Location: Tacoma/University PlaceAddress: 6320 Grandview Dr. W.Acreage: 930 This amazing park just south of Tacoma makes for a fantastic year-round outing. My favorite time to visit is on a clear winter or spring day when the Puget Sound seems to sparkle in the sunlight. Chambers Creek feels almost other-worldly with most of its 930 acres… Continue reading Chambers Creek Regional Park
Author: lkwesterlind@yahoo.com
Alice Ball Park
Location: Phinney RidgeAddress: 8102 Greenwood Ave. N. Acreage: Approx. 0.5 This cozy green space opened in 2019 next door to the Greenwood Library branch. The well-designed park has all the features of a great neighborhood hangout with an inviting lawn, patio with bright red bistro tables, benches and curving paved path that’s lined with native… Continue reading Alice Ball Park
Waterway 15
Location: Wallingford/University DistrictAddress: 4th Ave. N.E. and N.E. Northlake WayAcreage: Approx. 0.15 This secret waterfront spot sits along the Burke-Gilman Trail between Wallingford and the U-District and close to North Passage Point Park. If you look closely as you walk or bike this area, you’ll find many small pieces of public waterfront available to explore.… Continue reading Waterway 15
Fritz Hedges Waterway Park
Location: University DistrictAddress: 1117 N.E. Boat St.Acreage: 3.5 This really cool waterfront space opened in 2020 offering up another way to access Portage Bay along its north shore. No doubt already popular with students at University of Washington, Fritz Hedges is a lovely stretch of park within walking distance of campus. Pull up a seat… Continue reading Fritz Hedges Waterway Park
Maury Island Marine Park
Location: Maury/Vashon Island Address: 5900 S.W. 248th St. Acreage: 320 This park is a very special place. But you’ll have to exert some energy to fully enjoy these 300 acres of preserved land. The least energy-intensive way to visit is to park near the viewpoint on S.W. 248th St. at the very top of the… Continue reading Maury Island Marine Park
Judd Creek Preserve
Location: Vashon Island Address: 20900 111th Ave. SW, Vashon Island Acreage: 155 Vashon has dozens of fantastic parks, some on the waterfront like this one and this one, and others tucked away in the forest like Judd Creek Preserve. You’ll find a fantastic short loop trail that winds through the mostly deciduous trees, crossing the… Continue reading Judd Creek Preserve
Seattle Chinese Garden & Arboretum
Location: West Seattle Address: 5640 16th Ave S.W. Acreage: Approx. 12 I’m working my way through our city’s privately managed, publicly open gardens, which landed me on a sunny day on the campus of South Seattle College. Because this isn’t a Seattle Parks department public space, it remains a secret park despite its impressive garden.… Continue reading Seattle Chinese Garden & Arboretum
Dockton Park, Forest & Natural Area
Location: Vashon Island Address: 9500 S.W. Dock St., Vashon Acreage: 193 This is the 500th park I’ve written about on this blog. 500! Now on with the show… I spent a sunny day last year with my family touring a handful of really great parks on Vashon Island, and Dockton may be my favorite. We… Continue reading Dockton Park, Forest & Natural Area