Seattle — Sports & Recreation
Seattle
Basketball Courts
Outdoor courts at parks, school courts open to the public, and indoor options across the city.
Seattle Guide →beExploring / Seattle
Overview
Seattle Parks and Recreation has installed basketball courts at a large number of parks throughout the city, giving you outdoor options in nearly every neighborhood. Court quality ranges from well-maintained full courts with lighting to basic half courts with a single hoop — each listing below has current condition notes.
Seattle Parks community centers also run indoor basketball programs with drop-in hours, and a handful of school courts are available to the public outside school hours. The map below shows all documented courts across the city.
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Seattle Parks
Alki
Alki Playground Basketball Court
Half court with faded lines in the Alki neighborhood. The playing surface near the hoop is OK but the concrete past the free-throw line is rough, with cracks and grass pushing through.
What to Know
- Half court with a single hoop
- Street parking on surrounding streets
- Bathrooms near the tennis courts to the north
South Lake Union
Cascade Park Basketball Court
Single hoop and half court in the northeast corner of Cascade Park in the South Lake Union / Cascade neighborhood. Court lines are fading but the hoop and playing surface are in good shape.
What to Know
- Half court with a single hoop
- Lines fading but court surface solid
- Located next to the park bathrooms
Magnolia
Discovery Park Basketball Courts
Full court in good shape with two basketball hoops, though the backboards are aging. Located near the southeast corner of the park, a short walk from the Discovery Park Visitor Center.
What to Know
- Full court with two hoops
- Aging backboards
- East parking lot is a short walk away
Magnolia
Ella Bailey Basketball Courts
Two basketball hoops in good condition on the western side of Ella Bailey Park. Each hoop is lined with key and free-throw markings, though it is short of a true half court. The park offers views of the Seattle skyline.
What to Know
- Two separate hoops — not a true half court
- Good condition
- Seattle skyline views from the park
- Street parking available
Ballard
Gilman Park Basketball Court
Small basketball court in the southeast corner of Gilman Park, renovated in 2017 alongside the adjacent playground. Single hoop with a semicircle playing surface in great shape.
What to Know
- Single hoop, semicircle surface
- Renovated 2017 — excellent condition
- Bathrooms nearby
- Adjacent to the playground
Ballard
Golden Gardens Basketball Court
Half court with a single hoop in great shape tucked into the north side of the Golden Gardens bathhouse. Parking is nearby but fills very quickly on warm summer days.
What to Know
- Half court, excellent condition
- Parking fills fast on summer days
- Adjacent to the beach and bathhouse
Green Lake
Green Lake Park Basketball Courts
Three basketball hoops at Green Lake Park: one full court and one half court, both lined and in good shape. Located adjacent to the Green Lake Community Center.
What to Know
- Full court + half court, both lined
- Good condition
- Adjacent to Green Lake Community Center
Beacon Hill
Jefferson Park Basketball Court
Full court with two hoops in excellent condition at Jefferson Park on Beacon Hill. Located just off Beacon Avenue South. Adjacent parking lot fills quickly during busy times; bathrooms a short walk away.
What to Know
- Full court, excellent condition
- Parking lot adjacent — fills up quickly
- Bathrooms a short walk away
Queen Anne
Kerry Park Basketball Court
Small half court in the southeast corner of Kerry Park off Prospect Street in Queen Anne. Note that the court sits adjacent to private property.
What to Know
- Half court with a single hoop
- Adjacent to private property
- Street parking on Kerry Park Pl W
Riverview
Riverview Basketball Court
Full lined court with two hoops at Riverview Playfield. Lines were wearing off as of 2024 but the court is in decent shape. Located in the center of the park adjacent to the playground and parking lot.
What to Know
- Full court with two hoops
- Lines wearing — decent condition (2024)
- Center parking lot adjacent
Fremont
Ross Park Basketball Court
Small half court with a single hoop in good shape at the north end of Ross Park. Given proximity to the playground, the hoop often sees heavy use from younger children.
