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
Category: art
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
Brightwater Park
Location: Woodinville Address: 22505 WA-9, Woodinville Acreage: 70 As King County’s population has grown enormously over the past two decades, so has its volume of… well, poop. In 2011, the county opened a new third sewage treatment plant, and it’s spectacular. From high-tech odor control to record-breaking membrane bioreactors, the facility itself is as modern… Continue reading Brightwater Park
White Center Heights Park
Location: White Center/West Seattle Address: S.W. 102nd St. and 7th Ave S.W., Seattle Acreage: 5.57 If you are thinking that you’ve seen the typical neighborhood park with a couple of picnic tables and maybe a path, White Center Heights Park bursts the boring bubble. Trees line the two sides of the park that face adjacent… Continue reading White Center Heights Park
Arcade Plaza
Location: Capitol Hill Address: Summit Ave. E. and E. Olive Way Acreage: approx. 0.05 Turn back time to the 1980s as you enjoy Arcade Park, a tiny but worthy park that opened in 2017. You can also turn yourself into PacMan and gobble yellow dots as you wind your way through the painted maze that… Continue reading Arcade Plaza
Pond Park
Location: West Seattle Address: 30th Ave. S.W. and High Point Dr. S.W. Acreage: approx. 3.5 A lovely walking trail around a pond in the heart of West Seattle, and hardly anybody knows about it? Unlikely, but true. This private park is part of the High Point community and is open to the public during daylight… Continue reading Pond Park
901 5th Avenue Plaza
Location: Downtown Seattle Address: 901 5th Ave. Acreage: Approx. 0.5 One of the best secret public plazas in downtown Seattle is accessed from a paved pathway off 5th Ave. Bright green ferns and other native plants burst from their planters, making this feel like a true Northwest oasis. A striking wall of iridescent blue, orange… Continue reading 901 5th Avenue Plaza
WaMu Tower Plaza
Location: Downtown Seattle Address: 2nd Ave. and Seneca St. Acreage: Approx. 0.4 I’m on a quest to find all the best public plazas in downtown Seattle. Most are tucked between or behind relatively new office or residential towers. Some are on public land but have spaces that are open to the public. On the west… Continue reading WaMu Tower Plaza