As umbrellas are ceremoniously retired for the summer, Queen Anne's beautiful array of parks are blossoming, ready to provide a welcome respite from cabin fever. Replete with breathtaking views and soft air, these urban oases are area jewels.
Take Kerry Park, a treasure regularly shared with visitors from all over the world. Its striking vista, memo-rialized on postcards, has served as the backdrop for countless newscasts and welcomes tour buses on a regular basis. Camera enthusiasts, particularly at sunset, flock to the place, and with good reason. Nestled on Queen Anne's south slope at 211 W. Highland Drive, the site offers a panoramic view of the city that is unparalleled.
The Space Needle typically serves as the star attraction, with Mount Rainier vying for the top honor on clear days. Glistening rays of sun reflect off the downtown skyline, and on the distant horizon rise the majestic Olympic Mountains. Elliott Bay teems with ferries and freighter ships, its sparkling waters an inviting gateway to West Seattle. Farther to the north can be seen Bainbridge Island.
Complementing the extraordinary views are benches perfectly suited for reading or picnics. Stairs lead down from the lookout to a children's playground. On any given summer night a cornucopia of events are transpiring at the park. Armed with blankets and books, locals catch up on their reading. Tourists snap photos by the dozen. Beaming brides are a regular fixture as entire wedding parties visit to pose for pictures. At sunset, joggers slow to witness the changing palette as the sky transforms from blue to pink.
The park was donated to the city in 1927 by Mr. and Mrs. Albert Sperry Kerry upon the condition that the site would never be developed. A plaque at the viewpoint informs visitors why the parcel was bequeathed: "so that all who stop here may enjoy this view." In 1971 the sculpture "Changing Form" by Doris Chase was added to the park as a gift from the Kerry daughters.
Nothing signifies summer better than a leisurely stroll in Kinnear Park with the smell of aromatic blossoms and freshly cut grass lingering in the air. Located at 899 W. Olympic Place, it's about a 15-minute walk from Kerry Park. Dense woods obstruct some of the viewpoints, but Kinnear's slope is ideal for observing waterfront activity. The park boasts a stunning view of Elliott Bay, wrapping from West Seattle to the south corner of Magnolia. The grain elevators of Pier 86 dominate the skyline and dwarf the plethora of boats in the background.
Benches are strategically placed to take in views of the bay, and paths lead past the stately swath of trees lining the park. On a clear day, the cleverly designed lookout atop the public rest-rooms features a breathtaking view of the Olympic Mountains. The lower half of the park can be accessed by a narrow, steep stairway that descends into a more secluded area, featuring a tennis court.
The park is named for the original owner of the land, George Kinnear, who migrated to Seattle in 1874. Upon his arrival, he promoted the first wagon road through Snoqualmie Pass and organized the Immigration Board. In 1889, his neighbors requested that he sell some of his wooded land to the city, which he did - for a grand total of $1.
At the waterfront lies Myrtle Edwards Park. This long, narrow park features a 1.25-mile bike and jogging path. Ultimately, the path connects to a bike trail leading to Magnolia. The expansive view of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains provides exercise fans with plenty of incentive to turn the next corner.
The bike and pedestrian paths diverge at the entrance to the park - a welcome feature for those strolling with children or pets and not wishing to dodge cyclists. Gardens and picnic tables line the path, and many urbanites take advantage of the quiet sanctuary to rest or eat. Past the grain elevators is a public fishing pier where anglers practice their trade.
Lovers of art are drawn to Myrtle Edwards Park for Michael Heizer's sculpture, "Adjacent, Against, Upon." The work, which stretches 130 feet, consists of three large boulders and three smooth geometric forms juxtaposed in a harmonious arrangement. Soon it will have plenty of company: the Seattle Art Museum plans on opening its Olympic Sculpture Park at the corner of Broad and Elliott in the summer of 2006.
The park is named after Myrtle Edwards, a longtime Seattle City Councilwoman who served from 1955 until her tragic death in a car accident in 1969. One of Edwards' projects was acquiring an old industrial manufacturing site on the north shore of Lake Union, which is now known as Gas Works Park. The site was originally named in her honor, but when it became evident that the park design would have an industrial motif, the Edwards family requested that her name be withdrawn. In 1976, the family approved renaming the area formerly known as Elliott Bay Park to Myrtle Edwards Park.
The Queen Anne Bowl, on the north slope of Queen Anne Hill, is a playfield that hosts a variety of organized sports including baseball, soccer and lacrosse. When the field is not in use, students from Seattle Pacific University often make the short trek from their campus to participate in impromptu softball or touch football games.
A quarter-mile track surrounds the playing field.
To the south of - but uphill from - the Bowl lies Rodgers Park, a wooded zone with a children's playground and tennis courts. The area containing both the field and the park was homesteaded by Nils Peterson, who made his living from excavating gravel. In 1919, a shipbuilding firm that had donated $2,000 to the improvement of the park sought to honor their manager, David Rodgers, by naming the park after him.
Each of these Queen Anne parks has a fascinating history combined with a slice of distinctiveness. Before it's time to unpack those umbrellas again, get the sunglasses out and take a walk in the park this summer.[[In-content Ad]]
