Category: 200 Parks
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A Living Laboratory in the Heart of Marymoor Park
The Heart of Marymoor Restoration Project is an innovative pilot project to transform a drainage channel into a living laboratory for restoration science with a heart-shaped landscape feature that serves as a symbol of stewardship.
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Preserving a Pool, Building Champions
Public pools can be the heart of a community, especially in a city surrounded by water like Mercer Island. Pools are where kids learn the skills to swim safely, where high schoolers build lifelong bonds, and in this case, where Olympic gold medalists are made. The Mary Wayte Pool, named for the 1984 Olympic 200-meter freestyle champion who grew up swimming…
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Wilburton Trestle: Transforming for the Future
Celebrate the transformation of the century-old Wilburton Trestle into an elevated trail in Bellevue. This historic structure, crucial for the 42-mile Eastrail network, is being modernized while preserving its character. The trail is expected to open in mid-2027, enhancing regional connectivity.
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Parks and Flood Recovery
The atmospheric river and associated flooding events this month have impacted King County and other areas across Washington State in ways we have never experienced before. We hope you and your community are safe during this time. King County has created a series of resources and ways to deal with flood damage safely and effectively…
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See, Click, Fix! It’s simple to help us help your community maintain our parks.
As you enjoy the outdoors, we are asking for your help in keeping our parks in excellent condition for our community! With 220 parks, 185 miles of trails, and 28,000 acres of open space, we appreciate any eyes we can get on our facilities. How to Report a King County Parks Issue If you see…
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Youth Conservation Corps Grows in 2025
We have a new cohort of Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) interns! 22 students – almost doubled from last year. For the first time since its inception in 2021, YCC will have two cohorts, one based in White Center and the other in Skyway.
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Eagle Eyes: 3 Tips for Better Birding
On a sunny, crisp morning at Marymoor Park, a dozen bird enthusiasts gathered for a workshop offered by Eastside Audubon and South Sound Nature School. The group made their way around the Birdloop Trail, which winds its way through over 300 acres of protected conservation area that offers views of wooded brush and marshy wetland…
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WKCAC Hosts NCAA D1 Swimming/Diving Championships
Last month, the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center (WKCAC) hosted the NCAA Women’s and Men’s Division 1 Swimming & Diving Championships, where hundreds of fans from across the country watched the very best student athletes compete. The event was hosted by the Seattle Sports Commission, Washington State University, and the City of Federal Way. In the…
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The Engine That Powers Your Big Backyard: The King County Parks Levy
The Parks levy is the engine that makes King County’s huge network of green space and recreation possible. It’s a voter approved property tax that funds almost everything to keep our county parks, trails and natural areas open and available to everyone.
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Let’s Play Ball! Improving Sports Fields in King County
From baseball to soccer, lacrosse to cricket, sports fields are an important part of our community. They’re a place to hone new skills, learn the value of working on a team, a place to come together over the love of the game, and an opportunity to exercise and improve mental and physical wellbeing. The 2020-2025…
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Levy Grant Brightens up SeaTac BMX Track
As we enter the time of year where the darkness seems to come earlier and earlier, the City of SeaTac is fighting back with a brand-new lighting installation to illuminate their BMX racecourse. King County Parks awarded a Parks Capital & Open Space grant worth $258,196 to the City of SeaTac in 2023. Last week,…
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The Heart and Soul of King County Parks
Disability Employment Awareness Month: King County Parks’ supported employees are ‘the heart and soul of our division’ Parks employee RJT can always be spotted at the Jim Ellis Memorial Regional Park’s Preston Athletic Fields with a smile on his face and a song ready to belt. RJT, who has worked for King County for…
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How to Get to Parks in King County by Bus
Whether you’re looking to get to a park, trail, beach, forest, or beyond, we can get you there – no car required! Check out 29 parks across King County that you can access with just four King County Metro bus routes.
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Your Guide to White Center Parks
The White Center neighborhood, an unincorporated area located between West Seattle and Burien, is home to a wide variety of parks, trails, and recreation options. Whether you want to gather with friends and family for a BBQ, take your kids to the playground, or go on a trek in local trails to connect with nature,…
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A Father and Daughter Bond Over Volunteering with Parks
Anyssa and Will Eng are a daughter and father duo who volunteer with the King County Parks Volunteer program. After being introduced to forest restoration through the Youth Conservation Corps, Anyssa joined our public volunteer events with her father! We caught up with them to learn more about their experience volunteering as a family.
