Get outside!
Kenmore is rich in natural beauty. It is home to eight parks and more than sixty trails, all of which have their own recreations. Spring has sprung and summer is right around the corner. These are the best times in the Pacific Northwest to hit the parks and trails in the neighborhood. Let’s talk about a couple of the key ones in the area.
Log Boom Park
Before it became a park, Log Boom Park was an industrial logging site with a sawmill built there in 1901. The area’s historical status was recognized in the 1960s. In 1987 its name was extended to Tracey Owen Station at Log Boom Park to honor a long-serving King County Councilmember. Log Boom Park is a 3.9-acre park that provides a stunning panorama of the shoreline. It’s a good place to bring your kids and dogs as it has grassy areas plus a playground. There are many birds such as seagulls, mallards, and hummingbirds just to name a few. Even eagles have often been spotted in the tall trees on the shore. The pier is a popular spot for fishing, boating, and for watching take offs and landings by the nearby Kenmore Air airline and private seaplanes. Visitors can also take a short walk along the Kenmore History Path to learn about the area. The park is currently under renovation, with improvements in walkways and beach access. Watch for its anticipated re-opening this summer!
Log Boom Park Waterfront
Source: Kenmorewa.gov
Burke Gilman Trail
Next to Log Boom Park is the Burke Gilman Trail that stretches nearly 19 miles between Seattle’s Golden Garden Park and Blyth Park in Bothell, and is a staple for social recreation and fitness. In the 1880s, train travel for business increased dramatically, and the tracks were extended along the route of what is now the Burke-Gilman Trail. The railroad benefited residents of King County greatly, but during the 1960s, many people wanted to abandon the route and make it a biking and walking trail along the old railroad. In 1971, this became a reality when a railway wreck occurred. Subsequent safety concerns and pending mergers of railroad companies resulted in the ceding of the right-of-way, thus starting the Burke-Gilman Trail. After Bothell, the Sammamish River Trail continues the path uninterrupted all the way down the east side of Lake Washington into Redmond. This trail is immensely popular for bikers, walkers, and families in general.
Historic building of Saint Edward Seminary
Source: WTA.org
Saint Edward State Park
Saint Edward State Park is a 326-acre day-use park with 3,000 feet of freshwater shoreline on Lake Washington and several picnic areas that are available for rental. “Saint Ed’s” is extremely popular for special events, weddings, and family picnics. In the 1930s, it offered the largest collection of hybrid rhododendrons in the Northwest. This park is located in the traditional territory of Native American tribes. The land that is the park right now was donated by Edward O’Dea, Seattle’s first Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle, in order to build a seminary to educate young men for the priesthood. The beautiful and historic brick building that became the first successful Catholic seminary in the Pacific Northwest was built in 1931, financed by Edward O’Dea and designed by architect John Graham. The building and most of the land became Saint Edward State Park in 1977. The building was under-used and in disrepair for several decades thereafter until a joint project between the City of Kenmore and Daniels Real Estate restored its grandeur. As of May, 2021, the former seminary houses The Lodge, a sophisticated hotel, restaurant and spa nestled among the trees, and surrounded by green spaces, a playground, and hiking trails open to all visitors.
Sources
1. Historylink.tours
2. Danielsre.com
3. WTA.org
4. Kenmorewa.gov
5. Kenmore by the Lake, a Community History
