Category: 200 Parks
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Pocket Parks: Big Things Come in Small Packages
You may have come across a small parcel of green space in your neighborhood, carved from an old parking lot or leftover fraction of a commercial or residential lot. If so, congratulations! You have a pocket park in your community: a mini outdoor space measuring only a quarter acre or less in size. These bite-sized spaces…
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Pedals & Paws: A Summer Safety Guide
This time of year is made for getting outside. With so many people enjoying King County’s parks and trails during the summer, it’s more important than ever that we all do our part to keep these spaces safe, welcoming, and enjoyable for everyone. Two of the biggest ways you can help? Slow your roll and leash up your pup. This summer, King County Parks and partner organizations are teaming up to…
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My Summer in the Youth Conservation Corps
Last summer from July 8 – August 14, 23 high schoolers participated in the King County Parks Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) internship program. YCC is split into two cohorts—Skyway and White Center. My name is Emelia and I was a part of the summer 2025’s Skyway cohort along with a few other high schoolers from…
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A new home for the future Skyway Community Center
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced that King County Parks has entered an agreement to purchase Skway Park Bowl as the location for Skyway’s first community center. The 3.82-acre property is adjacent to the northwest corner of the park. King County Parks will continue to work with community partners to collect public input on the design for the new community center and…
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Youth Conservation Corps Through My Camera Roll
The following was written and photographed by Elizabeth Menjivar, an intern in King County’s 6-week Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program last summer. The 24 interns participated in workshops to deepen their connection with nature, went on field trips to meet professionals engaged in conservation work, and engaged in thoughtful conversations about environmental justice. Digital cameras…
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Meet the YETI Taking South King County Outdoors
There is a YETI roaming South King County, but it doesn’t hide in snowcapped mountains. Instead, this YETI has spent years introducing hundreds of students to Washington’s wilderness wonders. The Youth Experiential Training Institute (Y.E.T.I.) is a South King County-based nonprofit that hosts outdoor programs where kids can get outside and into nature, completely free…
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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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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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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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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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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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Bullfrogs in King County Parks
The creaky calls of American bullfrogs resonate over the water all throughout King County, around White Center Heights Park, Marymoor Park, and Cottage Lake Park. Lithobates catesbeianus is a large-bodied frog found near the water’s edge or sunning itself in the center of ponds. For most people, seeing and hearing these amphibians around signals that…
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Three Short Spring Walks
As the spring weather finally heats up, King County Parks offers some great options to explore hiking in scenic, shaded landscapes. Whether making a short daytrip to Vashon Island or birdwatching in Marymoor Park, these short walks will get you immersed back in nature in no time. To be specific by what we mean by…
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Three Great Playgrounds for Families
King County Parks offer great outdoor recreational opportunities for adults, but many parks also feature fun-filled playgrounds and outdoor opportunities for families with younger children. At these parks, you’ll find standout climbing structures, versatile play equipment, and even opportunities to build biking skills for your littlest ones. Dick Thurnau Memorial Park Come safely learn and…
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Three King County Parks Off the Beaten Path
Travel beyond Seattle city limits to the far reaches of King County, and you’ll find a rich variety of rural parks. These open spaces and natural areas are great places to birdwatch, mountain bike, and see unique ecosystems like bogs and wetlands. Moss Lake Natural Area At Moss Lake Natural Area near Duvall, you’ll find…
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Three King County Lowland Winter Walks
As the winter holidays approach and people reunite to gather together, check out King County Parks for some approachable lowland walks in our many woodland and natural areas. With picturesque views, and everything from gently graded, paved footpaths to unpaved, wooded trails, these lowland excursions make for a great nature break during the frenzy of holiday…
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Three King County Trails with Amazing Views
With wildfire and smoke season in the rearview mirror, it’s time to get out on the trails for some clean air and fresh perspective. Here are some of our favorite vantage points from a few of King County’s parks and trails. Pinnacle Peak Pinnacle Peak is a 335-acre volcanic cone located one mile southeast of…
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Accessibility in King County Parks
October is Disability Awareness Month, where we celebrate contributions to our society by disabled people. It’s also an opportunity to look critically at how far we have to go to provide true access for those with disabilities. Accessibility in our parks is a priority and a core value at King County Parks. Parks has started working…
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Explore the Leafline Trails Network in King County
The Leafline has over 300 miles of flat, wide, mostly paved trails in King County alone! Learn more about this amazing four-county trail network.