FOLLOWUP: Progress at Lincoln Park South Play Area

11:56 AM: Thanks to Tom Trulin for the photos taken today as the years-overdue Lincoln Park South Play Area replacement enters the home stretch. Seattle Parks most recently told us it would be complete this month. Tom’s photos show some of the marine-theme features in the design created with community input six years ago.

This past Friday marked seven years since the old south play area’s shutdown because of safety concerns from wood damage.

At the time in July 2017, Parks said it might take a year to fix or replace the damaged structure. We’re checking to see if they have an official projected opening date yet, now that this appears to be down to the final stages of construction.

4:56 PM: Parks spokesperson Karen O’Connor replies, “We are working through some final construction items. We should have a better idea early next week on an opening date.”

Brian July 15, 2024 (12:39 pm)

Eh, 1 year, 7 years, what’s the difference?

Karen July 15, 2024 (12:39 pm)

Difficult to tell from these photos, but isn’t that hard scape close to the activity area?

Natalie July 15, 2024 (6:59 pm)

I was thinking the same thing!

Luke July 15, 2024 (12:45 pm)

Super lame. Both of my kids aged out of playgrounds while waiting for this to get done.

ACG July 16, 2024 (4:10 pm)

Mine too!!
Where is Our Playground July 16, 2024 (5:01 pm)

My kids were involved in the theme selection – this was their favorite playground to play at until they closed it down… seven years ago!! Even though Parks is going to give us back the playground this summer (hopefully) we must never let them forget what a seven year failure looks like. https://whereisourplayground.org/parks/lincoln-park-south/

Grilled Cheese July 15, 2024 (1:13 pm)

I miss the old zipline. It was the best and the most dangerous zipline in Seattle.

WSB July 15, 2024 (1:17 pm)

That was taken out, you might recall, even before the old play structure was shut down.
Sigh July 16, 2024 (6:15 am)

It was a great Zipline. So much fun for kids and adults

C July 15, 2024 (4:48 pm)

Any lessons here that we can apply to light rail construction? 7 blooming years and counting for a swing set is embarrassing.

Yay! July 15, 2024 (4:55 pm)

Yay, my kids will be excited to hear!! Oh wait, they’re teenagers now :(

Bring back the zipline July 16, 2024 (12:56 am)

That was awesome. Such a shame they took it out.

Francis Parkman July 16, 2024 (11:28 am)

Think of the Birds! Where are all the Pretend Environmentalists who got their panties in a bunch over pickleball? The screaming kids are going to destroy the sanctity of the Lincoln Park Nature Preserve!

Neighbor 2 July 16, 2024 (1:02 pm)

Or just the construction noise! But yes, this area has obviously rewilded over the past seven years and it will be incredibly disruptive to wildlife for small humans to play there again! In all seriousness, I’m all for the playground but an argument against building it holds way more water IMO than the argument against repurposing the old tennis court for pickleball. The court is already adjacent to so many other activities, whereas this playground is arguably in a “peaceful” zone.

daddad July 16, 2024 (3:10 pm)

Delays aside it’s nice to see some tradesmen – er – tradeshominids – get to build something fun and fulfilling that they can take their own kids to.

ShanD July 22, 2024 (1:20 pm)

Any updates on when the playground will be open? I emailed the project manager but haven’t heard anything.Thanks for all you do to track these stories, big and small!

WSB July 22, 2024 (2:01 pm)

They told me to check back this week and that’s exactly what I’m doing. Will update in a new story whenever we get that word.

GW July 24, 2024 (9:07 am)

@WSB did they get back to you on this?4:56 PM: Parks spokesperson Karen O’Connor replies, “We are working through some final construction items. We should have a better idea early next week on an opening date.”

WSB July 24, 2024 (9:39 am)

I have had a request out since Monday.
- Waiting… July 31, 2024 (8:02 pm)
  
  Any news? August starts tomorrow and my kids are disappointed again that it’s not finished by end of July as promised.
  - WSB July 31, 2024 (9:15 pm)
    
    We’re going to look at it first thing in the morning and assuming it’s not miraculously open, I inquire with Parks again. A reader mentioned talking to someone on site earlier this week and being told they still had a few things to work through.

Sorry, comment time is over.