Located just outside of the Seattle Public Library, the Ballard Commons Park feels like less of a traditional park and more of a casual community gathering space. It serves many roles -- part municipal hub, part skate bowl, part public art venue, and during the summer months, transforms into a splash pad to help folks cool off. It is a true reflection of the Ballard neighborhood, which has something for everyone, good and bad. The good: :: Local skaters are very into the skateboard bowl, which is fully integrated into the public plaza design. :: The hours are from 4:00AM-11:30PM. That's basically a nap short of 24 hours in my book. :: Public art, that is free and showcases a local artist is always a good thing. :: West coast summer are some of the best in the country. The splash pad is a nice addition, even if it doesn't feel that hot. (#1) :: ADA accessible walkways. Inclusive access means there's an ease of movement for everyone. The bad: :: While having an onsite bathroom is a wonderful thing, it's not so good when it's not properly maintained. Foulness is not good, especially when there isn't any toilet paper or much of a working faucet. :: The homeless is a given, but things can get dodgy when there are youngins present. :: While the playground ("The Cove") was recently introduced as of last year with the ship theme, zip line, slides, rope ladders, but it's incredibly small. It is nautical play, but not something great if there's a lot of youngins present. :: It has been said that there is a lot of outdoor seating, but I was only able to find a handful of seats walls, stone benches, and little options in the shade. :: Park ranger or police patrols nearby? Not that I could see. __________ (#1) I live in Texas. That's hot. read more

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Small flowers including daisies, clover, and buttercups were in bloom when I visited Ballard Commons Park yesterday, Sunday 28 May 2023. I arrived on the morning side of noon and explored a little on foot as well as sat on one of the benches to just take in the sun. Large grassy areas abutted a skate park and water spray area. By the skate park was an active musician, a Seattle Parks and Recreation tent, and a number of colorful sitting tables with chairs. Both porta-pottis and a metal restroom building were available for use next to a water fountain. An orca mural was painted on a small building in the west side of the park and lights lined paved walkways from above. read more

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A cesspool full of drugs and tents. I cut across the field one time, and someone was staring and openly doing hard drugs. Then I was like nope, not doing that again. It's not fair to the library nearby. I know it's not open right now, but it makes it feel unsafe to return books. This park is pretty beautiful, but I feel the homeless situation is now a crisis, and there needs to be action. P.S. I'm pretty progressive, and I've done work with many affordable housing organizations. The tent situation has just gotten way out of hand. It's not fair to the older living residence and neighbors nearby. read more

A city-block sized park just off of Market St with open fields and plenty of room to skate. We went at 5:30 pm on a Sunday, so it was quieter than usual. Homeless people show up around here to sleep and do drugs but there was also a cop car posted on the corner. Overall, it was fairly calm, so you could read a book, throw a football, or eat in relative peace. Definitely nicer than some of Seattle's other parks but not at night. read more

Ballard Commons Park - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Came here with my 3 year old and a friend. We won't be coming back, although I can see why someone living across the street would stop by. Pros: -fun little spray park, lots of little kids enjoying themselves -deep skating bowl for experienced skaters -plenty of grassy area Cons: -homeless people screaming at each other -a homeless man throwing bicycles -police officers being called -heavy smell of chlorine -parking on street and hard to find read more

The press release from the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation describes it thus: "The new park features a permanent skate bowl, a beautiful water feature, engaging public art, relaxing seating areas and lawns, and ADA accessible walkways." Yeah! Could Ballard get any more awesome? read more

Ballard Commons Park - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This splash pad, skate park and green space is pretty nice. It's also located close to the library and the main Ballard drag. Our toddler loves the water; she literally squeals with delight when we go there. read more

Ballard Commons Park has a little something for everyone! Parents- bring your kiddies if you're feeling adventurous and let 'em splash around in the 'Man, that does NOT look safe jagged edged artistic looking' fountain. Skaters- They've got a bowl.. NO, not the kind you put grass in. It's big and new (2 years old) and from what I can tell, is pretty dang decent. People- bring your pets, your books, your loved ones, your OE! I'm not sayin' you need booze to have a good time, nor should you drink in public. I am sayin' I've seen some stumblers roaming through the park from time to time, brown baggin' it up. Nevertheless, it really is a nice place to walk, sit, skate, drink, and play. Best open space in the heart of the 'Llard, since the inception of the Farmer's Market. read more

As I was walking by, on my way to a near by store, I came across this cute looking park. Has an area for skate boarding, lots of open space for kids to run around,and several nice places to sit. As I came closer I noticed how everyone appeared to be homeless or had the sterotypical appeareance of a drug dealer. There was only one person there who looked like they were trying to enjoy their lunch in the sun, but she was far off on the very edge of the park itself. I try not to let such appearances sway my judgement because I don't know these people or what their intentions are. But while I was shopping in the local store that I came to visit in the first place, I saw two police cruisers pull up with lights flashing. The store clerk told me that this was the second day in a row that the police had to come to the park, for reasons unknown. After such a first impression, I doubt I will ever make any effort to come visit this park on it's own behalf. read more

