Wandering into Loyal Heights Playfield feels like stepping back in time. This place has been a neighborhood hub for generations. Let’s uncover some stories hidden within this playfield.
Loyal Heights Playfield officially opened in 1941. But its story starts well before then. Local kids had been using this area as a play space for over a decade. Before it became an official park it was just empty lots.
One resident recalled collecting donations with Hills Bros. coffee cans to fund the purchase of the land. Imagine kids going door to door in Ballard. They were asking for money to create this very playfield.
During the 1930s the area was quite different. The four city blocks between W 75th and W 80th streets were mostly empty lots. There were only two houses. One stood on each side of 21st Avenue.
An unpaved 21st Avenue continued north of 75th street. Most streets in that area were unpaved then. An old covered wagon sat hidden by brush. It was located on the south side of W 80th. A heavily bearded old man lived there. The kids were afraid to go near him. Some thought he might be the boogeyman.
To create the playfield 21st Avenue was closed. The houses north of W 75th were moved away. The land sloped gently northward. This meant a lot of dirt had to be moved. This created the high embankment along W 75th.
Kids played softball in the street. They played hide and seek in everyone’s yards. They flew kites in the empty lots. There were no trees or utility poles to get in the way. Boys made box kites. They bought heavy twine. They flew them two blocks away or more.
A large clay area existed mid-block on the west side of 21st Avenue. It was between 75th and 77th. Shallow ponds a few inches deep dotted the landscape. It was fun to play there. Kids hoped their clothes would dry before supper. One family used a whistle to call their children home.
Building forts was a favorite activity. Sometimes they built huts with branches. Other times they dug big holes. They covered them with branches. These became secret hiding places. Some were large enough for five or six boys.
Huckleberry bushes grew where the community center now stands. Kids ate the berries. This sometimes started a war with kids living along 20th Avenue. Those kids lived in houses overlooking the area. The younger children were afraid of the older ones.
In recent years Loyal Heights Playfield has seen significant upgrades. The Loyal Heights Play Area reopened in June 2021. This followed five months of construction. The aim was to update the facilities. The park was also made more accessible.
The new play area includes a swing set and slides. There are climbing structures. It also features a plaza with picnic tables. A smaller climbing structure exists for younger children. A water fountain was added. Accessible pathways connect the play area to the community center. The entire playground meets the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The aging synthetic turf was replaced at the end of 2020. A new synthetic turf system was installed.
One parent noted that the new play area accommodates both her one-year-old and six-year-old. She felt it was a space they could grow into. Another parent said it was a vast improvement. Her son loved the cylindrical rope climbing structure.
Today Loyal Heights Playfield continues to be a vital part of the community. It’s a place where children can play. They can also take risks and make new friends. As you wander through remember the generations of laughter and memories that have shaped this special place.