Cowen Park is located in a quiet neighborhood in the Ravenna area close to the University of…read moreWashington and Green Lake. It's the left portion of the park that is attached to Ravenna Park and the ravine that goes through it. It's smaller than Ravenna Park (only 8.4 acres compared to 50 acres) but there's still plenty of space for all your activities. There are lots of grassy areas for outdoor leisure and a kids playground. There's a path that goes the length of the park that many people use for strolls, jogging, and biking. It's a nice and peaceful park for relaxation and sunbathing.

This is an okay park. Certainly not one of Seattle's best or memorable parks but it's not a bad one…read morefor picnics. There is a walking path that goes a considerable ways that starts near the playground equipment I'd like to walk sometime. There are port a potties so you don't have to be creative when nature calls and of course the situation with those are far from pristine. Especially if someone locks themselves in there for 30 minutes but in the broad scheme of things not too sure if that even makes a difference with the long term abuse they appear to receive.

Pros: - Great views of Mount Rainer (on clear days)…read more- Kids will love the playground in the lower park - Pickleball and basketball courts (limited) Cons: - No shade trees for hot days (in upper park) - Not enough picnic tables - Dogs are supposed to be leashed, but locals (and non locals) let their pets roam freely in a corner of the upper park. It's inconvenient if you want to set up volleyball nets or play frisbee. :-(

Maple Leaf Reservoir Park is a neighborhood park in north Seattle. It spans 16 acres and has a…read morevariety of activities like pickleball courts, baseball fields, basketball courts, and a kids playground. There is a huge loop for joggers and strollers and inside the loop is a huge grassy area for picnics and folks with dogs. The two parts of the park are separated by a set of stairs. Near the public restrooms near the playground is Noah's Butterfly Garden which is a cute little section. I've always driven by this park but have never visited until now, and I might have to continue coming back because it's very nice.

Great park with lot of activities suitable for all age groups. It's a good picnic spot with great…read morefood options around the area

No one follows the lane rules it's chaos walking. I'm the crazy looking one for following the lane…read morerules

Wallingford Playfield is the main park in the namesake neighborhood where mostly families take…read moretheir children for some play time. There are also some areas for Basketball & Tennis. Wallingford Playfield is mostly a wide-open field where students from the nearby high school are often practicing field games, usually Frisbee and Soccer. When these activities aren't taking place, it's often a unofficial off leash park for dogs of the neighborhood to run and play through the park. There is a playground that looks fairly new and well-kept that children are often on. On the back side of the park are some tables where folks can sit and maybe have a picnic. Presently there is a petition posted around the neighborhood to save the park as it's at risk of being redone as an official field for the schools. The biggest issue is that the field will be changed to artificial turf. There is a website that goes into all the details and hopes to preserve the park. Personally, I think the Park is fine as is but have not strong opinion on the matter. As it stands Wallingford Playfield is a nice park that I enjoy walking through occasionally.

What a lovely neighborhood wading pool. What I lived from here is that everybody knows each other…read morefrom preeschol or Kindergarten making it super fun for little ones when they find each other at the park. Big parties enjoy the swing at the playground. It also has a great drum station. Very attractive for toddlers. Kids will also hang out by the climbing net. A lot of movement for sure. Lots of kids. Some of them were in summer camps with their guides :) Restrooms just steps aside the pool. Loved that there is a "deeper" part so todds can swim. Everyone is friendly. Benches around to sit and watch. But it can be tricky to find shade sometimes. Just 2 sits :S It also has a kind of beach for babies. There is plenty of room to run down the park. Green grass makes it nice :) Street next to the park can be closed for neighbors only. Parking was no problem though.

Sunsets here are so dreamy!…read more This park is spread out along Magnolia Blvd W and has shoreline views throughout. There's ample green space and parking along the street, which is perfect for these sunnier days. My only gripe is that there's no restroom on site, but otherwise, it's a gorgeous lookout spot!

It's one of those Seattle parks tucked away in a neighborhood that you take for granted…read more It's big enough to not be crowded when there are 50 people there but small enough to let your kids and dogs roam free. A lot of tables, grills, a bathroom, and all the things you'd want when getting outdoors for some fresh air. There are a lot of old-growth trees that provide shade all year round. When it was 100+ during the summer of 2021, it was a good 20' cooler here. For the tourist looking at the dry grass, we are in the middle of an unusual drought here. Take care of your parks and they'll take care of you. There's a good bit of aerial acrobatics from the local hawks. I've seen them take out other flying friends.

