it. You can take the road to the trail to Lincoln Park and go to Colman Pool in the summer.

Whale Tale Rocks, plus there is a sand pit in which there are kids trucks, buckets and diggers. Fairmount park has climbing implements, swings etc. It is right off Fauntleroy Way. It is by the old school. There is a soccer and softball field there. It is older but adequate.
Have fun.

Posted 3 years ago #
kirida
Member Profile

I've actually had a fantastic experience with the parks. My son has had fun at every park we've been to in West Seattle.

I love the wading pools, the baby swings, and the slides. Roxhill is a personal fave as is the Puget Ridge Tot Lot.

The community centers in West Seattle are also wonderful places to take a little one when the parks are too "pathetic" or full of "weirdos lurking in bushes" and "gang crime."

Posted 3 years ago #
angelescrest
Member Profile

We're with you, Kirida, wondering just who those "weirdos in the bushes" might be!?! The parks here rock...just the sheer number: the pocket parks are amazing, and so much of park play is imagination running wild, which doesn't require much fancy equpiment. What could be better than the tidepools at any of the beach parks? And, free!
Pathetic? Take a peak at the world; we are so fortunate here.

Posted 3 years ago #
mom2soren
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It's mainly driven in the Delridge area & California Ave. Many around Delridge are desolate. Obviously I need to branch out.

As for natural beach parks & Camp Long, no, I'm not taking those for granted at all. Of course they're beautiful, and part of the reason we're moving here. My post is specifically aimed towards playgrounds w/ equipment.

Posted 3 years ago #
Bonnie
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Okay, I'm offended. Sorry, but our parks DO NOT SUCK. I'd like to know exactly which parks you are referring to? If West Seattle sucks, then stay where you are. Where are the 'weirdos' you are talking about? And which parks are you comparing our parks to?

Posted 3 years ago #
Oliver
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Those are just the decoy parks and weirdos we plant to keep others from moving to west seattle. :-)

But seriously we do have some awesome parks. Lincoln Park is hands down the best park in the entire city. It has two playgrounds with playstructures for pre-school/elementary school age kids, one of the larger wading pools, a saltwater pool, forested trails and, of course, lots of beach front. Whale Tail is a community favorite with separate areas for really young ones. If I'm not mistaken, new parks are going in near the Morgan Junction and the High Point water tower (I think the WSB has covered the progress of both in other posts).

If the parks seem empty on these cold, rainy days, it's probably because the days are cold and rainy (not because there is anything to be feared at the parks). Stay at home parents frequently take their kids to play at one of the many community centers with indoor activities. Information about the parks and community centers is available at the parks and recs website: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkspaces/index.htm

Welcome to West Seattle!

Posted 3 years ago #
mom2soren
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Jeez, people. I didn't mean to offend anyone. I would just like to advocate for better parks if they're missing in West Seattle. My last post explains that this is my impression from driving around WS -- what I can see from the car, but mainly around the Delridge area. Two from the road are barren, each time I've driven by there are absolutely no parents/kids around, and the equipment is the old rusty metal type.

I DON'T find all of WS "pathetic", in fact I know that it's lovely. That's why I wish to move there. I just want a good playground for my kiddo. From all of the above posts, I understand that there are great parks & that it will take a map & some exploration to find them.

Posted 3 years ago #
kirida
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If the equipment is the old rusty metal type, then wouldn't it be left alone during a cold winter month? Don't judge the parks too quickly, especially in January. Just wait until the summer when the parks are alive with children and families. It's glorious.

Posted 3 years ago #
MargL
Member Profile

Alright - thanks for the clarification - I totally have to agree with mom2soren on the play area north of the Delridge community center. That old metal play structure is kind of sucky for a toddler so we don't go there. But I've never been worried about gang crime - even when I'm there alone with my kid.
Westcrest is nice but troublesome because of all the off leash dogs (whoops, sorry I said off leash and dog in the same sentence!)
We love Lincoln park despite the off leash dogs there (oops! there I go again! :-) and were just at Roxhill this afternoon but it was COOOOLLLD! (tell that to the young boy climbing around in shorts with no coat!)
E.C. Hughes is another great playground with the wading pool, swings, merry-go-round, and a fun wooden climbing structure that's easy to walk around to keep track of the smaller kids.
Yeah, there are some parks that I've been to that seem a little under-utilized at times but grab your map and do a tour when the weather warms up. You'll see some are pretty popular.

Posted 3 years ago #
kc
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Not all inclusive but some of our favorites:

http://tinyurl.com/9xqwx5

Posted 3 years ago #
angelescrest
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How about changing the discussion title to something a little sweeter: "fav places for kids to play in west seattle"?

Posted 3 years ago #
mom2soren
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Angelescrest, I would delete the whole thing if I knew how to edit.

Anyway, thanks to everyone for the info.

Posted 3 years ago #
Jeannie
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Everyone, cool it! Mom2soren, I understand your point. And, folks, I'm the not-guilty party who started the thread titled "Pathetic playground," referring to the sad little two-swing set at Lowman Beach. No need to regret anything you wrote, Mom2soren. We indeed do have the BEST parks in Seattle right here in West Seattle, but the playgrounds in some parks are indeed a little sad.

Posted 3 years ago #
Mike D.
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mom2soren, As for your question about how you can advocate and work for park improvements, there is a small group of parents that have been working towards the implementation of a Tot Lot at the Cottage Grove Park near Longfellow Creek. Cottage Grove park is fairly new, and most of play equipment that was installed during construction is geared towards older children. Hence the effort to add something for the wee-ones. If you would like more information on how to help, send me a PM.

Posted 3 years ago #
westseattledood
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All of this pride in West Seattle playgrounds and parks is so great. But also especially fabulous are all of the park users who contribute time toward their improvements.

If you are motivated and the type, (and once you move and are settled in, naturally!) maybe get to know where some of those numerous other under utilized, unfunded playgrounds are and organize a new group.

You and your new neighbors could begin the process of advocating for the needs of another potentially great West Seattle playground. I bet there are plentiful good folks here who would guide/mentor you through such a process.

Good luck in your move and welcome to your new home!

Posted 3 years ago #