AdaptedDesign's Park Reviews
Parks should be spaces where everyone can play and enjoy the outdoors safely. However, many parks are far from inclusive or accessible in the types of equipment they provide or the surfaces and obstacles they have that make accessing these spaces difficult. These park reviews look beyond the conventional playground elements and assess these features from the perspective of parent with a child with disabilities and whether or not the whole park (and not just the playground) would be a place universally accommodating of all users.
The following parks are presented in descending order based on their AdaptedDesign rating.
★★★★★ 5 star parks are more likely to accommodate all users because they go above and beyond the minimum requirements of an inclusive park. You will likely find extra accessible parking, restrooms with larger changing tables, a good amount of shade and covered areas nearby, an accessible playground surface and pathways, communication boards and/or alternate languages like braille or indigenous languages, an array of play equipment of different sizes and types, and a clear understanding of safety including elopement barriers and good sight lines for caregivers.
★★★☆☆ 3 Star parks may include some inclusive features but there may be some accessible items that are lacking or incomplete. There may be limited accessible parking, no changing tables, a lot of solar exposure and little shade or covered areas, playground surface is likely to be accessible but there may be some concerns or discontinuity, no communication board, some or limited inclusive equipment options, and an elopement barrier may not be present.
★☆☆☆☆ 1 Star parks are not recommended. These may not have any inclusive features or equipment and may be inaccessible for many users. There is likely engineered wood fiber playground surface, little to no accessible parking, no restrooms, no shade or covered area, poorly maintained pathways or non-paved surfaces like gravel or dirt, no inclusive equipment, and may have major safety concerns for users with disabilities or mobility issues.
Use the search bar to search for certain locations or browse by rating below:
★★★★★ ..... ★★★★☆ ..... ★★★☆☆ ..... ★★☆☆☆ ..... ★☆☆☆☆
Park Reviews - 1
Lynnwood: Meadowdale Playfields ★☆☆☆☆
There is little accessible parking near the playground. There is more accessible parking on the opposite side of the parking lot but one would have to traverse the parking lot...
Lynnwood: Meadowdale Playfields ★☆☆☆☆
There is little accessible parking near the playground. There is more accessible parking on the opposite side of the parking lot but one would have to traverse the parking lot...
Seattle: Hiawatha Playfield ★☆☆☆☆
Thre is a wood chip playground surface, gravel and old asphalt walkways, really no inclusive equipment, no accessible parking, ugh. ⚲ 2700 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116 Reviewed: October 2023...
Seattle: Hiawatha Playfield ★☆☆☆☆
Thre is a wood chip playground surface, gravel and old asphalt walkways, really no inclusive equipment, no accessible parking, ugh. ⚲ 2700 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116 Reviewed: October 2023...
Issaquah: Lake Sammamish State Park ★☆☆☆☆
Parking lot is just a muddy gravel pothole mess. Just avoid. Lots of adjacent construction making access difficult. Playground surface is rubber but already pretty beaten up. Only a saucer...
Issaquah: Lake Sammamish State Park ★☆☆☆☆
Parking lot is just a muddy gravel pothole mess. Just avoid. Lots of adjacent construction making access difficult. Playground surface is rubber but already pretty beaten up. Only a saucer...
Bothell: Landing Park ★☆☆☆☆
This park has a very small parking lot and there are only a few accessible parking spots. There are older restrooms near the parking and playground but they do not...
Bothell: Landing Park ★☆☆☆☆
This park has a very small parking lot and there are only a few accessible parking spots. There are older restrooms near the parking and playground but they do not...
4 Star Park Reviews
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Kirkland: 132nd Square Park ★★★★☆
There is a small parking lot with a few accessible parking spots with no wider van spots. The restrooms have larger changing tables and are labeled as family restrooms. There...
Kirkland: 132nd Square Park ★★★★☆
There is a small parking lot with a few accessible parking spots with no wider van spots. The restrooms have larger changing tables and are labeled as family restrooms. There...
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Kirkland: Juanita Beach Park ★★★★☆
This a well maintained park with great level walkways and a boardwalk with a view. This is a very popular park and although there are quite a few accessible parking...
Kirkland: Juanita Beach Park ★★★★☆
This a well maintained park with great level walkways and a boardwalk with a view. This is a very popular park and although there are quite a few accessible parking...
