What a great community center! Have attended several events here in the past year - most recently a…read morefundraising benefit for the center: an outdoor concert with the kid friendly band: The Not It's! They had all kinds of other activities inside and out like face painting and basketball. We had so much fun! Food wise - we were so pleased to find Secret Sausage brought their big stand to the event - they are THE BEST sausages and hot dogs in Seattle! Big fields, a playground and a ball court all on the Community Center grounds. Parking can be a little tricky as its in a neighborhood and the dedicated parking spaces are minimal. But if you get there early or don't mind walking down the sidewalk a block or two - you'll be fine. They have community classes, preschool and after school care onsite also. I can't speak to those but have friends that have loved the teachers and programs there for the littles. Very loving and nurturing environment. Have met a few of the community center staff and volunteers and to me they can all be best described as big hearted! They are all so friendly and caring to our friends and family even though not all of us regularly attend classes or just show up for occasional events on site. The front desk has been very helpful and accommodating with my questions and requests for directions. Really, can't say enough good about the Loyal Heights Community Center. It's just a very warm place and the people there make you feel welcome and right at home!

It's rare that you go into any establishment and see the same employees year after year. I see this…read morehere, and I'm not surprised. It's a sign of good synergy and good leadership. Fantastic caring staff that actually remembers its community members. Super helpful and kind, and they have established a truly safe feeling space for me and my children as we have been so lucky to be a part of the community now for 5 years. My only issue is that I can't get into their childcare programs because they're so popular! the sparc sign up system is a bit frustrating, but the staff at the center have always been so helpful in circumventing that with me :D they throw killer events for our kiddos and really tie us all into a community. can't wait for that new playground to be finished!

Always the center of the community, offering celebrations, concerts, garage sales, a Farmer's…read moreMarket in the summer months, book clubs, a tool library and so much more. The event on this visit included a celebration of Holi! Fun, music and so much more. Check out their website our the Phinney Review newspaper for more upcoming activities and events.

Review of the Kiddo Play Area: So this pandemic thing is really taking a toll on things, and well,…read morewe have been to basically every open air playground around the Greenwood/Broadview/Carkeek area... except we realized that we haven't been to the one behind the PNA. So on a cold, non-rainy day, we took the kiddo there to see if it was any good. Keep in mind that it's reserved for the preschool during the week/business hours, but on the weekend, it was a nice change of scenery. They had a few play structures, on a mulch and rubberized area. Sure, parental guidance is required, and you really should have a "toddler" kiddo here... but for the kiddo, she enjoyed the slides, the "kitchen" and the tires. She being the expert of walking on narrow surfaces, I think enjoyed the areas like a balance beam master in training. If you have been everywhere, and you want a playground that is a nice scenery change, here's one more to add to the list. Also, nearby is Red Mill Burger, so there's that you could be eating, while your kiddo is playing to their heart's delight.

Friendly staff and the open gym is fire. Fills fast and they have 3 sessions. It's a count off…read moremethod so you can't really play with ppl you came with unless you are the same #

A nice center with a good gym and toddler play room. Not to mention the two train tables in the…read morelobby, plenty of seating, space to run around and a plastic house in the corner to explore. Outdoors, there is a large field (baseball) and play structure for children. There is a field in which to run and play and space to sit and chat. Overall a nice space and in a convenient, bus accessible (bus 40 stops about three or four blocks away) location.

I came in very excited about this club. I'm from the neighborhood and have a lot of friends that…read moregrew up coming here. There was an incident with another child on day 3. We were expelled from the club. I was disgusted with the way it was handled. So much damage done, by a thoughtless person. I know there's not always a clear path through a situation, but it's hard to hear positive reviews and the idolization of this place without at least saying something. I hear there's different leadership now.

Hoops baby! Back in…read morethe day when Shawn Kemp looked more like the Reign Man and less like the Bucket of BBQ Man, a number of obsessive, below-the-rim ballers got together and started playing hoops Sunday Nights in Ballard. Fifteen or so aging years later, we're still throwing up tricks and bricks at our new home in the Ballard Boys & Girls Club's Gym. The court itself is sweet. We run 4s or 5-on-5 comfortably. Glass boards, ample out-of-bounds area (padded on one end), clean floor and benches for those riding the pine. The latter two items being very important for saving wear n' tear on the knees--especially when you compare it to playing outdoors on asphalt. I also know of another group that uses the gym to play volleyball. Very reasonable rates. Contact the BB&G Club Director directly for gym rental info. Or if you're just looking to pick up a little extra ball late Sunday nights, you can email me. And by the way, Shawn Kemp looks good now. We've spotted him cruising Greenwood, enjoying a few Red Hots.

As a neighborhood, Ballard has a lot to offer -- including one of the city's largest Goodwill…read morestores. Shopping here is a bit like the store itself: consistently chaotic, occasionally full of hidden gems, and always changing. As a result, every visit feels a bit different, which is exactly why I look forward to coming back every time. It's a dated location without the bells and whistles of the more modern ones with an abundant parking lot with tight spaces, and what feels like a never-ending line to donate via car. It was so significant that there is someone designated to help direct traffic. The store is massive. There are dedicated sections for electronics, art, books, home decor, furniture and what feels like endless aisles for accessories, clothes, and a limited selection of shoes. There are also bathrooms, but it was closed during my last visit (#1). Don't expect rock bottom prices as this isn't the cheapest Goodwill around. The staff isn't overly attentive, but they're efficient, especially when it comes to keeping the checkout line moving. Fortunately there are plenty of employees on hand, which is absolutely necessary given how hectic the donation area can get. __________ (#1) No, I don't want to imagine why.

The donation system is so broken. I waited in line for 25 minutes and when it was my turn they just…read morewouldn't wheel out a bin for me to fill. I waited (while dozens of cars waited behind me, engines running, exhaust spewing) for ten minutes and then gave up and left. It's bizarre.