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.

Old Town Kenai Public Park

The day that we visited this park, it was gorgeous outside. It was sunny, a little breezy , but a really wonderful day. We came to the park for a picnic with friends and stayed well in to the evening. I think we left the park after 9 that night and the sun was still high in the sky. I was sad that I didn't have my camera with me and that I would have to come back for pictures. As you can see, I did and it wasn't nearly as nice that day.

Old Town Park is located at 816 Cook Avenue in the historical district of Kenai. The buildings that housed the first library and jail for Kenai are located on the block that the park joins. There is a walking tour of Old Town that includes the surrounding buildings, if you are interested in seeing more of Old Town Kenai. I don't know when the park was established, but it has been here as long as I can remember and I played here as a kid once or twice. A large wooden structure that was older than me was finally replaced a couple of summers ago. It's an improvement. I think they could stand to replace the turquoise tunnel structure as well, but at least the City of Kenai did something to improve the playground. My children were not in the least disappointed with the turquoise thing.

The park is frequented by area residents and children from the nearby apartments and houses. It is a popular place for basketball.  There are lines painted on the basketball court for hopscotch and four square. If you bring a ball, you can have a little old school fun in Old Town!


 Old Town park also has the best swings around! There are 5 or 6 swings, which is a lot for one little park. There are a total of 3 slides that are built for varying ages and stages.

There is a covered area with a picnic table. That is a downside - there is only one table in the park. If you want to have a picnic here, I recommend bringing camp chairs for extra seating. The grill is pretty handy though.

The new red and blue equipment is just right for little kids. My 1 and 3 year olds both enjoyed this structure and found it easy to climb and older children were able to help them get up without much stress on my part.  I'm not fond of the pea gravel that surrounds the playground equipment, but again, my kids weren't fazed by it. It was a relatively gravel-in-the-shoe free day.

Don't let the chain link fencing intimidate you - there is access to the park on each side as well as parallel parking around it.

Old Town Park is a simple park. Locals use it. It is easy to walk here from other activities in Old Town Kenai or meet with friends for a quick play date. Its not the newest park, but it is a classic .

Farnsworth Park

Farnsworth Park, Soldotna, Birch Lane

 The day we visited Farnsworth Park was very wet. It was pouring rain, actually. We met a friend and her two little boys at the park, where she had been waiting for over an hour for someone (anyone!) to show for a local mother's group playdate. Still, she was bright and cheerful and willing to stick it out a bit longer so our children could play together. Lover her! You will have to excuse the pictures, neither one of us wanted to get drenched.

 Farnsworth Park is a small community play ground. Don't let the initial view of the park fool you, it has a fair amount of green spaces for such a little park and one could easily have a family picnic or play a game of football while enjoying a sunny day at the park. Behind the play ground, to the right of the hill is a large open green space. Farnsworth park also has a covered pavilion for just this sort of event that can be reserved in advance in 4 hour time blocks, for a small fee. Though this park is small, it is fairly popular, so I advise reserving it if you can to avoid party crashers. There are 2 additional picnic tables around the perimeter of the park as well. We think the city should consider adding a fire pit or grill to the pavilion.




The park is located in a quiet neighborhood, not far from the Moose is Loose bakery, Key Bank and the Soldotna Wash N Dry. There is a church nearby that overlooks the park. There is parking for 10 or so vehicles, including handicapped parking. There IS a portapotty, that is well maintained (usually).

This park is recommended for children ages 2 and up. Children smaller than this will find little to accomodate their small size, though parents can easily lift children up into the rocking insect car-like toys for a short ride or help them crawl on or under the tiny rock wall tunnel.

There are 3 different slides at Farnsworth Park, including one extra long wavy slide that runs down the small hill. Children enjoy climbing the tiered steps up the hill and running up and down the paths.

The park boasts paved paths that circle around the play areas and large wood chip landing material under all equipment, which is wonderful if you are wearing sandals. I hate getting gravel in my sandals or finding it in my children's pockets on laundry day! There are oversized, plastic percussion instruments, and though they don't make a very good drumming sound, children will love to beat on them. A handful of benches dot the paved paths for weary park goers or parents that want to keep an eye on older kids without chasing them everywhere.

The only thing missing from this park are swings. Absolutely no swings.
 
One thing I would caution parents on is the wooded areas. On the left side of the park, the wood is sparse and you can see up a hill to private residences. Children don't usually go far off here. The other side of the park, however, is much thicker and blocked from view by bushes. There is a trail near the portapotty and if children should wander that way, they will find a tree with low limbs and probably want to hang on it. They may find inappropriate items or trash left from unauthorized "campers". Best to keep your children out of the woods or check around well before letting them play there.

Overall a very nice park! Small, but with ample green space, good landscaping and newer equipment. If you find yourself at the big park near the river and it is too crowded for you, Farnsworth park is a great alternative for play or picnic. Well done, City of Soldotna!