3 Star Park Reviews
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Tacoma: SERA Park ★★★☆☆
There are two parking lots that can be used which have a good amount of accessible parking. The restrooms were not well maintained and did not have changing tables but...
Tacoma: SERA Park ★★★☆☆
There are two parking lots that can be used which have a good amount of accessible parking. The restrooms were not well maintained and did not have changing tables but...
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Snoqualmie: Centennial Fields Park ★★★☆☆
There is an incomplete elopement barrier at this playground where the fence is completely open to the parking lot. We witnessed an incident on the date of review where a...
Snoqualmie: Centennial Fields Park ★★★☆☆
There is an incomplete elopement barrier at this playground where the fence is completely open to the parking lot. We witnessed an incident on the date of review where a...
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Mountlake Terrace: Ballinger Park ★★★☆☆
The Hazel Miller Universally Accessible Playground is a newer addition to Ballinger Park. This playground is not located near either parking lot and there are not nearly enough accessible parking...
Mountlake Terrace: Ballinger Park ★★★☆☆
The Hazel Miller Universally Accessible Playground is a newer addition to Ballinger Park. This playground is not located near either parking lot and there are not nearly enough accessible parking...
2 Star Park Reviews
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Bainbridge Island: Battle Point Park ★★☆☆☆
This is a large park with a small gravel parking lot. There are only a few accessible parking spots and they are also gravel and do not have access aisles....
Bainbridge Island: Battle Point Park ★★☆☆☆
This is a large park with a small gravel parking lot. There are only a few accessible parking spots and they are also gravel and do not have access aisles....
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Suquamish: Suquamish Park ★★☆☆☆
Beautiful park with a small parking lot with two accessible parking spots located near the covered area and restrooms. Family restroom includes a small changing table. Covered area is nice...
Suquamish: Suquamish Park ★★☆☆☆
Beautiful park with a small parking lot with two accessible parking spots located near the covered area and restrooms. Family restroom includes a small changing table. Covered area is nice...
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Gig Harbor: Crescent Creek Park ★★☆☆☆
This playground has a cool nautical theme with a large boat at the center that is wheelchair accessible. The parking lot is small with only 2 accessible parking spots located...
Gig Harbor: Crescent Creek Park ★★☆☆☆
This playground has a cool nautical theme with a large boat at the center that is wheelchair accessible. The parking lot is small with only 2 accessible parking spots located...
1 Star Park Reviews
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Mercer Island: Luther Burbank Park ★☆☆☆☆
There are some accessible parking spots near the entrance. Restrooms were in poor condition and the male restroom was missing a louver in an opening that looked directly onto the...
Mercer Island: Luther Burbank Park ★☆☆☆☆
There are some accessible parking spots near the entrance. Restrooms were in poor condition and the male restroom was missing a louver in an opening that looked directly onto the...
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Everett: Hauge Homestead Park ★☆☆☆☆
Good amount of accessible parking for the small size of park. There are restrooms but they do not have changing tables. There is no natural shade but there is a...
Everett: Hauge Homestead Park ★☆☆☆☆
Good amount of accessible parking for the small size of park. There are restrooms but they do not have changing tables. There is no natural shade but there is a...
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Tacoma: Wright Park ★☆☆☆☆
Parking is parallel street parking and no accessible parking was observed. Restrooms were filthy and none of the stalls had doors. There were no changing tables. The playground had some...
Tacoma: Wright Park ★☆☆☆☆
Parking is parallel street parking and no accessible parking was observed. Restrooms were filthy and none of the stalls had doors. There were no changing tables. The playground had some...
5 Star Park Reviews
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Seattle: Pathways Park ★★★★★
This park has just reopened. It ticks all the boxes having multiple inclusive swing options, a wheelchair accessible merry go round, accessible pathways and play surfaces, and great sensory spaces,...
Seattle: Pathways Park ★★★★★
This park has just reopened. It ticks all the boxes having multiple inclusive swing options, a wheelchair accessible merry go round, accessible pathways and play surfaces, and great sensory spaces,...
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Bellevue: Downtown Park ★★★★★
Inspiration Playground is a large playground with lots of inclusive features including multiple inclusive swing options. At the entrance there is a braille map of the playground and there is braille...
Bellevue: Downtown Park ★★★★★
Inspiration Playground is a large playground with lots of inclusive features including multiple inclusive swing options. At the entrance there is a braille map of the playground and there is braille...