Rent an Athletic Field

A Field Use/Facility Use Permit is required for the reservation of an athletic field if the use is for reasons listed below:

• Use is by a league or organization, company, or school
• Organized social use such as a birthday party or picnic
• If access on a specific date and time, or exclusive use is desired.
• If user desires City staff services, like for a field prep.
• Attendance is larger than 20 people
• If hired services are an element of the use
• High risk activities
• For business purposes, involving sales, public advertising, or admissions
• If user would like to request the ability to exceed park hours, noise levels, or other City ordinances.
• If the desired gathering is of a scope beyond the normal use of a park.

If your athletic field reservation request is for a Special Event, Community Event, Film/Photography, or Block Party, please review the information on the Special Events page.

To reserve an athletic field, a Facility Use Permit is required.

As of First Season 2025, to obtain a Facility Use Permit, field users can either apply to be included in one of the three field allocation processes, or apply mid-season on a first come, first served basis for field available after allocations. Below are details about how to apply to be included in athletic field use allocations or to apply mid-season as a new organization.

Season Dates and Deadlines

Step 1.  Submit Athletic Organization Application

• Review the City's Athletic Field Use Policy(PDF, 160KB) and Athletic Field Guidelines(PDF, 1002KB).
• Complete and submit an Athletic Organization Application form (Link can be found in Application Process and Required Documents section below).
• This application process is required to be completed annually for organizational use, and to be included in any seasonal allocation process listed below, or to apply for field use mid-season.
• Applications are accepted anytime, on a rolling basis, however, this process must be successfully completed well enough in advance to receive access to the Field Use Application Form necessary for Step 2.
• City staff will review and notify organizations application status within 10 business days of receipt. Depending on the level of application completeness, this process may take up to 30 calendar days.
• Upon approval, organizations will receive access to the Field Use Application Form (Step  2).

Step 2.  New 2025 Field Use Application Form

• Organizations will receive access to the 2025 Field Use Application once Step 1 is complete.
• Submit as filed rental needs arise and/or to be included in seasonal allocations by the deadline below.
• To be included in seasonal allocations, submittal deadlines are listed below.
• To apply between seasons, not as part of allocations, submittal deadline is 15 business days in advance.
• Group requests for the same program field size needs and timeframe into one application.
• Use separate applications for programs with different fields needs and timeframes.
• Organizations will be notified of assigned field use according to the timeline for each season's allocation process (see below), or for those who apply mid-season, after all allocations are complete or within 10 business days from receipt.

Step 3.  New Athletic Organization Agreement

• Organizations sign an overarching Athletic Organization once per calendar year.
• It outlines athletic field use rules and regulations, and expectations and obligations of approved organizations.
• We are determining the timing of this step. It will either be immediately following Step 1 or be paired with Step 2. We will update this information once a decision is made.

Step 4.  Payment

• For established organizations billing will occur once at the end of each season.
• Exceptions are new organizations, tournaments and clinics.
• The City accepts Visa, MasterCard, check or cash.

Mid-Season Athletic Field Use Application Form for Vetted Organizations  

Organizations must first complete Step 1 and 2 described above. For organizations who have completed both steps, for any new additional field use needs mid-season, please check availability first at FieldRentals@kirklandwa.gov or (425) 587-3330 and then apply using the Mid-Season Athletic Field Use Application Form, which is an abbreviated application, shorter to complete. 

Social Use of Athletic Fields and Facilities 

Individuals, offices, schools and groups wanting to use an athletic field for a social need must complete a Social Use Field Use Application form. This application is intended for one-time social occasions, like a company kickball game.

First, email FieldRentals@kirklandwa.gov or call (425) 587-3330 to check availability. Second, after availability is determined, complete and submit the Social Use Field Use Application. Applications are due 30 days in advance for uses deemed high risk by staff, 15 days in advance for all other social use applications.

Staff will respond to your submittal within 10 business days or less. Note for high risk activities, insurance will be required. 

One -Time Social Athletic Field Use Application Form

Special Event Use of Athletic Fields and Facilities 

For use of an athletic field for a special event, please visit the City of Kirkland Special Events page for more information.

The process of allocating field space considers many factors. Allocating field reservations is based on the Athletic Field Use Policy, starting with tier levels and appropriateness of use.  

Field use applicant priority consideration is as follows:

1. First Tier
   1. City of Kirkland and LWSD programs and events*
2. Second Tier (Local non-profit league use)
   1. Youth Recreational
   2. Youth Select
   3. Adult
3. Third Tier (Non-local, non-profit league use)
   1. Youth Recreational
   2. Youth Select
   3. Adult
4. Fourth Tier

1. Non-profit youth clinics and camps
2. For-profit organizations**

* Per the City-School Partnership Agreement between the City of Kirkland and Lake Washington School District, LWSD-sponsored programs have priority for the use of District-owned fields and athletic facilities. District programs and activities have the right to preempt other users upon giving advance notice, except in extraordinary circumstances when advance notice is not possible.

**For Profit Use of Lake Washington School District athletic facilities is possible only with School Board approval. A for-profit organization may enquire about availability at fieldrentals@kirklandwa.gov If space is available, District contact information will be provided to inquire further about how to begin the process of seeking School Board approval.

