Kirkland's local families and children are invited to join city officials and community leaders for the grand reopening of the rejuvenated Everest Park Playground on Thursday at 1 PM. The City of Kirkland announced the event as a chance for residents to experience the playground's fresh facelift with inclusive and updated equipment. The original structure, a modest 3,850 square feet installation from 2001, has been replaced with a more expansive setup designed to serve the community's diverse needs.
Councilmember Neal Black emphasized the value of parks as community spaces. "Parks are places where community happens, and this new playground is a shining example of that," he told the City of Kirkland. The renewed playground now showcases a mix of climbing structures, swings, and a playful nod to the park's baseball history with an oversized baseball glove slide. These features were included thanks to suggestions from the community's youth during the planning stages. Notably, improved accessible pathways have also been added to ensure that visitors of all abilities can enjoy the park.
Lynn Zwaagstra, Parks and Community Services Director highlighted the playground's new dimensions and offerings. "The new Everest Playground nearly doubles the size of the original and adds play opportunities that are inclusive, imaginative, and challenging," she said, per the City of Kirkland. The transformation comes from partial funding from the voter-supported 2020-2025 King County Parks Levy, which backs parks and open space initiatives across the region.
