Lowman Beach Park, West Seattle

Lowman Beach Park has one of the first swings I came across when I first moved to Seattle for college way back when. Tucked away along Beach Drive, just after the uphill turnoff for Lincoln Park, this park is also connected to Lincoln Park (and my favorite swinging experience) and Alki via the bike/trail route that encircles West Seattle.

Location: 7017 Beach Dr. SW
Number of swings: 1 regular, 1 baby
Ground material: Wood chips
Chain length: Short.


Yet another amazing place in Seattle to swing and watch the sunset. And water. I always find myself called towards waters wherever I am. The chain on this single regular swing is short, although quite high off the ground, allowing my super-long legs to dangle. Not the most invigorating swinging experience, but a nice place to sit and peer out to the shore.


I caught the sunset on this day. It was glorious. I also found the adjacent trees inviting.

How to get there: Bus route #37 stops along Beach Dr., right next to the park.

Rainier Playfield, Columbia City

Happy first day of spring! Vernal Equinox! Nowruz! Come to Rainier Playfield, gateway to a string of parks with swings that will be documented today and in upcoming entries.

Location: Rainier Ave & S Oregon St.
Number of swings: 6 regular, 2 baby
Ground material: Sand, Wood chips
Chain length: Medium long.


Two (2) swingsets, on the corner with 38th! 4 regular swings over a sand pit and a playground with wood chips containing a 2:2 regular:baby set. I like this park, you can follow the trail and come across a few more between Rainier and Lake Washington.

How to get there: Bus routes #7, 39, 42 stop along Rainier. 42 turns on to Oregon and gets you closer to the swings.

Twin Lake Elementary, Federal Way

I don't recommend prowling around elementary schools if you aren't an elementary student or at least accompanied by one. But on a No School Day, the playgrounds are fair game. I came across these swings on a spooky foggy morning.

Location:SW 320th St & 45th Pl SW
Number of swings: 8 regular, 2 sets of 4.
Ground material: Rubber below swings, wood chips around.
Chain length: Inconsistent. Some are medium, some medium-long. Length of chain corresponds to height off ground.


Good swings. Many swings. It's inconsistent, the chain length/length off ground factor, but I suppose people enjoy selection. There aren't many chances to enjoy these swings unless you're a student at the school, but summer will come soon enough. This morning that I went was quite spooky with the fog and empty school. I'm glad I made it out of there safely.


How to get there: Bus route #187 stops along 320th.

Beacon Hill Playground, Beacon Hill

SPRING HAS SPRUNG IN SEATTLE! I've been taking some majestic bike rides up and down Seattle's hills lately. Beacon Hill Playground is at the top of... yep, Beacon Hill. It is adjacent to Beacon Hill Elementary. Along 14th. It's really easy to find. I apologize for the bad quality of these photos, probably not a good time of day for the phone. UPDATE 04/07/2010: I have a better photo to share!

Location: 14th Ave S & S Holgate St.
Number of swings: 4 regular, 2 baby
Ground material: Wood chips
Chain length: Long.



First thoughts upon sitting. Butt ergonomics. Is there a specific term for that? These seats are comfortable; it might be due to the shape. Overall, these are pretty good quality swings. On this night, I faced SW and got the nice trailings of the sunset over West Seattle.


How to get there: Bus routes #36 and 60 stop along 14th Ave S.

Happy February!

Happy February, everyone! And happy 2010 as well...

2010 will be an exciting year for Seattle Swingers. First of all, I will finally post about my *favo(u)rite swings in Seattle.* Check back around the beginning of spring for that one...

I visited many swings in 2009. This has been a great project, and it has also been well received. Swings really do have a strong, positive impact in one's life, if one allows them to. You can bet that there will be some amazing posts this year, as I continue to canvas Seattle's playgrounds.

Thanks for all your support!

