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

Mercer Island: Luther Burbank Park ★☆☆☆☆

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...

Everett: Hauge Homestead Park ★☆☆☆☆

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...

Tacoma: Wright Park ★☆☆☆☆

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...

Kirkland: St. Edward State Park ★☆☆☆☆

Kirkland: St. Edward State Park ★☆☆☆☆

The playgournd surface is engineered wood fiber. There is a lot of uneven paving throughout including the parking lot and there are many barriers to accessing the playground. There are a...

Kirkland: St. Edward State Park ★☆☆☆☆

The playgournd surface is engineered wood fiber. There is a lot of uneven paving throughout including the parking lot and there are many barriers to accessing the playground. There are a...

Edmonds: Seaview Park ★☆☆☆☆

Edmonds: Seaview Park ★☆☆☆☆

No marked accessible parking, no curb cuts and uneven and rough pathways, some inclusive playground equipment and rubber surface ⚲ 8030 185th St SW, Edmonds, WA 98026 Reviewed: July 2023 More Review...

Edmonds: Seaview Park ★☆☆☆☆

No marked accessible parking, no curb cuts and uneven and rough pathways, some inclusive playground equipment and rubber surface ⚲ 8030 185th St SW, Edmonds, WA 98026 Reviewed: July 2023 More Review...

Kirkland: Big Finn Hill Park ★☆☆☆☆

Kirkland: Big Finn Hill Park ★☆☆☆☆

This playground is separated into two areas for older and younger children. There are no elopement barriers on either playground. The playground surface is engineered wood fiber (wood chips). The...

Kirkland: Big Finn Hill Park ★☆☆☆☆

This playground is separated into two areas for older and younger children. There are no elopement barriers on either playground. The playground surface is engineered wood fiber (wood chips). The...