Best Rainy-Day Parks and Playgrounds Around Seattle and Beyond
Photo:
Deane’s Children’s Park. Photo: Linnea Westerlind
Deane’s Children’s Park, Mercer Island
This Mercer Island park is also known as “Dragon Park” for the 45-foot-long dragon slide/climbing structure that’s been a local icon for decades. The forested park on Mercer Island can keep kids busy for hours on drizzly days, with dense trees and a nearby shelter providing protection. Older kids and even teenagers will enjoy conquering the large rock-climbing structure; and two playgrounds provide lots of fun, including a long slide and a castle-themed structure complete with a fake stone façade and flags.
Most of the park is fenced, providing relief for parents who have more than one kid in tow or a child who likes to wander.
Location: 5500 Island Crest Wy., Mercer Island. A small, free parking lot is close to the playground.
Warm up: Head to the Mercer Island location of Homegrown Sustainable Sandwiches, less than 3 miles away, for soups, salads and sandwiches made with locally sourced ingredients; and then to Island Books next door, which boasts a fantastic kids’ section.
Next stop: Point Defiance
