15 toddler-friendly playgrounds on Seattle’s Eastside

If you’re a parent of toddlers, you know that parks are lifesavers. And with so many to choose from, we’ve focused on some of our Eastside favorites geared especially toward the under-5 crowd. Be it a separate space for toddlers or an entire park created just for pint-sized players, here are 14 parks for toddlers on the Eastside!

More Eastside Playgrounds Guides

• Need an indoor option? Check out our guide to Eastside indoor playgrounds for rainy-day play spaces, climbing gyms, and toddler-friendly indoor parks.
• Looking for water play? Our 2026 spray parks guide rounds up the best splash pads and spray parks around Seattle and the Eastside.
• Need accessible play options? Explore our guide to inclusive playgrounds designed for kids of all abilities.
• Kids love imaginative play? Don’t miss our roundup of themed playgrounds featuring castles, trains, farms, airplanes, and more.

Best Toddler Playgrounds in Kirkland

Tot Lot Park

141 9th Ave., Kirkland

Parents of “runners,” rejoice! Tot Lot Park is a fully fenced, flat, and fabulous mini park for toddlers. You’ve got a well-stocked sandbox, a small climbing structure with slides, ride-on toys, a few swings and lots of grass for snack time.

• Restrooms: There’s a portable toilet, so come prepared
• Snacks: Shake Shack is less than 5 minutes away, or splurge-worthy DERU Market is about six blocks east for artisan pizzas, organic salads, and to-die-for cake slices.

North Kirkland Community Center Park

12421 103rd Avenue NE, Kirkland

Another great bet for toddlers and preschoolers. This space-themed playground has lots of options for climbing, sliding, and spinning. The playground also has an accessible swing set. Your littles will also love exploring the small patch of bushes and trees between the two play areas and rolling down the grassy hill.

• Restrooms: Yes
• Snacks: Chick-fil-A is less than 10 minutes away in the Totem Lake area

Juanita Beach Park

9703 NE Juanita Drive, Kirkland

Juanita Beach boasts many amenities, including a bathhouse, picnic pavilion, and an all-abilities playground. Highlights include fun features like the “roller” slide, a double swing, and a mini climbing wall. There’s a smaller climbing structure for the 5-and-under crowd, plus a larger one for a big brother or sister.

• Restrooms: Yes
• Snacks: Pop over to Urban Coffee Lounge for a sandwich and a scone

North Rose Hill Woodlands Park

9930 124th Ave. NE, Kirkland

Better known as “Castle Park” to the community members who helped build it, this is a one-of-a-kind playground. It features — you guessed it — a castle full of climbing structures, secret passageways and slides. There’s a separate area for toddlers with smaller (but just as cool) equipment, and everyone will love the tire swing. There’s tons of grass for picnics, plus a few small nature trails and boardwalks. (Note: Parking can be tricky. Either park along busy 124th Avenue, or head to the small lot and side-street parking off of NE 100th Street.)

• Restrooms: No restrooms, so come prepared
• Snacks: Grab pizza and soft-serve at the Kirkland Costco (down the street).

132nd Square Park

13159 132nd Ave NE, Kirkland 

This park is known for the bright yellow turf “sledding hill,” but it also has a wide range of features for all ages. Little ones can enjoy the variety of swings, play structures, an accessible merry-go-round, and a hammock. Musical elements and sensory boards are at the perfect height for toddlers and preschoolers. Paved paths surrounding the playground and sports fields are perfect for scootering and new bikers.

• Restrooms: Yes
• Snacks: Totem Lake is less than five minutes away with lots of food options. Getting a scoop of Salt and Straw ice cream is always a good way to end a park play date.

Best Toddler Playgrounds in Bellevue

Meydenbauer Bay Park

9899 Lake Washington Blvd NE, Bellevue

The water views might steal the show for the adults, but the playground and beach will stand out for your kids. The turf surfacing, nature-inspired balance section, saucer swing, and small playground are perfect for toddlers. Preschoolers can work their way up to climbing the slightly larger structure (but be prepared to catch your child — the large slide is fast!). Pack some beach toys or swim on a warm day.

• Restrooms: Yes, on the beach level
• Snacks: Walk or drive about .5 mile to Old Bellevue. Coffee at Coffeeholic House, smoothies at Matcha Magic, or soft-serve parfaits at Nana’s Green Tea are some favorite splurges.

Inspiration Playground

Downtown Bellevue’s unique Inspiration Playground feels more like a whimsical playland than your average swing-and-slide go-to. Designed for all abilities, the 1.5-acre park features swings, bouncers, slides, climbing structures, and a super-cool “Roots and Rock” climbing wall. The splash area is also a hit — perfect for your pint-sized park-goers.

• Restrooms: Yes
• Snacks: MOD Pizza is just outside the northeast corner of Bellevue Downtown Park.

Crossroads Park

999 164th Ave. NE, Bellevue

Every time we visit Crossroads Park in the summer, I pinch myself that this life-size orca spray park is free and open to the public; it’s always high on our “summer bucket list”. The cushy surface is easy on toddling knees, and there are lots of gentle spray features for younger children. The playground area has a designated smaller playground for toddlers, an accessible we-go-round, and a larger structure for older kids.

