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.

Eckstein Community Park, Ravenna

Awh, what a cute park, tucked away in NE Seattle. There's some really nice grass here, they must take good care of it.

Location: 21st Ave NE & NE 68th St in Ravenna.
Number of swings: 2 regular, 2 baby seats, 2 baby buckets. 1 tire swing.
Ground material: Wood chips
Chain length: Medium.


These swings are pretty good. The seats are nice and new, and I found the chain length and height off ground favorable. This really is a pretty cool playground, there's all sorts of fun toys for the kids to play on. Oh, and there's a tire swing. Can you tell I'm not really that excited about tire swings?


How to get there: Bus routes #64, 71, 76 and 83 stop at 21st & 65th.

Ravenna Park, U-District

Take a little walk through the forested area in back of Cowen Park, and you'll find Ravenna Park on the other side.

Location: Ravenna Ave NE & NE 55th St. near U-Village.
Number of swings: 2 regular, 2 baby seats, 2 baby buckets.
Ground material: Wood chips
Chain length: Medium-long.


These seats are high off the ground, so if you're a swing gymnast, your belly can ride the seat and your extremities have proper space to hang. And the seats feel really sturdy. I think this playground is newer than other Seattle playgrounds.

How to get there: Bus route #30 stops along 55th and Ravenna, #74 stops along 20th, and #68, 83, 243 and 372 stop along 25th.

Cowen Park, U-District

Cowen Park is at the end of the Ave in the U-District, just after you cross Ravenna Blvd.
I used to come here often as an undergrad, especially after the discovery of the zipline.

Location: Ravenna Blvd. between 15th Ave NE and Brooklyn Ave NE.
Number of swings: 2 regular, 2 baby buckets, 1 zipline
Ground material: Wood chips.
Chain length: LONG


These are some of the longest chains I've come across in my Seattle swinging adventures. This makes it challenging to get momentum, but once you get going... wow. You can swing very high and at great speeds. This is about as close to flying as we can get.

The zipline is very popular. Especially during college party hours.


Cowen Park also contains some hiking trails that lead you to Ravenna Park.

How to get there: Take any of the buses that go up the Ave (University Way): #71, 72, 73, 83, Cowen Park is at the end, bordered by Brooklyn Ave NE, Ravenna Blvd., and 15th Ave NE.
You can also take northbound #66 and 67, which run on 11th Ave NE. Route #48 stops at 15th Ave NE and Cowen Pl NE.

Froula Park, Roosevelt

Froula Park is in the north part of Seattle before you get to Lake City Way. It's a fun little park next to the Roosevelt Reservoir.

Location: 12th Ave NE & NE 73rd St.
Number of swings: 4 regular, 2 baby
Ground material: Wood chips
Chain length is medium.


This park is usually less crowded than others (or maybe I just wander into it at off hours), and there are some pretty views. While swinging you get to view 12th Ave NE and the tennis courts.

The delight of this park's see-saw is also noteworthy.

How to get there: Northgate-bound buses #66 and 67 stop along 12th Ave NE. Bus #68 stops along NE 75th Ave in both directions. Buses #72, 73, and 79 stop along 15th Ave NE in both directions.