Alki Playground

About

Alki Playfield adjoins the Alki Elementary School and Alki Community Center. The park features basketball, an innovative play area accessible to youngsters with disabilities, restrooms, a soccer field, a softball field, and accessible tennis courts. It is also home to the popular Whale Tail sculpture, a sand play area, artwork and landscaping with stone built into the walkways and landscape beds.

The playground's name comes from the Alki District, named New York-Alki by white settler Charles Terry. "Alki" is a Chinook word meaning "by and by," and originally pronounced "al-key." Originally built as a ballfield in 1911, the park is an extension of Schmitz Boulevard and serves as an entrance to the beautiful, wooded Schmitz Park from Alki Beach. Because Boulevard traffic created a hazard to school use of the playground, in 1949 the Boulevard was blocked off between 58th and 59th Avenues SW. It is marked by a park entry and trees planted along 59th.

Current Project

Alki Playground Improvements

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is coordinating with Seattle Public Schools (SPS) on improvements to a play area at the south end of Alki Playground.

Construction is underway for both the play area and pedestrian improvements for Schmitz Parkway located between the play area and the new school. Construction fencing will go up around the Play Area on March 24, 2026 and will remain up until construction is complete and passed inspections. Access to the Play Field and Dugout will remain for community use.

We look forward to celebrating the opening of the new play area and Parkway improvements in coordination with Alki Elementary School opening in Fall 2026.

• View the Preferred Concept Design

Planning and design are underway for both the play area and pedestrian improvements for Schmitz Parkway located between the play area and the new school. For more information please contact Brian Fabella at brfabella@seattleschools.org, (206) 252-0702 or visit the Seattle Public Schools project website.