Seward Community Playground

This is the new playground in Seward! It is walking distance from everything you might want to do downtown, like the Sea Life Center. It is just the right place to take a break after a meal or after a 2 hour drive (like the one we just took to get here!)

 Our trip was on a foggy morning. It was really nice and quiet while we were there and I enjoyed watching the fog roll past, trying to find a place to settle in.
The bathrooms are located out front in the huge parking area, there is a city bus stop right out front, and there is an RV park and campground directly adjacent.

 Bear proof/tot proof trash cans are located around the park and it appears that there is a local custom of placing lost and found items on the fence. That is handy.

 My boys were thrilled to drive theAlaska Train car, next to black sand box. It is reminiscent of coal cars that still bring coal to the Seward docks. I heartily approved that the toddler area is only accessible from park interior, so I knew my little ones weren't wandering out to the campground, road or water.

 Fishing boat

Fire truck with slide!

 Small town square and settlers village

 There are swings in both the toddler and older kids areas. This park had so many things for every age of child. I would say this is a whole family playground. Don't be surprised if you find yourself atop the fire truck or climbing the rock wall! This is a fun park!

 The park is also accessible from a paved path that runs along water front. Watch little ones, though the rear entrance is from big kids area. The rv park and campground, skate park and pavilion all use this path.

 Skate park - plus for older kids

 Fun crab cut out.

 Your child can pretend to drive a dog sled  - This was donated by the Seavey family

 Under sea caverns - from the Sealife Center

A tribute to Mount Marathon - a mural climbing wall. Just one of many great murals throughout the city of Seward.

I think the creators of the playground did a great job embodying Seward in a park. Each feature sparks a memory or interest in another wonderful facet of this jewel of the Kenai Peninsula.

Kenai Park Strip Playground

The playground at the Kenai Park Strip is located along Main Street Loop, in Kenai, centered between the ball fields. It is accessible by parking along the curb of Main Street or using Coral Street from either the Spur Highway or 1st Avenue.

I have been coming to this park for years. Like other parks in Kenai, the equipment is outdated, but this has also held up better than most. While I don't like parking along the street, parking is available around the other side of the park, and the play ground is set quite a way back from busy Main Street.

Nearby are some public restrooms (above) - nothing fancy, but it beats an out house and they are generally clean. It is much closer to the street than the playground.

 Nearby is a covered picnic facility with cooking grills available. To reserve a grill and table for an event, you can contact the city of Kenai at 283-3692.

 I didn't consider this park toddler friendly, but my toddler did have a fair time with the help of her older siblings. I can say that it kept my climbing kid happy.

 I don't like that there is graffiti on the equipment. This seems to be a problem at several play grounds locally and indeed, many other playgrounds around the world. My son reported that there were some bad words inside the tunnel. Oh joy. How he saw it, squeezing through there, I'll never know. At 10, he is almost to big for the tunnel.

 Where are your shoes, child?!

 View from the side, baseball field in the back ground

It was easy for my 3 year old to climb up the equipment and he had a grand time. I would say that this park is just right for kids 3-8 years old. Avoid it busy times like during ball games, unless you want to go to the game, then bonus! There's a playground! There are many summer time public events along the park strip, so keep that in mind if you are looking for a place to play and want to avoid the crowds.

Aspen Park

 Aspen Park is a small park in Soldotna, Alaska. It can be found by turning onto Aspen Drive from either Marydale Drive or Knight Drive, about halfway down the street. There is parking for 3 cars on the tiny parking pad, and more along the curb.

From the start, let me just say that this park is not as tot friendly as the City of Soldotna might lead you to believe on their website. Sure, there are some fun features like the chain link spider web, but I had to help my nearly 3 year old son over the top. This is a park for active children and active parents. For this visit, I only had the youngest of my children with me and nearly every feature required me to aid my small children. It is one of the reasons that I don't come to this park as much. I think the last time I was here my oldest 2 sons were around the same ages and they spent most of the time under the wood structures in "their fort".

The tires are a fun feature. My son enjoyed climbing through and walking on them. I think my older children would have loved the tire swing.

 Big step down, not so bad coming the other way. No way I would let her or him attempt this alone.

 Though the spaces and gaps are large, it didn't slow them down too much. At least the platforms are flat planks, not round. There are two slides at Aspen park - one tall twisty slide and one hexagonal super short slide. Both require climbing up rungs that are spaced just a little too far apart for toddlers.

 She couldn't get up. It was too far between, which is okay for her age. I recommended this playground for children a little more physically coordinated and taller in stature, like age 3 and up.

The nicest part of the park is the trail that connects it to the dog park. Its not far away, but meanders through the woods in a loop. There are 2 benches at the dog park, which the Soroptomist society is currently working on. Along the trail there are square picnic tables and trash cans. There are a total of 6 picnic tables throughout the park and at least as many trash cans. There are also a few benches facing the play ground and some trails leading off to neighborhoods. Be mindful of private property at the edges of the park. Its fairly well defined and most neighbors have it posted clearly.

Bayview Park

Bayview Park sits at the top of Bayview Avenue in Homer, Alaska, just east of the hospital. It is a tiny neighborhood park, but boasts plenty of fun for a family whether it is wet or sunny outside. The park has one picnic table right next to the playground equipment.

Bayview boasts 3 slides, which were all tested and approved for play by my toddler. He was very thorough.

Bayview also has some large rocks and boulders for a game of "lava" or "crocodiles". Almost as good as a genuine "Log".

Parking for Bayview Park is up behind the park. There you will find a port-a-potty. Parking is limited to 2 or 3 vehicles and additional parking is probably available along the surrounding streets.

There are two swings at this park. It was enough for us for the day. It is a very small park, after all, and I am sure is normally only used by locals. Two swings is fair.

I love the yellow plastic and wood structure, but I felt like there were a lot of very large gaps between components. I didn't let my small toddler climb on this structure alone for fear of her putting a leg in to the gaps.

 My research group, hard at work.

 

Perhaps the funnest feature of this park is the tiny valley running along the upper side. There are two little plank bridges over what I am sure can be a creek during rainy weather. My children were happy pretending it was a moat and running up and down between the hills. It is a fun way to keep the natural landscape of the park. Thanks, Homer, for not being generic and homogenized.

Two "bridges"

I found this picket fence park charming. It was easy and fun, open, but small enough for me to sit back to relax and comfortably keep an eye on children spread out over the park. Be mindful that there are houses and streets surrounding every side of the park, so children should not be allowed to wander nor should they be allowed to be excessively noisy if you happen to go to the park late in the evening.