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Early reviews (and pictures) of the upgraded Volunteer Park playground

Screen shot 2013-04-26 at 9.42.18 PMScreen shot 2013-04-26 at 9.42.29 PMFirst, CHS would like to welcome a growing group of readers to the site — (southern) Capitol Hill zero to five-year-olds are the fastest-growing age group in the area according to this demographic dataset. Thanks for reading, kids!

Turning to issues of the day that affect our readers most, with the unveiling of the overhauled Volunteer Park playground, here’s a look at what we got for our Seattle Parks Levy money.

Here’s how Seattle Parks describes the new equipment and layout:

The play area offers musical components, climbing rocks, a climbing wall, net, slides, higher swings, and a new sand box. The play area now features wheel chair access onto the small play structure and into the two play spaces. ADA compliant pathways connect the play area and wading pool with the restrooms and parking area to the west. The design of the new pathways is sensitive to the original Olmsted plan and mimics the historic promenade. Olmsted style benches will be added near the wading pool.

The existing Block (“bone”) play sculpture, created by Chas Smith in 1962, remains in the renovated play area. The design also retains the shooting star paving feature and Pablo’s plaque installed as part of the 1991 Neighborhood Matching Fund project.

CHS approves. The new musical components are good fun and there are some simpler, grittier additions that are already kid approved including the sandbox (bring toys!), more room around the swings and the cleared out vegetation that has opened up a mini trail and pinecone hike area. About the only thing a kid might miss from the old set-up is the giant metal slide — it has been replaced by a less-wide metal slide. Still fun. Just less-wide.

The change has also opened up the space in a connection that might sound strange but — we think — is actually kind of nice. Lake View Cemetery runs along the northern edge of the park. The work to overhaul the playground has cleared away overgrowth so that the cemetery is in plain view — behind a chain-link fence — of the playful times in the park. It’s a little heavy but deep thoughts are welcome when pushing a toddler on a swing for a half hour. Next step might be creating a gate so we all can walk back and forth — deep thoughts and all.

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Andrew Taylor
10 years ago

I’ve long been wanting a gate from the playground to the cemetery. The slope between the wading pool and the conservatory is great for small gatherings and BBQs, but it’s a considerable hike from there, via the main gate, to the Lees’ graves that many visitors want to see. A gate would make that a traffic-free trek.

cranky old man
cranky old man
10 years ago

Sure, a gate would be nice, but that’s really up to the Cemetery Board, as they may have a different vision for the private property.

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[…] May 17th for the community celebration and dedication of the renovated play area. CHS provided a few pictures and some early reviews of the revamped playground here. Details on the party are […]