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Improving Playgrounds Across King County
Playgrounds are often the first connection kids have to outdoor spaces. It’s not only a place to get the wiggles out; it’s also a place to learn new skills, make friends, observe the plants and animals around you, and build memories with family. But playgrounds also need to be maintained and updated regularly to stay…
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Tipping the Scales Toward a Greener Future
King County Parks is committed to restoring and sustaining our natural environment to benefit people and animals alike, but we can’t do this work alone. Across the County, a dedicated network of community partners is investing in education, restoration, and youth programs to ensure our green spaces and waterways are safe and healthy for all.…
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Highlights from the King County Parks 2023 Volunteer Program
Each year the King County Parks Volunteer Program and contracted partner organizations host volunteer events in parks across the county. Together with our partners in 2023, we led hundreds of events with more than 4,900 volunteers performing restoration, park improvement, trail maintenance, and more.
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Celebrating 20 Years of Community Partnerships
Since 2003, King County Parks’ Community Partnerships and Grants program has collaborated with 80+ community partners to sustain, improve, and expand public recreation opportunities on properties owned by King County. The projects accomplished by these community partners are vast and invaluable.
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Help King County Parks increase access for everyone
King County Parks wants to hear from people with disabilities about their park and trail access needs. We invite you to complete our survey by March 29, 2024.
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Dockton Park’s New Playground is Open!
The new Dockton Park and Marina Playground on Vashon-Maury Island is now open for fun! Kids and adults alike enjoyed the new playground and planted dozens of native plants at the opening event.
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Creative Writings from the Youth Conservation Corps: Part 3
King County Parks runs a Youth Conservation Corps program, employing local high school students as interns each summer. The 2023 cohort reflected on their relationships with nature through various writing forms. The writings, filled with heartfelt stories, poems, and essays, capture the students’ connections to nature and their personal growth.
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Creative Writings from the Youth Conservation Corps: Part 2
King County Parks runs a Youth Conservation Corps program, employing local high school students as interns each summer. The 2023 cohort reflected on their relationships with nature through various writing forms. The writings, filled with heartfelt stories, poems, and essays, capture the students’ connections to nature and their personal growth.
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Creative Writings from the Youth Conservation Corps: Part 1
King County Parks runs a Youth Conservation Corps program, employing local high school students as interns each summer. The 2023 cohort reflected on their relationships with nature through various writing forms. The writings, filled with heartfelt stories, poems, and essays, capture the students’ connections to nature and their personal growth.
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New Improvements to Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center
The Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center (WKCAC) is a world-class facility located in Federal Way, WA, that has hosted everything from U.S. Olympic Diving Trials to lessons for the youngest swimmers in the neighborhood. The facility is more than 30 years old, and many systems need replacement or upgrades to keep the WKCAC serving athletes…
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Youth Conservation Corps: Present and Future Environmental Leaders
Parks summer intern Michael Lu spent time learning about the King County Parks Youth Conservation Corps and wrote up his thoughts for our blog: This summer, I had the pleasure of following around the King County Parks Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) to take pictures and document their work. The YCC is a rotating group of…
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Three Programs Getting Kids Outdoors and in the Water This Summer
Last year, the Parks Levy grant programs awarded more than $30 million to support projects large and small that create and improve access to parks and recreation throughout King County. The following programs are just a few of many providing valuable recreation and learning opportunities for youth during the summer and throughout the year: Swim…
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Plan your next adventure with Backyard Fun Finder
Looking for playgrounds to take the kiddos during the last weeks of summer break? Want to find a new-to-you trail? With 200+ parks and trails in the King County Parks system, there’s something for everyone. Explore everything from ballfields, playgrounds, pools, and trails, to lush forests, quiet meadows, and sweeping vistas of mountains, rivers, and…
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White Center Teen Program expands Rec Aide program to Skyway Park
Since 1991, the White Center Teen Program has provided leadership training and first-time employment opportunity to youth in underserved King County communities. Since its inception, the WCTP has hired and trained more than 150 recreation aides to support programs in White Center and Skyway. This summer, 2 teen leaders and 10 Rec Aides supported activities at…
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Parks Mid-Levy update
Four years into our current levy, Parks’ focus on increasing recreational opportunities and making Parks and trails more accessible to all King County residents is reflected in our recent grant-funded projects. Levy Grants in Action Parks Levy Grants are awarded to cities, agencies, nonprofits, and others who are doing meaningful work for the benefit of…