For those who were interested in “the case of the missing monkey bars” at Wallingford Playfield, Mandy sent in this update from Seattle Parks and Recreation. Plus, a bonus update on the “slippery slope” that we featured earlier in the fall. We’ll try to keep in touch with the Parks Department and provide additional updates as winter turns to spring. Thanks for this info Mandy!

In response to Mandy’s email, Seattle Parks and Recreation says…

The climbing arch was removed because, during a regular playground inspection, Parks staff discovered that the wooden footings were rotten and posed a safety hazard. …

(Sharon’s Notes from the Playground)

I took my daughter to the park today – pretty typical excursion, baby swings, watching other babies, waving at shadows. All fun stuff for a 7 month old. After maybe fifteen minutes or so, we meandered around the big play structure and I was struck by something, or maybe more accurately, a lack of something: there was a big void where the monkey bars used to be.

At first I thought I had just missed them. Or maybe that they had moved somehow? But alas, the monkey bars were definitely gone. Almost stranger than their …

(Sharon continues her Notes from the Playground series)

When you take your kids to the park, say once, twice, maybe three times a day, you end up meeting lots of people. Well, more like you run into a lot of parents, who are in the same boat as you. Luckily for us, the hood seems to attract very cool “rents.” Folks are really down to earth, into their kids, and the neighborhood. And what’s not to like about the neighborhood? It’s classic Seattle – it’s got older homes with a lot of character, feels urban but homey, and has increasingly …

(Sharon continues her Notes from the Playground series)

The official start of fall may have been last week but now it feels like the real deal. A little rain here and there, mixed in with crisp blue bird days that feel refreshing yet cozy at the same time. Fall is my favorite season in Seattle. I love going on evening walks, hearing the sound of autumn leaves crunching beneath my feet as I savor a hot cup of coffee and watch the kids run around the park. The days may be shorter both in time and sunshine, but it’s nice …