We visited Edmonds City Park on a recent Saturday for a kids’ playdate with family friends. The girls, ages 4 and 5, had a blast bouldering and climbing, then got wet in the spray park. This park is conveniently located just a four-minute drive from prime beachfront overlooking Puget Sound—a perfect spot after the playdate. We made it a half-day trip by visiting the beach and nearby waterfront cafes after the playground.
Quick Facts
Location: 600 3rd Ave S, Edmonds
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Admission/Pass Required: None
Best for Ages: All ages
Bathrooms: Yes
Stroller friendly: Yes
Food Available: Restaurants & bars, and cafes located just a four-minute drive in the waterfront area.
Time Needed: 2- 4 hours depending on your plan to stay
Parking: Yes, ample
Our Experience
After spending some hours in the park, we headed out to the North Brackett’s Landing beach as evening approached. The kids instantly removed their shoes and jumped into the soft sand. The waves ran wild, so we kept the kids close.
Luckily, at this time of year, sunset is late, so we took advantage of the late closure and stayed until 8:30pm. The girls had a blast digging on one of the best local sandy beaches we’ve visited so far. It was also a great spot to train watching. During low tide, it is a top spot for tide pooling.
Edmonds City Park (Photo by Vizhi Thirusangu)
The Park
Edmonds City Park is a quick drive from the Edmonds ferry terminal, making it a perfect spot for an afternoon of play followed by an evening sunset walk on the waterfront.
This park includes a soccer field, a baseball field, paved bicycle paths, stroller-friendly access to the restroom facility, a large playground, a splash pad, and reservable picnic shelters. In the spring, blooms are abundant; in the fall, it’s a wonderful stop to enjoy fall colors.
Picnic tables and benches are conveniently located near the playground and the splash pad, so parents can relax while supervising their kids. I personally enjoyed sitting on the sloping lawn area right by the splash pad, for a full view of the playground and water feature. A shave ice kiosk by the parking lot was closed during our visit.
(Photo by Vizhi Thirusangu)
The Playground
This is a nature-themed playground with bouldering and climbing spaces for the older kids, as well as high, twisting slides. For toddlers, it offers tunnels and low climbers with easy slides. Wood chips throughout the area will cushion a fall.
I love that this park is designed to prevent kids from crashing into each other by positioning play structures, swings, the splash pad, and a gigantic boulder for free climbing away from each other. Benches abound, and low concrete walls divide the playground and the wet area and double as parents’ seating.
My child enjoyed the large climbing structures, rope webs, the well-shaded swings, and the park’s spinning elements.
(Photo by Vizhi Thirusangu)
Hazel Miller Spray Park
The spray park was the highlight of our visit. It’s actually two separate spray parks: a more subtle spray structure with ground sprinklers is perfect for toddlers, while the high-intensity spray arches, water jets, and dump bucket are the centerpiece for bigger kids. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. During the off-season, the splash pad’s concrete floor serves as a firm platform for scooters.
Things to do around
- Pack beach toys to play in Brackett’s Landing and plan for a dinner picnic during late summer or early fall sunsets
- Visit Marina Beach Park, located near the Edmonds-Kingston ferry terminal
- Take a relaxing walk along the shores – 2.2-mile Edmonds Marine Walkway
- Explore waterfront cafes, restaurants, and bars along the waterfront area
Would we come back?
It’s a perfect park-and-waterfront combo for families with young children. This is one of those few parks that I will definitely go back to next summer for another playdate. I imagine we will plan a picnic lunch and play next time, followed by a marine walk with its stunning beach views. And I’d plan for a dinner picnic to watch the full sunset during summer.
