Loyal Heights Playground

Location of swings: 22nd Ave NW and NW 77th St.
Number of swings: 2 regular, 1 tire
Ground material: Wood chips
Chain length: Long.


Just north of Ballard, you find Loyal Heights Playground (of course, you'll probably notice nearby Salmon Bay Park along the way). It's adjacent a community center and school, so it's pretty busy. A quaint little park, but its swings dangle too low and close to the ground for my liking.


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How to get there: Bus routes 18, 75 and 81 stop nearby on 25th Ave NW, the 15 stops on 15th.

Golden Gardens Park, Ballard

Forgive me, friends. It's been far too long since I gave you an entry. Sorry. OK enough apologizing, more swinging!
What better way to return from hiatus but an entry about one of Seattle's most popular and beautiful parks?

Location: 8498 Seaview Pl NW (think NW 80th St and Puget Sound.)
Number of swings: 2 regular, 2 baby
Ground material: Sand
Chain length: Medium short.


These swings are standard short-ish chains, but the view is hard to match. Golden Gardens was one of the first parks I found upon arrival in Seattle, and I have many happy memories from there, so it's funny that my first time visiting their swings was just recently. In the summer it's a very crowded playground, and the park is filled with family barbecues and general population. In the winter, it's bitter cold and you'll have the park to yourself. It's always excellent. Great view while swinging, albeit not-so-noteworthy swings.

How to get there: Bus route 46 stops at the park. The 17 stops nearby on 32rd Ave NW.

Salmon Bay Park, Ballard

Salmon Bay Park, these have become my favo(u)rite swings in Ballard.

Location: 19th Ave NW and NW Sloop Pl.
Number of swings: 4 regular, 2 baby
Ground material: Wood chips
Chain length: Long.


Wow. Rolling hills, very complete playground, quiet neighborhood surroundings. This park just feels right, for some reason. It's not an in-the-middle-of-everything location, but there's a strange nostalgia hanging over this park. The swings are the older style, so they've probably been there for a while. There is also a zipline, for those of you who love that sort of thing:


Come one, come all.


How to get there: Bus route 15 stops along 15th Ave NW, and the 18 and 75 stop along 24th Ave NW.

Ross Park, Ballard

Ross Park, Ballard
Location: NW 44th St & 4th Ave NW
Number of swings: 1 regular, 1 baby
Ground material: Sand
Chain length: Long.



This is one of the parks I didn't discover until I set out on this swing-blog journey. It's a nice little find in the midst of this quiet residential area. However, if you come here in a group you'll have to take turns, since there's only 1 regular swing.

How to get there: Routes #28 and 46 stop along Leary Way.

Gilman Playground, Ballard

What what what? They replaced the swing seats at this park! Ok, they are nicer. But there used to be 1 hard/inflexible seat, which made this park stand out. Oh well, the swings are still good.

Location: 9th Ave NW & NW 54th St.
Number of swings: 2 regular, 2 baby
Ground material: Sand
Chain length: Long



I spent lots of time at this park back in college, these swings helped inspire this very blog. The swinging here is superb, as the chains are quite long and allow you to get really high. I highly recommend this park.

How to get there: Route #44 stops along Market St in both directions.

Favo(u)rite Swings

This is a new blog, but my swinging activities in Seattle are not new. Rather than post every great swing in one day, I plan to try and not update all at once. It keeps it fun to have a little something to look forward to.

But, that means a lot of GREAT SWINGS will go unmentioned until a proper post is made!

So here are a few of my favorite swings:

---Lincoln Park, West Seattle. The swings on the south end that peer over to the Fauntleroy-Vashon Ferry. Go in the evening if you want to avoid crowds of children competing for what I like to call "the joy."
---Ober Park, Vashon Island. Best swings I have ever found in... um... life?
---Gilman Playground, Ballard. These 2 swings used to have 1 rubber seat and 1 hard plastic seat, and it was the best of both worlds. They're both flexible now, but still provide an awesome swinging experience.

OK enough spilled secrets.
Happy swinging!


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EDIT: Recent inspection of swings at Gilman Playground has revealed a change in swing seat architecture, and statements have been revised accordingly (09/20/09)