Location: West Seattle
Address: 5817 S.W. Lander St.
Acreage: 3.9
More commonly called whale tail park for the sculpture kids like to climb on at the west end of the park, Alki Playground is a popular spot in West Seattle almost year-round.
You’ll find this park just a block or so from the busy Alki Ave. and the beach. Besides the tail and various play equipment, the park has tennis and basketball courts and a large field for games. Alki Elementary School and the Alki Community Center are located on the east end of the park.
One of my favorite walking routes in this area starts at Alki Beach Park and leads to Alki Playground. From there, you can follow the sidewalk (look for children’s art and poetry) in the paving stones to Schmitz Boulevard.
This will take you into Schmitz Preserve Park, one of the best wooded parks in the city. Circle the trails in the dense forest before working your way back down toward the beach.
#255 (Visited 3/16/11)