Celebration Park, Federal Way

And we end January with a post from... Federal Way? But that's not Seattle! Well, my friends, I have some news for you. This Seattle Swinger spent all last summer desperately unemployed, which is why I was able to visit so many beautiful swings! And now, well, I have a job, and it's in Federal Way. But I still live on Capitol Hill, and Seattle will always be the focus of this blog. However, since I'm spending so much frickin time in Federal Way, I might as well post about some of the swings!

Location: 9th Ave S, where it curves into S 330th St., in Federal Way.
Number of swings: 2 regular
Ground material: Wood chips
Chain length: Short.


Hard seats. Just like at Powell Barnett Park in the Central District. Actually these two sets of swings are very very similar. I like a good hard, inflexible seat once in a while. It's a nice change-up from the usual.


Celebration Park is a rather large park, filled with swampy natural flora areas and a walking/dog walking trail that runs under the electrical lines. Hummmm you hear overhead. It's creepily comforting. So if you ever find yourself in Federal Way...

How to get there: Bus route #903 stops along 11th Pl S, which turns into the street this park is on.

Dahl Playfield, Wedgwood

Dahl Playfield is pretty cool. It's next to University Prep, but don't hold that against it. There's some nice nature-y landscaping present.

Location: NE 77th St & 25th Ave NE
Number of swings: 2 regular, 2 baby
Ground material: Pebbles
Chain length: Long.


Note that the ground material here is pebbles. I think I prefer this kind of ground material. Most of Seattle's parks contain wood chips as a ground material, and I like that as well. Wood is absorbent of forces, soft, wood-smelling, but I do appreciate a good alternative. Sand is hard and gets into your shoes and every crevice of every thing you have. Rubber material is soft and cushiony, but it's a single piece, with similar shearing-action pain as asphalt. Pebbles provide a similar cushion-like absorbency without the stick/slivery mess of wood. And the sound of jumping on them! Kssssh. I like pebbles. (yeah, pebbles get stuck in your shoes too, but whatever. What do you think of ground materials? Feel free to discuss in comments section.)


I really liked Dahl Park. or Playfield. or Park adjacent to Playfield. I like the landscaping, with the pond and all, and it makes me wonder if it's natural. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised either way. This park is spacious, away-from-it-all, and the playground seems like a relatively recent version/upgrade compared with other Seattle parks.

How to get there: Bus route #68, 378 run along 75th & 25th. The 72 runs nearby on Ravenna.

Richmond Beach Community Park, Shoreline

Happy New Year! Richmond Beach Community Park is a nice big grassy field with a nice playground. The playground contains one of Seattle's more unique/special swings.

Location: 2201 NW 197th St., in Shoreline
Number of swings: 2 regular, 2 baby, 1 interesting hand-pump swing
Ground material: Wood chips
Chain length: Medium-short.


The swings are pretty standard. Medium-short chains giving good momentum, and I like the long expanse of grass to view while swinging. But hey, look at that weird swing:


Whoa! Hand pumps? This swing was pretty fun to try out. Some day, after I lose my legs in a tragic accident, I'll remember to return to this park so I can still get my swing on.

How to get there: Bus route #304 stops along NW 196th St.

OUT-OF-TOWN SWINGS: Don Morse Memorial Park, Chelan, WA

Don Morse Memorial Park, also known as the "City Park," is the main park in the small town of Chelan, WA, where I spent my childhood, ages 3-18. Right now I happen to be visiting family for the holidays, and I thought I'd document some swings from my hometown. Apparently Google Maps calls it "Lakeshore Park," which is the name of the adjacent RV camping park. Notice how there isn't much snow here right now... so odd.

Location: Highway 150 & W Nixon Ave, Chelan, WA 98816.
Number of swings: 4 regular, 4 baby buckets
Ground material: Wood chips
Chain length: Medium, Medium-long.


