Greenwood Park

Location: North Seattle
Address: 602 N. 87th St.
Acreage: 2.22

This immaculately maintained park is hidden from its nearby streets in the Greenwood neighborhood. Follow one of the perfect curving paths to the new play structures and sand box, where kids will want to stop and play.

History buffs will like the old station stop at the north end of the park, representing a stop for electronic trolleys on the Seattle-Everett Interurban Railway in the early 1900s. This is the second time visiting parks recently when I've been despaired to learn about the cool public transportation options Seattle residents used to have that have since been torn down. Imagine taking a trolley ride to every neighborhood in the city!

You can read more about the park's rich (and troubling) history on placards at the southwest corner of the park.

A p-patch is also in the works for this much-deserving neighborhood, which has a very active group of volunteers who are obviously helping to keep this park looking so pristine.

#287 (Visited 5/27/11)

Licton Springs Park

Location: North Seattle
Address: 9536 Ashworth Ave. N.
Acreage: 7.6

Before any development, Licton Springs Park in the Greenwood neighborhood was an area abundant with natural mineral springs. Native Americans living nearby treasured the springs and gave them the name "Licton."

White settlers caught on and opened a spa with thermal baths here in 1934. They also bottled the water and sold it across the country. Apparently people came from miles around to soak in these therapeutic waters. Here's more information on this interesting history.

A small part of the springs is still flowing at the park today, and you can check it out by walking along the park's short trails.

Kids will like the two play structures, and adults can pull up a picnic on one of several picnic tables set under the trees.

My favorite aspect of this park are the stone tiles set into the ground that circle the play area. Take a close look, and you'll see that each unique tile gives kids instructions on how to play popular outdoor games from around the world.

In addition to American hop scotch, you can learn how to play "Hop Round" from Great Britain, "Campana" from Italy and "Ta Galagala" from Nigeria.

#287 (Visited 5/27/11)

Trolley Hill Park

Location: Queen Anne
Address: 5th Ave. N. and Blaine St.
Acreage: 0.87

The other of my two favorite new discoveries, Trolley Hill Park sits on the eastern edge of Queen Anne Hill and feels like a secret hideaway.

It doesn't look like much from the busy street, but once you get into the park you'll be pleasantly surprised to find great views, picnic tables, a p-patch, a little play area built out of natural materials and a peaceful circle of benches, each dedicated in someone's memory.

Best of all, take the steep wooden steps down into the greenbelt and you'll find trails that connect to nearby Maclean Park.

#286 (Visited 5/25/11)

Maclean Park

Location: Queen Anne
Address: Taylor Ave. N. and Newton St.
Acreage: 1.02

I made a great discovery on Queen Anne recently and found two of my favorite new parks.

Maclean Park, on the eastern side of the Hill not only offers fabulous views of Lake Union and beyond, but its lovely trails connect to nearby Trolley Hill Park. These well-constructed and surprisingly wooded paths are a short, but fun urban hike.

Everyone knows the immensely popular walking/running loop around the top of Queen Anne Hill, which often makes it crowded. If you're looking for a quiet escape, check out these two parks instead.

By the way, the Macleans were one of those lucky families who moved into this neighborhood about 100 years ago and ended up significant property owners. The greenbelt where you're hiking was their backyard.

#285 (Visited 5/25/11)

Counterbalance Park: An Urban Oasis

Location: Central Seattle
Address: Queen Anne Ave. N. and Roy St.
Acreage: 0.28

No, I did not add a personal opinion to the title of this post. The park's quirky name is actually Counterbalance Park: An Urban Oasis. In 2008 the city opened this park on what used to be the site of a gas station.

The first half of the name comes from its use even before the gas station as a stop for the counterbalance trolley, which used to whisk people up and down Queen Anne Hill in the late 1800s/early 1900s. How cool would it be to have that today?

As for the second half of the name... well, I'm not sure how that slightly silly title got attached, but it is a very nice urban park. You won't find grass or a lot of densely planted trees and bushes. Visit this park to take a break from the bustle of lower Queen Anne and take a seat on one of the many benches or cool yellow chairs.

I passed this park one evening last year and was surprised to find it lit up with a rainbow of neon lights. Quite a nice sight.

#284 (Visited 5/25/11)

Spring Street Mini Park

Location: Central Seattle
Address: E. Spring St. and 15th Ave.
Acreage: 0.3

Spring Street Mini Park is the setting for a movie in the making by some local junior high kids on the cloudy day I visited. I watched one of them playfully boss around the main "actor," making him redo his scene more than once.

This Capitol Hill park is a great place for young kids with a nice playground geared toward their age group and a gently sloped lawn perfect for rolling. You'll also find benches and a picnic table.

#283 (Visited 5/23/11)

Seven Hills Park

Location: Central Seattle
Address: 1514 E. Howell St.
Acreage: 0.39

Less than a year ago the Capitol Hill neighborhood got a nice new park out of what used to be a parking lot. They've managed to pack in a lot of features into this little urban spot, including a P-Patch garden, an inviting flat lawn, benches, barbecue pits and picnic tables.

The seven boulders represent the seven hills of Seattle, giving this park its name.

#282 (Visited 5/23/11)