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 - 3

Tacoma: SERA Park ★★★☆☆

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...

Snoqualmie: Centennial Fields Park ★★★☆☆

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...

Mountlake Terrace: Ballinger Park ★★★☆☆

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...

Woodinville: Wilmot Gateway Park ★★★☆☆

Woodinville: Wilmot Gateway Park ★★★☆☆

This park features a long covered promenade near restrooms and a busy river walk with pedestrians and bicyclists. The playground has a rubber play surface, one inclusive swing. The accessible...

Woodinville: Wilmot Gateway Park ★★★☆☆

This park features a long covered promenade near restrooms and a busy river walk with pedestrians and bicyclists. The playground has a rubber play surface, one inclusive swing. The accessible...

Bothell: Miner's Corner Park ★★★☆☆

Bothell: Miner's Corner Park ★★★☆☆

There is adequate accessible parking and good pathways throughout the park. The playground is well protected with natural shade. The playground does have a lot of grade change which may...

Bothell: Miner's Corner Park ★★★☆☆

There is adequate accessible parking and good pathways throughout the park. The playground is well protected with natural shade. The playground does have a lot of grade change which may...

Puyallup: Bradley Lake Park ★★★☆☆

Puyallup: Bradley Lake Park ★★★☆☆

This play area welcomes you to "Savannah's Place: Where Play is Accessible to All" I was impressed by the long ramp that allows access to the various levels of the...

Puyallup: Bradley Lake Park ★★★☆☆

This play area welcomes you to "Savannah's Place: Where Play is Accessible to All" I was impressed by the long ramp that allows access to the various levels of the...