City-sponsored programs have priority for the use of City-owned fields and athletic facilities. City programs and activities have the right to preempt other users upon giving advance notice, except in extraordinary circumstances when advance notice is not possible.

While every effort will be made to schedule field use at the fields, times and dates requested, there is no guarantee all requests will be accommodated.

Other Considerations:

In additional to the tier levels, the Athletic Field Use Coordinator will consider applications based on:

• Safety and appropriate use of fields
• Diversity of sport, participant gender and age

There are no seasonal or field use priorities in order to allow flexibility and encourage trending, developing sports.

The Second Season 2025 Allocation Timeline is as follows:

• June 2, 2025, 8:00 a.m.: Athletic Field Use Application Form(s) due. (A link to this form is provided to organizations once the vetting process via the “Athletic Organization Application Form” is complete (see Step 1 “How Do I Reserve A Field or Apply for a Permit” above).

• July 1, 2025: Permits are issued to organizations/applicants that receive field time. All applicants who apply will be notified by email whether they receive field time or not.

• July 8, 2025, 8:00 a.m.: By this deadline, organizations must accept their permit assignments, release unneeded field time, or request permit edits by emailing signed/edited permits to FieldRentals@kirklandwa.gov.

• July 22, 2025: Updated permits are issued to organizations. Time returned will redistribute to other existing leagues who applied during allocations.

• July 25, 2025, 8:00 a.m.: By this deadline, leagues’ final signed copies of updated permits are due. Leagues must accept their final permits by emailing their signed permits to FieldRentals@kirklandwa.gov.

• August 4 2025: 2025 Season 2 begins!

Attracting Tournaments to the Community

The City is committed to attracting tournaments, which are a unique opportunity to showcase Kirkland and elevate the level of competition. We will carefully evaluate each opportunity with the goal of balancing local play while attracting out-of-town visitors, creating economic benefits that enrich our community and highlight what we have to offer.

Tournament Request Period

The tournament request period allows organizers to secure dates and plan marketing efforts for their events. This process enables organizers to submit their application separately from the standard allocation process, with submissions due in September for the upcoming year. Applicants will be notified of their status by early December.

Approved tournaments must complete a permit and pay applicable fees to finalize participation. If your application is not approved or if you wish to submit a request after the deadline, you can apply during the regular season allocation process for consideration.

How to Apply

Complete the Tournament Request Application for tournaments taking place January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025.

Tournament Request Application

Applications are due:                                  September 30, 2024, by 5:00 PM

Decision notification and next steps:      December 7, 2024

For questions please email FieldRentals@kirklandwa.gov

The City offers 55 Athletic Use Locations including 40 Lake Washington School District (LWSD) locations. Popular City of Kirkland athletic fields include:

132nd Square Park
Crestwoods Park
Everett Park
Juanita Beach Park
Lee Johnson Ballfield at Peter Kirk Park

A complete list of all athletic fields the City of Kirkland offers, their opening and closing dates, on-site amenities, and specifics limitations of use, is available here.

City-of-Kirkland-Athletic-Field-Inventory-Updated(PDF, 320KB)
City of Kirkland Athletic Field Aerial Maps(PDF, 17MB)

Hours of availability vary per field are site/season specific and detailed within the Athletic Field Use Guidelines, "Hours of Availability" section (see link on right side of page)

Stadium reservations for Juanita High School and Lake Washington High School are available through the District. Please contact each school directly for more information.

ALL FIELDS
2025 Rental fees are per hour, 2 hour minimum.
Rental fees are subject to change without notice.

Free Play • Passive • Drop-in • Informal • Play

What Is the Free Play Program and Who Can Play?

Free Play is field time set aside for the community to enjoy passive, drop-in, and informal play outdoors. Free Play space is intended to be welcoming and to safely benefit multiple community members from a variety of households/neighborhoods at the same time. The Program is perfect for personal, casual, spontaneous use, like a mom and son tossing a ball, friends playing Ultimate Frisbee, or a family enjoying kickball.

Free Play Schedule

• The program is offered from March through October for natural grass, and year-round for synthetic turf. 
• No Free Play on holiday weekends.

*This schedule is subject to change when necessary to accommodate new City programs.

Are Any Activities Not Allowed During Free Play?

Certain categories of uses are not and instead require a Facility Use Permit or a contract with the City to use a park.

• Examples are business uses, like instructors serving clients for payment or for free (dog trainers, personal trainers), and league/team use (one on one coaching, team players practicing with or without a coach, etc.). 

• Groups/clubs which are organized, and/or repetitive, and/or large are also not permissible.
  • Examples are running clubs, Ultimate Frisbee/Soccer clubs, etc.
• Unsafe, high-risk, damaging activities are also not allowed.
  • Examples of high-risk activities include golf, archery, remote control activities, laser tag, Bubble Soccer, etc.
  • Examples of damaging activities are digging, stakes that may penetrate irrigation, paint, etc.
• On Synthetic Turf fields, dogs, metal cleats, glass, seeds, stakes, and gum are not allowed.

Thank You & Questions

• Please email or call with questions eparks@kirklandwa.gov, (425) 587-3330.

• We appreciate your cooperation to make this new program a success and hope you enjoy this new opportunity to get outdoors and be active!