As you can see, these swings seem to be a variety of heights off the ground. I'm not sure if this is intentional or not, but I like the variety. The swing lowest to the ground is a good compromise of medium-long length: long enough to reach nice heights, but short enough for the chains to stay tight and not buckle so much on the return swing. The higher-off-the-ground swings are actually high enough to allow my feet to dangle and not smack the ground at any point of the swinging experience.


These are not the swings I swung on in childhood; this playground has undergone quite a few transformations over the past 20 years or so. Back in elementary school, I lived across the street from this park on Gibson Ave., and the swings had super long chains; these are the swings that set into motion the exciting life of a "Seattle Swinger." A giant robot slide also once lived here; it was eventually deemed unsafe and removed from the park. Those swings were probably what sparked the swing-o-philia of my adulthood, and I greatly prefer [the memory of] them to the swings that currently stand. However, the current swings are still atop a hill, presenting a beautiful lake and mountain view for the swinger.


How to get there: First get to Chelan. Link Transit bus routes #21, 31 and trolley route #34 stop along Chelan-Manson Highway (SR-150) next to the park, but most people in Chelan would probably drive. Or you could even walk, this town is really small.

LOCAL LINKS:
*City of Chelan webpage on Don Morse Memorial Park
*GoLakeChelan, a community blog

Kayu Kayu Ac Park, Shoreline/Richmond Beach

Kayu Kayu Ac Park is one of the newest parks in the Seattle area, having been renamed and dedicated in June. I stumbled upon a local blog article on the occasion. This park is amazing, mostly because of it's perfect location next to Puget Sound.

Location: 19911 Richmond Beach Drive NW, in Shoreline.
Number of swings: 2 regular, 2 baby
Ground material: Wood chips
Chain length: Medium.


I really love this park. It's newer, so everything is still mostly unspoiled. The swings aren't the best as far as chain length, but you can look out over the Sound, and that's something I consider a trump card. All that separates this park from the water is the railroad tracks, so some well-timed swinging can be accompanied with locomotion sights and sounds.

How to get there: Bus route #348 stops on somewhat-nearby 24th Ave NW.

Seward Park

Seward Park, located in the neighborhood of the same name, can easily be considered one of the best parks in Seattle. The park contains old-growth forest, lake shoreline and views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier on clear days. And I saw an eagle there during my last visit, so it got me really excited about the place. There are two playgrounds, a lower playground near the park entrance/lake shore and an upper playground in the interior of the park.

Location: 5895 Lake Washington Blvd S
Number of swings: 1 regular, 1 baby seat, 1 baby bucket (lower playground); 4 regular, 2 baby buckets (upper playground).
Ground material: Wood chips at both playgrounds.
Chain length: Medium-long (lower playground); Long (upper playground).


The lower playground is located near the lake shore at the entrance to the park. It's a smaller swingset with only a single regular swing, a baby seat and 2 baby buckets. The baby seat is big enough for an adult to sit in, but it's not quite the same. This part of the park is amazing; there are amazing views of Mt. Rainier and Lake Washington as you swing.



The upper playground has a bigger swing set: 4 regular swings and 2 baby buckets. It's at the top of the hill after you enter the park and go up into the peninsula. It is surrounded by trees and your swinging view is of a grassy clearing and the meandering trail that enters the forested area. The swings are a little low to the ground, but the seats are of the wider variety, giving one a more comfortable swinging experience.

How to get there: Bus route #39 stops at the park entrance.

OUT-OF-TOWN SWINGS: Minnehana Park, Minneapolis (Guest Entry)

Today's post is a guest entry from my good friend, Doug, who lives in Minneapolis, MN. Doug is a swing enthusiast as well, and when we attended UW together, we had many a swing adventure, planting the seeds of this very swing blog.
So enjoy the guest entry, it is my hope to occasionally show you, my dear Seattle Swingers, the beauty of out-of-town swings. Oh, and for the record, I have indeed swung on these swings, back in September 2008 when I was in Minneapolis visiting Doug and attending another good friend's wedding.

