Seattle Reopens Playgrounds, Outdoor Fitness Areas At City Parks

SEATTLE, WA — Play areas and adult fitness equipment reopened for public use at all Seattle city parks Tuesday, following updated public health guidance. All city playgrounds closed in late March as the state first enacted wide restrictions on public activities to curb the coronavirus’s spread.

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City play areas have been closed since late March.

According to the city, fitness areas and playgrounds are not regularly sanitized, and it’s important to follow public health guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep parks open for use.

Here are some safety reminders from the City of Seattle:

For play areas:

• Play equipment is open to five or fewer kids at a time
• Some play areas have only one piece of play equipment (usually a climber/slide combo), and others have many pieces of equipment (swings, little kids climber, big kids climber, zipline, etc.). No more than five kids on a piece of play equipment.
• Stay home if you are sick or if anyone in your family is sick.
• Please wash your child’s hands before and after play.
• All children over the age of two must wear a mask. (See here for mask information and exception because of disability.)
• Give yourself and others at least six feet of space.
• Keep a close eye on your child to ensure that they are following the guidelines
• Stay for a short time (30 min. or less) to give everyone an opportunity to play
• No food or drink on the play equipment to ensure that masks are worn at all times.
• Visit parks during less busy times. Visit less popular parks. Seattle has over 150 play areas (not including those at schools).
• Mornings are less busy than afternoons
• Weekdays are less busy than weekends
• Green Lake, Seward, Magnuson, Discovery, Lincoln, Gas Works, Carkeek and Jefferson Park are some of Seattle’s busier play areas.
• We are all in this together, so kindly remind others of the guidelines and find a different activity if the play area gets too crowded.

For adult fitness equipment:

• Fitness equipment is open to five or fewer people at a time
• Stay home if you are sick or if anyone in your family is sick.
• Please wash your hands before and after use
• You must wear a mask.
• Give yourself and others at least six feet of space.
• Stay for a short time (30 min. or less) to give everyone an opportunity to use the equipment
• Visit parks during less busy times.
  • Mornings are less busy than afternoons
  • Weekdays are less busy than weekends
• We are all in this together, so kindly remind others of the guidelines and find a different activity if the equipment gets too crowded.

These parks close at 8 p.m.:

• Alki Beach
• Green Lake
• Washington Park Arboretum
• Kubota Garden
• West Seattle Stadium
• Carkeek
• Lincoln
• Myrtle Edwards
• Discovery
• Magnuson
• Judkins
• Gas Works
• Seward
• Woodland
• Golden Gardens
• Volunteer

Officials plan to reopen parking lots at city parks on Monday, Oct. 19.