READER REPORT: ‘Old friend came down today’ in Hiawatha Play Area construction

A couple readers mentioned the start of key work today on the years-in-the-making Hiawatha Play Area move. Bruce Curtis sent a photo and report with a bittersweet take on one aspect:

This morning the neighborhood’s favorite playground equipment came down. Hiawatha’s big swings left us today. I’ve seen countless babies put in the “bucket” swing, perhaps the first time and mom gently swinging them while taking pictures. Two girls meeting on the swings while talking endlessly and no phone out! Seeing little ones running to them only to wait for the parents to pick them up and put them in. Very popular meeting place. Totally indestructible from the late night visitors. They will be missed. Though will be replaced with short plastic things.

Goodbye.

Similar swing-set swaps have happened at other park over the years (here’s Lowman in 2008). Seattle Parks announced last month that construction would begin this week.

Kenny July 20, 2026 (9:21 pm)

I’m so sad to see the swings went without any warning they were about to go! My 2-year old loved those swings. I wish I could have taken her out there one last time to say goodbye.

sna July 20, 2026 (10:37 pm)

“ Construction: Summer 2026 – Winter 2027”. Does “Winter 2027” mean Jan/Feb 2027 or Dec 2027? Either way, it feels like a long time to build a new playground.

WSB July 20, 2026 (11:22 pm)

Reply

Early 2027.

AC July 20, 2026 (11:03 pm)

My dad taught me how to pump on those swings in the early 1980’s. I will keep the memory but future generations won’t understand what it’s like to push with all your might against long, heavy chains. It was a trial worth fighting. It felt so good to go high under your own power.

sc July 21, 2026 (5:28 am)

“How do you like to go up in a swing, up in the air so blue? Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing ever a child can do!” Robert Louis Stevenson

Clay Eals July 21, 2026 (8:02 am)

The highest swings in the world …https://pauldorpat.com/2023/06/01/seattle-now-then-hiawatha-playfield-1911/

Swingless in Seattle July 21, 2026 (10:23 am)

Our family has been dreading the removal of these swings since the project was announced. My daughter has gone 5x this last week to squeak out as much time as possible before they got taken down. The exhilaration of the long swings is being lost to the litigious nature of our culture.

Eddie July 21, 2026 (12:07 pm)

Reply

“Squeak out”, get it?

waikikigirl July 21, 2026 (12:47 pm)

This old swing brings back so many memories, the feel of the air flying thru my hair, pumping so hard and high you could see the tops of houses and thinking you were flying, the smell of the metal from the chain you were holding so tightly onto and then in your adult years and sitting in the seat and thinking to yourself…I don’t remember the seat being this tight???Goodbye dear old friend🩷💔