(post written and photographed by Doug)
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In my (limited) explorations of Twin Cities parks so far, this one easily stands out as having both the best swings and the best swinging experience. The swings themselves are great fun, though I wish the chains were a bit longer. The chain length (which seems to be endemic to parks here from what I have seen) prevent you from getting up too high, but it's a smooth if sometimes squeaky ride with a terrific overview of the park grounds. The park itself is easily my favorite in Minneapolis, though. So: well-above average (but not perfect) swings + incredible park combined make this a must-visit spot if you find yourself in Minneapolis. Notice the many lovely oak trees. They are beautiful in all the four seasons.


Of course another highlight of the park is the waterfall, currently ensconced in icicles. There is also a system of trails leading to the Mississippi River. Come here with friends for some lovely swings, and then take a short hike. If you come here at the right times you can be sure to avoid too many people as well. Winter apparently scares plenty of people off since I was there on a Saturday afternoon and the place was practically deserted.


Location: 4801 S. Minnehaha Park Dr. Minneapolis, MN 55417
Number of swings: 5 regular (bring a group!), 2 baby buckets
Ground Material: Sand or snow depending on time of year
Chain Length: Medium


How to get there: Once in Minneapolis, the Hiawatha Line light rail (route #55) stops right by the park.
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Flo Ware Park, Leschi

Check this place out! Located just out of the Central District, climbing the hill into Leschi, the whole playground is covered in the rubbery stuff (is it recycled tires as rumored?) that's at Cal Anderson and other parks. But these swings are better than at Cal Anderson, simply because they are not too close to the ground.

Location: 28th Ave S & S Jackson St.
Number of swings: 2 regular, 2 baby buckets
Ground material: Rubber
Chain length: Medium.


There is an amazing view from here, on a slope in the southern part of town. If you swing facing east, you can scope out the tops of downtown skyscrapers behind a foreground of Seattle's hilly neighborhoods. If you swing facing west, a big red house fills up your entire field of vision.

How to get there: Bus route #14 stops along Jackson St. and route #8 stops along nearby Martin Luther King Jr. Way.

Pratt Park, First Hill/Yesler

Originally posted on 04 Sept. 2009, I have updated this post with a photo of the awesome water sprinklers, although it's a post-water-shut-off winter photo.

Location: 18th Ave S & E Yesler Way on the Yesler Terrace area outside the Central and International Districts.
Number of swings: 2 regular, 1 baby bucket, 1 baby seat.
Ground material: Wood chips
Chain length: Medium-short.


This place made me a little excited, but not because of the swings. The swings were just ok. Short chains, but good momentum. I actually cut my swinging short here because I got distracted by the water.


There's a little children's water park adjacent to the playground: this horse shoots water, you can swivel to aim it, and you can play with other sprinkler water guns or stand under a shower...!!! This place is probably very fun in the summer during one of those few hot hot days here in Seattle.

How to get there: Bus route #27 stops along Yesler Way in both directions. Route #14 stops nearby along S Jackson St.

Firehouse Mini Park, Cherry Hill

This park is so cute. It was once a firehouse, and now it's a community center/small park... that would explain the obvious name.

Location: 18th Ave & E Cherry St on the ridge of Cherry Hill
Number of swings: 1 regular, 1 baby
Ground material: Wood chips
Chain length: Short.


This swing is very similar to the swing at Cascade Playground, although it is much higher off the ground, and the baby option is bucket-style. It's short, but you get going pretty fast, so that can be enjoyable for a bit. The park definitely outshines the swing. Gather up some children so you have a good excuse to visit! This has been my favo(u)rite area of Seattle to walk around this fall... a lovely ridge providing delicious views in all directions.


How to get there: Bus routes #3, 4, 84 stop along Jefferson St.

