With the weather so nice lately I have hit some parks with the Babylady. I have a penchant for parks that don’t have the more obvious play structures, as well as lesser known parks. We have a number of parks nearby that we walk to on a regular basis, all with different types of play structures. They are great for a quick romp. Perfect for letting her climb, slide, swing and bounce. She loves it. Play structures are cool and all, but they are also so… I don’t know… boring?
When the weather is this nice, I want to go play with my kid and I am after something else. More silly games, more running, more exploring and more nature.
White Center Heights Park tucked away in a primarily residential area at 102nd St and 7th Ave SW in White Center (map) which is unincorporated Seattle/Burien. Bonus! I can walk there from my house! And pick up coffee on the way! In 2007 it was given an awesome makeover (with a hefty donation from Starbucks). It also received a new suspension bridge in 2009 over a pond (that I never even knew existed). Do you want to know more about this area of Seattle? Check out some history here. Or current happenings on the local blog.
At 5.5 acres, the park has space for picnics, nature walks, a large open grassy field, and community garden/pea-patch. It even has a pig roasting pit! The park also has good signage in multiple languages.
lots of running space & a stage of sorts!
Babylady getting her dancing & running on
cool columns of metal and glass
community garden/ pea-patch raised beds (organic)
awesome rainwater cistern & signage
cool birdfeeders
helpful information signage
one gigantic birdfeeder
looking back at the pea patch & cistern
sign for the traditional pacific islander (underground) barbecue pit (umu)
woo hoo! bat houses!
seriously! this is in the middle of white center!
cool new suspension bridge over pond
babylady checking out the ducks & looking for frogs
flapping duck & ducklings! hi gossie! hi gertie!
"Bats are our friends" (The Ladyfriend & CoolCousinR, Oregon Caves, 1992)
looking back at the park the other way
This park was an awesome park to run around with the Babylady. There is a small grassy knoll that was perfect to discover the thrill of rolling down sun-warmed grassy hills. The large grassy field was fun to play chase and pretend tackle and remember how to do cartwheels. I was awful, but she loved it and kept demanding “More car-wheels mommy!” The stage was fun for spinning circles. We got to listen to frogs that we couldn’t see, watch the baby ducklings and look for birds.
The park could (sadly) use a little graffiti removal but other than that, perfect!
We’ll be back!
What a cool park review. I used to drive a lot of the bus routes in White Center (oh so long ago, it now seems), and I remember when this park got its facelift. Now, when I go back to teach students how to drive buses, we pass by the area and it’s nearly unrecognizable. Way to pull together, Rat City!
Do you think your city could talk to my city? Everett could use some park lovin’.
Thanks! I’m on a mission to find some hidden gems this summer or just fun places to go and be a nutty lil’ kid that are heavier on the nature than the slides.
great series! i really can’t believe this is right in the middle of white center. i’ve gotta go see the bat houses!
briggs- i so want a bat house. maybe next year! Maybe it can be a winter craft project! I’ve got the plans!
i think we have our next 5 winter craftapaloozas! bat houses, bat condos, bat townhomes…
I’m with Taylorgirl6, “Do you think your city could talk to my city?” We have parks in Traverse City, but they’re primarily filled with playstructures or worse, just grassy patches. This is beautfiul. We have similar places just outside of town but nothing (that I can think of) within city limits.
Hey, I can’t wait to explore there with Lucy! Where is this from your place”
How did you know about “CoolCousinR”? I thought that nickname was only known on the underground DJ circuit!
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