For as long as I’ve been a parent, I’ve enviously watched other people’s kids race joyfully to the playground without so much as a glance back. They’ll run and climb, utterly delighted, freeing their caregivers to stare at their phones from a park bench. I have two able-bodied kids, but kids who’ve inherited my clumsy gene and are deeply anxious about anything physical. I can’t even count the playground meltdowns over the tunnel slide or the rock climbing wall.       Most regular playgrounds feature a big fort at the center, with a slide or two and various climbing routes to get up there. In the new play area at the Seattle Children’s PlayGarden, the structures are all low and wide, so it’s easy to lift a child from a wheelchair on for a ride.   The PlayGarden is a fully accessible public park where kids of all abilities and ages can play safely. There’s tons to explore: the playground, the garden bursting with veggies and flowers, the big rubber mountain, a quintet of musical instruments, a wild trail area and the coop with chickens, ducks and bunnies.   The playground area just re-opened in July, with lots of improved features. There’s a new swing set, with a seat shaped like a big saucer, big enough for a whole gaggle of kids to sprawl out on. Instead of the traditional merry-go-around, there’s a spinning disk tilted at a slight angle. A pile of heavy rubber bumps serve as stepping stones or launch pads, depending on the user. And back from the old playground, there’s the big see saw and a Kompan spinning ring, both great for balancing on or just going for a ride. It’s stuff that kids in chairs can use, and that’s fun for everyone.   Wood chips were replaced with cushy artificial turf, making it wheelchair/stroller/bare feet friendly. “¿Dónde están tus zapatos?” – Where are you shoes? – I heard one dad ask. With that carpet underfoot, we saw several kids wind up shoe-less and babies tumble happily.     A semi-circle of bushes shield the play area from the street. I looked closer. Wait, could those be… blueberries? Strawberries and apples, too. Have you been to a playground where you can snack on the landscaping? There’s no other park like this in Seattle.     The front gate is closed for the kids’ safety – something you’ll appreciate if you have runners. The PlayGarden, located at the north end of Beacon Hill, welcomed its first campers in 2006. It is open to the public Monday through Thursday after summer camp ends at 1:30, and all day Friday to Sunday. Come during the PlayGarden’s free Open Play, and two enthusiastic staff members will welcome your family and lead a kids’ activity. Previous programs include a bug hunt, kite-making and soap-making.   There’s much to explore in this outdoor space there’s something for everyone. Don’t like one thing? Here’s another. You’ll find surprises tucked in corners: a low table filled with birdseed for sensory play, a gravel digging pit, a bin full of playground balls. We counted five ducks, six chickens, three bunnies and one honking goose. My 3-year-old discovered a wheelbarrow just his size. Kids practiced riding bikes around the basketball court.   Play “I-spy” and see if you can find all the shrubs pruned into funny shapes: a dinosaur, a giraffe, a bunny riding a bicycle and a giant smiley face. Clearly a gardener with a sense of humor works here. In the edible garden, my city kids encountered some new and mysterious sights: ears of corn growing from a stalk! Grapes hanging off vines! Other interesting plants include a fig tree by the restroom, carnivorous pitcher plants by the classroom. Towering sunflowers and a riot of black-eyed-Susans lift your spirits; rosemary and lavender bushes beckon you to lean in and inhale.   My 7-year-old’s favorite: an old Mazda truck-turned-planter with kale growing out of its flatbed and a strawberry patch in lieu of an engine. He cautiously opened the door, climbed into the cab, then hoisted himself onto the roof with a big smile. A shady path leads to a tree fort with swings tied to its branches. On the sandy slope, my 3-year-old got scared and cried, “Mama!” Another little boy, not much older than my son, instantly reached out for his hand. From the most fearless to the most timid, PlayGarden is a place for all kids to play together. Bring your kids. Come play! My story is on ParentMap here.