Meridian Playground, Wallingford

First of all, Happy Halloween! Today's post will be of a place we once dubbed "Scary Park," since it seemed really creepy at night. That could be because it is a(n) historical landmark full of signs of the creepy past, like the remains of an orchard. (Wikipedia article: Meridian Playground/Home of the Good Shepard)

Location: Meridian Ave N & N 50th St. in Wallingford
Number of swings: 6 regular, 4 baby (2 sets of 2)
Ground material: Wood chips
Chain length: Medium-long.


I really like these swings. It's nice to have 6 regular swings in a row! The chains are pretty long, and the seats are high enough off the ground for an adult to use. As you swing you can view out to the big grassy field and find some joy.


Another gem of Seattle, this park has enough interesting components to keep anyone happy. There's plenty of grass, there are remnants of an old orchard (as mentioned above), and a old creepy building lurks in the background. The playground is one of the newer types in Seattle, similar to the toys at Madison Park.

How to get there: Bus route #16 runs along Meridian Ave in both directions.

Pinehurst Playfield, Pinehurst

I've somewhat neglected the northern reaches of Seattle as of yet... there are lots of nice parks up there. If you're ever at Northgate and have a few moments available to swing, this park is pretty close.

Location: 12th Ave NE between 123rd and 120th St NE.
Number of swings: 2 regular, 2 baby
Ground material: Wood chips
Chain length: Medium-short.


Rubber grips. Yes. I love it when the chains of swings have those nice rubbery grips, giving your hands much traction and alleviating the fear of slipping off. Plus it makes it so your hands don't smell like nasty public park metal afterward. However, swinging on these swings is not for the shy, each swing of the pendulum brings about a loud "CLANG!" from the less-than-tight connecting component. So each swing experience is "CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!" And this can be fun, but sometimes one doesn't feel like making loud noises and would rather swing in peace.

How to get there: Bus routes #73, 77, 347, 348 all run along 15th Ave NE.

Beach swing, NE Vashon Island

It's fun to find random cool swings when you're just wandering around.

Location: beach along NE Vashon Island. Just north of Winghaven King County Park/Northeast Vashon Park, and on what is probably private property.
Number of swings: 1
Ground material: Beach sand/water, depending on tides and weather.
Chain length: Medium-short.


If I had a tree and some beachfront property, I'd have a swing like this. It was surprisingly sturdy and fun. You can't swing too hard, the tree branch prevents any crazy shenanigans. But it's a nice place to sit, swing lightly, and peer out south along Puget Sound. Note: an adult butt will not fit in the seat. I'm scrawny, but my bone structure does not fit. I slid back and sat with my thighs.

How to get there: Walk north along the beach from the Winghaven/Northeast Vashon Park (appears to be a kayak stop) and trespass at your own risk.

Maple Leaf Playground, Maple Leaf

The Maple Leaf Playground is adjacent to the Maple Leaf Reservoir. This is a gem of a playground in Seattle. It's nice and big and there's plenty of things to play on, as well as plenty of grass. It's very popular with the neighbo(u)rhood.

Location: Roosevelt Way NE & NE 84th St
Number of swings: 4 regular, 4 baby
Ground material: Sand/Pebbles
Chain length: Long.


Spectacular playground. These swings are older, but classic. The chains are nice and long, and the swing ride is quite smooth. This playground seems to be crowded quite often; there must be nearby pre-schools. Pick off hours if you want to guarantee a spot on the swings.


How to get there: Bus route #68 runs along Roosevelt Way.

Lincoln Park (lower playground), West Seattle

This post is about (the lower playground of) Lincoln Park in West Seattle. (The street-level "upper playgrounds" are in another post.)

THESE ARE THE BEST SWINGS IN SEATTLE. Ok, not the best swings, but the best SWINGING EXPERIENCE. And I believe one would have quite the challenge finding someone who disagrees. If you disagree, you are wrong.

