University Playground Park

University Playground Park at 4745 9th Ave NE serves the University District's resident families with a neighborhood playground in one of Seattle's most interesting walkable neighborhoods.

The playground itself is a straightforward neighborhood installation — equipment appropriate for toddlers through grade school, open space for running, a convenient central location. Its 3.9-star rating reflects the reality that it's a functional neighborhood park rather than a premium destination.

What makes it worth the visit is the surrounding neighborhood. The University District (U-District) has The Ave — University Way NE — which is Seattle's best-value international food street. Thai, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Chinese, and Japanese restaurants cluster along several blocks at student-budget prices.

A post-playground lunch on The Ave delivers excellent food at $8-12/person, which beats most Seattle dining options for value.

The UW campus is an 8-10 minute walk from the playground. The main quad (Suzzallo Library area) has beautiful historic buildings, open lawns where kids can run, and the occasional roaming squirrel population that toddlers find riveting. The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, on the UW campus, is free on the first Thursday of each month and has rotating exhibits on Pacific Northwest natural history.

For families visiting Seattle and staying in the U-District or Capitol Hill areas, this playground is the convenient neighborhood option without requiring a car trip to signature parks.