What to Know
- Half court, good condition
- Smooth playing surface
- Adjacent to playground — expect kids
Sunset Hill
Webster Park Basketball Courts
Four hoops across one full court and two half courts at Webster Park in the Sunset Hill neighborhood. Concrete surface in good shape. The adjacent playground draws younger kids during the day.
What to Know
- Full court + two half courts, four hoops
- Good concrete surface
- Adjacent to the playground
Phinney Ridge
Woodland Park Basketball Court
Small unlined court with a single hoop in the northwest corner of Woodland Park, near the Bear parking lot for Woodland Park Zoo. Both hoop and court were recently constructed and are in great shape.
What to Know
- Single hoop, unlined court
- Newly constructed — great condition
- Near the zoo Bear parking lot off Woodland Park Loop Road
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Seattle Schools
Ballard
St Alphonsus School Basketball Courts
St Alphonsus School in Ballard has four hoops on two full-sized courts. As of January 2022, one hoop was broken. The courts are available to the public outside school hours and special events — a sign on the fence indicates restricted access during school hours.
What to Know
- Two full courts, four hoops (one broken as of 2022)
- Public access outside school hours
- Check fence sign for current access rules
- Ample street parking, no public restrooms
Ballard
Whitman Middle School Basketball Courts
Whitman Middle School in Ballard has four courts with eight hoops, though only six were functional as of summer 2022. Courts are in rough shape — uneven concrete with numerous cracks and grass throughout. Fine for casual shooting if you live nearby.
What to Know
- Four courts, eight hoops (six functional as of 2022)
- Rough condition — uneven concrete and cracks
- Public access outside school hours
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Indoor Basketball Courts
Several Seattle Parks community centers have indoor gymnasiums with drop-in basketball hours. A small drop-in fee applies at all locations. Hours vary by season — check the Seattle Parks reservation system for current open gym schedules before you go.
Rainier Community Center
Indoor gymnasium with full basketball court. One of the most active drop-in programs in the city. Located in the Rainier Valley neighborhood. Small drop-in fee applies.
Meadowbrook Community Center
Full indoor court in the Lake City / Meadowbrook area. Drop-in play available during open gym hours. Check Seattle Parks for the current schedule.
Delridge Community Center
Indoor gymnasium in the Delridge neighborhood serving West Seattle. Drop-in basketball available. Fee required; hours vary seasonally.
Garfield Community Center
Full indoor gymnasium in the Central District. Popular for structured leagues and drop-in play. Central location makes it accessible from multiple neighborhoods.
Queen Anne Community Center
Indoor gym in Upper Queen Anne with drop-in basketball hours. Smaller court than Rainier or Meadowbrook. Good option for those on the north side of the city.
Hiawatha Community Center
Indoor gymnasium in the Genesee neighborhood of West Seattle. Drop-in basketball available. Serves the Alki and West Seattle Junction neighborhoods.
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Tips for Seattle Basketball Courts
Seattle's outdoor courts are most pleasant from late spring through early fall. Many courts have no shelter, so bring water on warm days.
Green Lake, Jefferson Park, and Ross Park tend to draw the most consistent pick-up play. Arrive early on summer evenings for the best chance of joining a game.
Parking fills quickly at popular courts like Golden Gardens and Jefferson Park on weekends and sunny days. Arriving before 10AM usually avoids the rush.
School courts with public access (St. Alphonsus, Whitman) are typically available after school hours and on weekends, but may be closed for school events — look for posted signs.
Jefferson Park and Solstice Park have lighted courts for evening play. Most other outdoor courts have no lighting.
Half courts with a single hoop are the most common setup at smaller neighborhood parks. Full courts are found at larger parks like Jefferson, Discovery, and Webster.
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More Seattle Recreation
Find more sports courts and outdoor recreation across Seattle.
Seattle Tennis Courts
150+ courts across the city
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77 dual-striped outdoor courts
Seattle Soccer Fields
Public fields across Seattle
Seattle Baseball Fields
Public diamonds across Seattle
Seattle Parks
500+ parks across the city
Seattle Guide
Full city overview
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