Madrona Park

Picnic shelter, Lake Washington, Madrona Park, May 2012

 Lake shore natural area, Madrona Park, May 2012

Madrona Woods, Madrona Park, May 2012

Madrona Woods, Madrona Park, May 2012 

Stream with Lysichiton americanum, Madrona Park, May 2012

Madrona Park is one of a series of parks along Lake Washington Boulevard in Seattle.  It contains lake shore including a swimming beach, a wooded hillside of native plants, several streams, lawn, a picnic shelter, a barbecue concession open in summer & a dance studio, on its total of 31 acres.  Madrona Park is located in the Madrona neighborhood in east central Seattle.  Madrona was was named by John Ayer, who contributed the land for Madrona Park, after the tree Arbutus menziesii (known in Seattle as Madrona) which was common to the area.  This species is known as Madrone in California.  A number of Madrona still exist here.  The Friends of Madrona Woods teamed up with the Seattle Department of Parks & Recreation to turn the 9-acre urban forest within the park into a welcoming place for people and wildlife & encourage its return to a more natural & sustainable state.  Work was also done to recreate a natural area along a section of lake shore, which included the re-emergence of a stream flowing into Lake Washington.  The result of all this work is quite impressive.  Click here to read about more parks along Lake Washington Boulevard.

Seward Park

Seward Park June 2011

Philadelphus lewisii (Mock Orange) in Seward Park June 2011

Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas Fir) in Seward Park April 2011 

 Rubus spectabilis (Salmon Berry) in Seward Park May 2011

Andrews Bay, Lake Washington, Seward Park April 2011

Seward Park, Lake Washington, Mercer Island March 2011

A hidden valley filled with Polystichum munitum (Western Sword Fern) in Seward Park June 2011

Click here for more photos of Seward Park.

Seward Park is one of the largest, oldest & most impressive parks in Seattle. Bailey Peninsula's potential as a park was recognized in the early 1890s. It was a key element in the plan proposed for Seattle's park system by the famed Olmsted Brothers in 1903. After the city acquired the land in 1911, the Olmsted firm designed Seward Park as the anchor of a scenic boulevard system that runs north for miles along Lake Washington.  Native forest covers about 120 acres on the northern 2/3rds of the peninsula.  It is the largest stand of old trees in the city, including trees of  more than 250 years in a layered canopy with standing snags & large down logs. Friends of Seward Park maintains a list of the many native plants on the peninsula.  Seward park also contains eagles' nests, a 2.4 mile bike & walking path along the shore with excellent views across the lake, an abandoned fish hatchery, miles of forest hiking trails, an amphitheater, rustic picnic shelters & a swimming beach with lifeguards. Seward Park Clay Studio occupies the old bath house at the beach.  The park is also home to the Seward Park Environmental & Audubon Center, a partnership between National Audubon Society and Seattle Parks & Recreation.  Click here to read about more parks along Lake Washington Boulevard.

Colman Park

   

Colman Park May 2010 Lonicera ciliosa

Colman Park May 2010 Lake Washington Boulevard S from the p-patch

Colman Park May 2010 Lysichiton americanum in the muddy pond

Colman Park P-Patch September 2012 Borago officinalis

Colman Park May 2010 path from the p-patch to 31st Avenue S

I think Colman Park in Seattle is the most beautiful of a string of parks along Lake Washington Boulevard.  These parks were created in 1907 (along with the boulevard itself) by Olmsted Brothers, a landscape architecture firm based in Massachusetts.  Their father, Frederick Law Olmsted, had designed Central Park in New York City & Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.  Olmsted Brothers also designed Volunteer Park & Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle.  Seattle Parks & Recreation touts their 'Olmsted Legacy.'  These parks fill ravines along Lake Washington.  From south to north they are Mount Baker Park, Colman Park, Frink Park, Leschi Park & Madrona Park.

Colman Park begins at Lake Washington Boulevard, with parking & benches on the lakeshore.  Pass through 2 period tunnels to ascend the ravine, which is densely filled with native plants.  Midway, you see Lake Washington Boulevard again as it winds through the park.  Here is an expansive lawn that creates a charming & secluded forest glen.  There is very little traffic on this bit of the boulevard.  Skirt the boulevard, then climb an old staircase to cross beneath the boulevard as it snakes back across the ravine on its serpentine path.

Now you are in the upper section of the park, mostly taken up by the Colman Park P-Patch.  Before you climb the terraced gardens, stop to look in the muddy pond, under the trees, in the southeast corner.  You could see a frog.  This picturesque p-patch is enclosed by trees except for the view down the leafy ravine.  Take the steep path, then stairs from the top of the p-patch to 31st Avenue S.  This is a steep climb.  But it is worth the effort to visit Bradner Gardens Park, at 29th Avenue S & S Grand St, 1 block north, 2 blocks west.  Click here to read about more parks along Lake Washington Boulevard.

Lake Washington Boulevard

 Mt Baker Rowing & Sailing Center June 2009

Mt Baker Rowing & Sailing Center June 2009

 Lake Washington June 2009

 Lake Washington Blvd June 2009

Mt Baker Beach June 2009

Lake Washington Boulevard in Seattle is a great place to walk along Lake Washington.  There are 3.5 miles of walkway from the lower end of Colman Park in Mt Baker south to Seward Park.  The northernmost stretch is quite nice.  You can park at Stan Sayre’s Memorial Park near the Mt Baker Rowing & Sailing Center.  If the doors are open,  you can look inside the boat houses.  You are mostly like to see crews & sailboats near the center in the mornings.  Or you can park at the lower end of Colman Park near Mt Baker Beach.  Be sure to detour into Mt Baker Park to see the pools & landscaping along the stream.  There is a pagoda lantern in Mt Baker Park near Lake Washington Blvd that was presented to Seattle by her sister city of Kobe in 1912.  It was removed & hidden away to prevent vandalism during WW2.  You can walk out on the pier at Mt Baker Beach, or swim to the raft.  The walk between Colman Park & Stan Sayres Memorial Park is mostly quiet lake shore.  But there is a pier midway where you might see people fishing.  It should take about 1 hour to walk the 1.5 miles (3 miles total) in both directions.  Click here to read about more parks along Lake Washington Boulevard.

Genessee Meadow

Genessee Meadow: path through natural area

Genessee Meadow: lawn with natural area beyond

Genessee Meadow: crows bathing in seasonal pools

Genessee Meadow: Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

Genesee Park, located on Lake Washington in the Mount Baker neighborhood of southeast Seattle, is an important site for active and passive recreation and wildlife, providing lawns and trails, playing fields and approximately 10 acres of natural areas, including about four acres of second growth forest. Most of the site formed part of Wetmore Slough prior to lowering of the lake in 1916 with the construction of the Lake Washington Ship Canal. The City of Seattle purchased the site in 1947, and subsequently used it as a landfill until 1963. Park development began in 1968. From 1997 through 2006, more than 50,000 native plants were planted Genesee Park by the Seattle Parks & Recreation & the Washington Native Plant Society. A portion of the vast lawn was left unmown to become Genessee Meadow. Depressions fill with water during the rainy season in both mown & unmown parts of the meadow. Ducks & Canada Geese are common here. The meadow is filled with light on clear winter days. There is a major path around the meadow. A smaller path meanders through the meadow & the forested area to the east.  Click here to read about more parks along Lake Washington Boulevard.