A very nice, cozy park to relax and get away. Facing westerly with a sweeping view about 180 to 360…read moredegrees, you can come here a do nothing. Two benches. A lot of joggers. Even more people taking photos. I've live in Seattle nearly all of my life, and I've always know about Sunset Hill park. Aw, to have one of the houses on the other side of the street facing the same direction--this is on 34th Ave. NW where you can't drive any farther west. Not much else to say, except let the photos and the go-there do the talking.

The Sunset Hills strawberry shortcake is nothing short of spectacular: tender, buttery biscuits,…read moreperfectly softened and lightly sweetened, layered with juicy, sugar‑mac­erated strawberries, and topped with billowy freshly whipped cream. Each bite delivers bright fruit contrast and melt‑in‑your-mouth texture. It's elegant yet unpretentious--the ideal summer dessert. Astonishingly, it manages to outshine even the breathtaking view of Puget Sound and the soothing ocean breeze drifting in from the water. As the sun dips low and the air cools, the shortcake becomes more than just dessert--it's the highlight of the evening.

After a blueberry muffin at Wildflour Bakery and Cafe this morning, Sunday 28 May 2023, I decided…read moreto get a little on-foot exploring in and adventure to Salmon Bay Park. When I arrived around 8:37 a.m., there were a few dog walkers out. There is a large playground area and paved trails through grassy areas with trees. I noticed some normal swings as well as what looked like a zipline swing. I walked over to check it out and sure enough it was a zipline swing. Figuring out how to use it, I opted for a sitting approach since I have sustained a head trauma in the past that I did not want to replicate. It was fun to use, and I was relieved it did not get going too fast. Dismounting once the swing started slowing down was without incident as well. While in the playground area, I heard a Northern flicker (a type of woodpecker) calling and looked up to see if I could find it. What I saw was a Cooper's hawk up high in a tree. In our backyard the Cooper's hawks like to chase after the flickers. I exclaimed out loud "a Cooper's hawk" and an American crow on the ground not too far from me cawed and looked at me. The hawks also chase them in our backyard. The hawk flew off before too long and the handsome crow when back to foraging in the grass. A restroom building in the trailed area of the park has running water and soap. I made sure to wash my hands after using the swing on the playground. The building and grounds of the park were well-maintained.

My son is obsessed with this park!! We visited it every day of our vacation in Seattle, and even…read morethough we've long since returned home, he asks all the time if we can go back to the park with the diggers. That's right, there's a tremendous sand pit with "community" diggers available for everyone's use. This says a lot about the general public's use and value of this park. It was really sweet to see the local kids descend on this park and run rampant for 10 minutes until the school bus came. The whole feel of this park takes me back to when I was what is now called a "free range kid." My husband and I also really enjoyed the zip line (who says it's just for kids?!) and didn't even get half of a side-eye for doing our body weight workouts on the play structure while our son played.

Located just outside of the Seattle Public Library, the Ballard Commons Park feels like less of a…read moretraditional park and more of a casual community gathering space. It serves many roles -- part municipal hub, part skate bowl, part public art venue, and during the summer months, transforms into a splash pad to help folks cool off. It is a true reflection of the Ballard neighborhood, which has something for everyone, good and bad. The good: :: Local skaters are very into the skateboard bowl, which is fully integrated into the public plaza design. :: The hours are from 4:00AM-11:30PM. That's basically a nap short of 24 hours in my book. :: Public art, that is free and showcases a local artist is always a good thing. :: West coast summer are some of the best in the country. The splash pad is a nice addition, even if it doesn't feel that hot. (#1) :: ADA accessible walkways. Inclusive access means there's an ease of movement for everyone. The bad: :: While having an onsite bathroom is a wonderful thing, it's not so good when it's not properly maintained. Foulness is not good, especially when there isn't any toilet paper or much of a working faucet. :: The homeless is a given, but things can get dodgy when there are youngins present. :: While the playground ("The Cove") was recently introduced as of last year with the ship theme, zip line, slides, rope ladders, but it's incredibly small. It is nautical play, but not something great if there's a lot of youngins present. :: It has been said that there is a lot of outdoor seating, but I was only able to find a handful of seats walls, stone benches, and little options in the shade. :: Park ranger or police patrols nearby? Not that I could see. __________ (#1) I live in Texas. That's hot.

Small flowers including daisies, clover, and buttercups were in bloom when I visited Ballard…read moreCommons Park yesterday, Sunday 28 May 2023. I arrived on the morning side of noon and explored a little on foot as well as sat on one of the benches to just take in the sun. Large grassy areas abutted a skate park and water spray area. By the skate park was an active musician, a Seattle Parks and Recreation tent, and a number of colorful sitting tables with chairs. Both porta-pottis and a metal restroom building were available for use next to a water fountain. An orca mural was painted on a small building in the west side of the park and lights lined paved walkways from above.