• Restrooms: Yes
• Snacks: Dick’s Burgers is less than a mile away within Crossroads Mall. Mochinut Donuts is also at Crossroads Mall for a sweet treat.

Kelsey Creek Park

410 130th Pl. SE, Bellevue

ith a farm-themed playground, nature trails, and live animals to visit (during open visiting hours), what more could a tot want? The giant tractor playground and saucer swing are just right for toddlers and preschoolers. Older kids can climb the farm tower with several sides and climbing challenges throughout.

• Restrooms: Yes, along the path, just a short walk towards the barnyard area.
• Snacks: Stop for coffee and treats on the way at Dilenttante Mocha Café at Bellefield Office Park, about a 6-minute drive from the park.

Hidden Valley Sports Park Kids Play Area

1903 112th Ave NE, Bellevue 

The sweetest honeycomb-themed playground geared toward younger children. Turf surfacing, sensory panels, crawling tunnels, a butterfly bouncer, baby swings, and a small play structure separate from the larger one are just some of the many features that make this playground inviting for the youngest children. Playground Spotlight: A sweet, bee-themed playground to explore in Bellevue

• Restrooms: Yes
• Snacks: Farine Bakery and Café is less than a mile away — their cruffins are worth a stop!

Toddler-Friendly Parks on Mercer Island

Luther Burbank Park

2040 84th Avenue SE, Mercer Island

On Mercer Island, Luther Burbank Park is home to nature trails, Lake Washington beachfront, and a great play area for toddlers with swings, climbing structures, and a zip line (perfect for older siblings!). There are restrooms, drinking fountains, and picnic tables in the area. (Note: The parking lot nearest the playground often fills up on nice days, but there’s more parking at the Mercer View Community Center. Just be prepared to walk to the play area.) There’s an additional tiny playground with a fire truck theme, closer to the South parking lot. This one is enclosed by a fence.

• Restrooms: Yes
• Snacks: Stop by Hap’s Burgers and Taps on your way to or from Luther Burbank for a retro-style diner feel. Their specialties are grass-fed beef and free-range chicken burgers, fries, and shakes. There’s a fun area of the parking lot for “lawn games.”

Mercerdale Park

3009 77th Ave SE, Mercer Island

Also known as “Train Park,” Mercerdale got a refresh in 2022 with a giant climb-aboard train and semi-enclosed playground. This inclusive playground has younger kids in mind with a smaller footprint, but it is jam-packed with fun details. Kids will stay busy exploring interactive sensory panels, tiny benches built under the play structures, sensory panels, games, search-and-finds, musical instruments, and more. An inclusive swingset, several slides, and a spinning cone structure are fun for older siblings too.

• Restrooms: Across the park, so be prepared for a longer walk.
• Snacks: Pagliacci, The Crawlspace Gastropub (Hawaiian-Korean fusion), and Homegrown are all a short walk away with food options for everyone.

Best Parks for Toddlers in Sammamish

Pine Lake Park 

2401 228th Ave SE, Sammamish 

Pine Lake Park’s playground area is situated within the trees (think shade on a hot day!) and is close to the waterfront area. The playground area features a large toddler structure for kids ages 2-5, an old-school fire truck bouncer, slides, and plenty to climb. Swings, including baby swings, are just around the corner by the sports court. One of my boys’ favorite unique features is the Finger Skateboard Park table between the two playground structures—pack a few toy cars! Note: With the park’s proximity to water, this park may not be the safest option if you have children who like to wander.

• Bathrooms: Yes.
• Snacks: Pick up picnic supplies or the best warm chocolate chip cookies (also known as “The Cookie”) at Metropolitan Market, five minutes north of the park.

Lake Sammamish State Park

2182 NW Sammamish Road, Issaquah, WA 98027

This park has got it all: water, sand, and some of the coolest play structures around. The all-accessible playground follows a nature theme, with oversized toadstools, a “mountain mining” play structure, a zip line, and a painted stream where kids can follow leaping salmon. (Note: Discover Pass needed for parking. You can purchase a one-day pass there.)

• Restrooms: Yes.
• Snacks: The seasonally open Sunset Beach Café sells snacks, beverages, coffee, mini donuts, and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. The mini donuts are always a welcome treat with my kids! The café is open weekends in May and September and daily from mid-June to Labor Day. We also like to stop at Happy Lemon on the way (less than a mile from Lake Sammamish State Park).

Kirk Park

NE Magnolia St, Issaquah

Kirk Park is built just for littles, especially for those who need the safe boundary of a fence. This fully enclosed park features swings, a play structure, a seesaw, an accessible merry-go-round, a picnic pavilion, musical elements, and plenty of open space to run free. Older siblings can enjoy the larger play structure at Grand View Park that peeks out just below the swings. Come at sunset to take in the stunning view!

• Restrooms: Yes
• Snacks: Stop by one of the many restaurants in the Issaquah Highlands area—try to snag a donut from Good Lazy (they sell out!) or coffee from Caffe Ladro. You also don’t need to go to the theatre to buy popcorn (Regal Issaquah Highlands).