I lived in Ballard before this little gem was built. Although I live further north now, I still find reasons to go there. This was a really nice addition to the neighborhood - grassy areas, benches, water feature, and skate bowl. Pretty sweet if you ask me. The grassy areas are planned surprisingly well. The walkways are in very intuitive places and the grass allows for great book reading, tanning, or hanging out. The entire space has a good amount of benches to sit and catch the afternoon sun. Nothing says joy more than a water feature. It's primarily used by young children but hey, we're never too old to run in the water are we? Water spurts from stationary structures and flows in a river along the side of a wall. Kids love it and adults love it because it keeps the kids occupied. The water feature is shut down sometimes for special events like the Ballard Seafoodfest. At that time, stages can be set up or vendors can have tables and such, depending on what's going on. The skate bowl is always a hub of activity and it's fun to watch skaters enjoying all that the park has to offer. Parking is pretty sweet if you can find a spot. This area of Ballard is a little busy and there are both business and residential properties around. TIP: Consider parking on the other side of 24th Avenue. For some reason, I have no problem finding open spots. read more

This is a great little park. It has a skateboard bowl, water feature, and sometimes even free yoga on the grass. It is close to the library and the main drag too. Overall, a great place to get away in the midst of it all. read more

This park is riddled with homeless people who claim the park like they own it. They park their vehicles around the park and never move them just a bunch of fire hazard wastelands on wheels. There is constant screaming, yelling and harassing people as they walk by. The police have tried and have successfully vacated them from the park on numerous occasions. The problem is they keep coming back. Please don't call it a park if it is really just a homeless encampment. New name Ballard Camp!!! read more

This place could be a great park where kids enjoy the water splash area and picnic on the green. I wish I could come often visit this park with my toddler as this is the nearest park from our house...We instead drive to Wallingford Park or somewhere else. Sadly there are homeless people always hanging around: they wash their clothes at the water area. I even see people who are wasted or on drug there. This park is used for those people but not for kids. So sad. I highly don't recommend this park to bring your kids. read more

The park is good for picnics, exercising, stretching, yoga, photo ops, or you can jog a little bit in the area as well!

A few years ago I enjoyed bringing my toddler grandson here. Sadly, due to the increase in the large homeless population, the atmosphere has become very unsavory. My family and I have twice had to make calls to 911. It is no longer safe to bring children here. The police seem to be unwilling or unable make arrests for public drunkenness and drug selling. Additionally, the landscaping was poorly planned. There is a ring of trees around the perimeter of the park with nothing but a large patch of dried up grass offering no protection from the sun in the middle. read more

I went by the park on a sunny Tuesday at 4:30 in the afternoon, August 11, 2020. There were about twenty-five homeless tents in the park, and the only people in the park were the homeless themselves, sitting and standing around. Several were arguing loudly, one laughed crazily to himself. Some were asleep. There were no families there, and no children. No one was using the skate park. Garbage was everywhere. The place smelled of urine. read more

Great little park. Idk about all the bad reviews - you guys realize it's the city right? All the urban trappings of market street don't just stop at the park. I haven't seen anything unexpected but I'm sure things can get wacky sometimes. Anyway I live right here and I take my kids and we watch the skateboarders or splash in the spraypark. They also have some great little carnival/bouncyhouse/band weekends. read more

This is a cute little park. Lots for everyone. Swings, slides, grass, places to eat.. large open stretches of grass for just sitting... a water fountian, a skate park.. and mor e to watch. Thanks Ballard read more

What a lovely little park! With fun water features, spots to sit and relax, and closely located to the library and various shops and restaurants, this park is pretty great. I could imagine coming here for a stroll with some lunch food and enjoying a nice treat under the summer sun. Haven't been here on a hot day but I imagine the water features are full of happy kids wanting to cool off. Really cute spot. read more

I like to come on the weekends, read in the sun, and watch the kids on skateboards wipe out and fall on their bums.

Just another reason to love love love Ballard. The only problem with this place is now we have to walk AROUND it because my daughter gets very angry when we don't play in the water. She doesn't care if its 50 degrees, so loves the water fountain. read more

Its small and theres no shade but its just so inviting, besides who wants shade in seattle when theres actually sun out for once?! Theres a fountain for kids to run through, a skate bowl, and lots of lush grass to lay on...it really feels like a friendly neighborhood park. Run accross the street to Bartells for some H20 and popsicles to cool off if needed. read more

ATTENTION FELLOW ALCHY'S AND DRUG ADDICTS!! Have you been searching for a place where you can just crack open a cold one after a long day of cracking open cold ones? Want to hang out with 15 of your closest friends sharing your greatest love?? Ever wanted a beautiful manicured lawn to spread your worldly possessions on and fist-fight over a hat??? WELL MY FRIENDS YOU HAVE FOUND PARADISE! This place even has a convenient (albeit smelly) little green house where you can find your inner bliss with Mr. Happy Pokey! Afraid the parents will complain about you? Afraid the cops will hassle you?? Don't worry! It's Seattle!! You didn't get shipped here from Texas for nothin' amiright? Seattle folks are passive-aggressive and wouldn't dare complain because they wouldn't look as worldly and "urban-chic".. SO THEY JUST ACT LIKE YOU'RE NOT PISSING IN THE PARK IN FRONT OF THEIR KIDS.. isn't it great??? Why compete with all of those Capitol Hill LOONS when we've got a place like this?? THANKS BALLARD!! Best. Park. Ever. read more

Great water features! Lots of lawn and happy skaterkids to watch, only downside is the cities inablility to turn the water features on when they say they will. It's great when they are on, but don't trust the wading hotline to give accurate info. By all means never tell your kids where you are going untill you have checked in person to see if the darned things are on. read more

cute park, nice water features, but there is dog poop everywhere. so not healthy for kids to be around all that poop, not to mention all the cigarette butts that are all over (a friend's toddler ended up with a cigarette butt in his mouth.). i will not be returning with my young ones. it's more an urban adult park i guess. read more