Location: Lincoln Park, which spans a portion of Fauntleroy Way SW in West Seattle.
Number of swings: 3 regular, 1 baby bucket.
Ground material: Wood chips.
Chain length: Medium


Seriously. Look at that. You can swing and watch the ferries come in and out on their way to Vashon and Southworth. Sniff that Puget Sound air. Go ahead, take a stroll next to the water when you're done swinging. These swings have always played a very important part in my love affair with Seattle. They aren't the best swings, but they are standard good swings, and there is no other place you can have that view while swinging in Seattle.

I love this place.

How to get there: Bus route #54 stops along Fauntleroy Way SW.

Lincoln Park (upper playgrounds), West Seattle

This post is about (the upper playgrounds of) Lincoln Park in West Seattle.

An introduction to Lincoln Park: it is huge; it is massive. It is synonym after synonym for big. It has 3 play areas: 2 occupy the higher/street level elevations of the park, in the extreme north and south. A third (and special) playground is at the south end of the park along the shore, and it will be featured in a separate post.

Location: Lincoln Park, which spans a portion of Fauntleroy Way SW in West Seattle.
Number of swings: The southern play area has 4 regular swings, 2 baby buckets. The northern play area contains only baby swings, 3 of the bucket type and 1 baby seat.)
Ground material: Wood chips in southern play area, Rubbery squares in the northern.
Chain length: Medium


These swings in the southern play area are great. The play area is nestled in the trees, and you can catch glimpses of sky and water behind the thin forest veil. The swings are comfortable, and the ride is smooth. These are very standard good swings, but to be honest, I rarely spend time at these swings because of their AMAZING SWING NEIGHBORS AT THE SHORE.


There is also a [broken] zipline up here.


The isolated northern play area contains nothing but baby swings. Oh the joy.

How to get there: Bus route #54 stops along Fauntleroy Way SW.

Loft Swing, Georgetown-ish

Now THIS is why I created this blog. Anyone who has a swing INSIDE THEIR HOME is a hero of mine. I welcome any and all invitations to observe, try out and write about special swings.

Location: a loft near Georgetown
Number of swings: 1
Ground material: Cement floor
Chain length: Super long.


This swing is the perfect indoor swing. The rope is tied around a long/wide beam, and the physics of the situation keeps the swing from being a normal, out-of-control playground swing. It is a very smooth, controlled ride. The seat is hard wood, lending to a more old-fashioned, hanging-from-a-tree experience, like that one painting... I think it's called "The Swing?" (actually I'm not a fan of that painting, or really any Rococo painting of lewd French aristocrats)

How to get there: by lucky invite :)

Innis Arden Pool/Clubhouse, Shoreline

Are you way up in Shoreline? Go to this playground! The swings are great! I think this is a private club, however, so tread with caution.

Location: 1430 NW 188th St in Shoreline
Number of swings: 2 regular, another set with 1 regular, and 1 baby bucket.
Ground material: Wood chips
Chain length: Medium



I was very impressed with these swings. The park isn't crowded, as it isn't a public park. Perhaps if the clubhouse is reserved by a resident, the playground might get crowded... but enjoy until then! These swings are older, nicely high off the ground, and provide plenty of excitement. Check them out.


How to get there: The nearest buses are the 304 and 348, and they stop at 15th NW and Richmond Beach Rd. You might want to find other transportation.

Roanoke Park, Eastlake/Portage Bay

You know this park if you've ever had to ride the bus between the U-District and Capitol Hill. It's next to the 10th Ave bridge up the hill and over 520. And yet, when you're inside the park, it's like a little oasis you never expected.

Location: Broadway E and E Roanoke St
Number of swings: 2 regular, 2 baby
Ground material: Wood chips
Chain length: Medium


I really like this park. The swings are pretty standard, nothing too special, but also nothing to contraindicate people of any age from enjoying the joy.

How to get there: Bus route #49 stops on Roanoke right in front of the park. #25 and 49 both stop along Harvard Ave.