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.

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.

Beaver Creek Park

Beaver Creek Park is located off the Kenai Spur Highway. From Kenai, take the first left after Beaver Loop Road, at the top of the hill, just before the curve. Parking is a loop, and you will probably want to parallel park. There is a water fountain in the island at the center of the loop, a great place to stop to fill up water bottles while you are out and about. The road continues past the park to a neighborhood of private residences. If you are riding or walking on the Spur Highway bike trail, this is a nice stop for lunch or a rest.

There is a bathroom, though it is more of an out house but, hey, its something. There is also a covered picnic table and a solitary trash can. Don't forget the wobbly bench.

Again we see a Kenai favorite, the green play structures. Were these bought in bulk? I have to admit that the bubbles are futuristic and space agey, but I hope that a playground update is on the list for this park. There is a basketball court.

 Though the playground itself is small, there is a large open field, great for frisbee, football, and picnics. My son's soccer team met here a few times for practices. It was ideal.

 I have an artistic niece. She takes amazing pictures; "POS Paint"

Ah, graffiti. Or an attempt at it anyway. Apparently, I'm not the only one who feels this way about the park. Is it the equipment or their can of spray paint they are commenting on?

The play ground is cushioned with sand. It works well. I don't recommend letting small children walk around public parks barefoot. She just wasn't having it. I only set her down to take pictures, honest.

 We explored the woods nearby. It looks like the surrounding area is being developed for something. I would love to see a campground go in here. It would be a great place for families who are on the peninsula for fishing season, near the boat launch and only 3 miles through Beaver Loop to get to the city docks.  All in all, the green space is what this park is all about. The City of Kenai could give it an update. This park could be a lot more popular if it wasn't so out of date.

Found some tiny flowers. They were pretty. I love Alaska.