Seattle Parks and Recreation news and events
Ah, spring break. You’re picturing yourself on a beach in Mexico. Or hiking in the Grand Canyon. You’re looking at airline and hotel prices and…wait. You’re not going anywhere.
Perhaps you can’t afford to go out of town for spring break or maybe you can’t escape the 8-5. Don’t you worry, friend. There are PLENTY of breathtaking and memorable activities to embark on right here. In fact, we don’t know why you’d ever want to leave! [Read more…]
Spring has come early to Seattle. The sun has been shining. Birds have been chirping. And Twitter is chock-full of flower photos.
After a dark winter, nothing lifts the spirit like a bed full of seasonal blooms. We asked some of our senior gardeners for the best places to spot splashes of color in our parks.
Grab your iced coffee and stop by to smell the daffodils, camellias, flowering cherry trees… well, you get it.
Volunteer Park
Go because: There’s a heady scent of Daphne and Sarcococca in the air. Follow your nose and be lead to tucked-away beds full of blooming camellias, flowering quince and Dawn Viburnum. If it rains, you can always pop into the Volunteer Park Conservatory and warm up surrounded by tropical flowering plants from around the world.
Recommendation from: Jody Blecksmith, Senior Gardener, Volunteer Park
Hamilton Viewpoint Park
Go because: The park offers spectacular views of Elliott Bay and downtown Seattle, and the garden landscape features Kousa dogwood, flowering cherry, rhododendron and seasonal color display beds full of daffodils in the spring.
Seattle Parks and Recreation is hosting dozens of free and low-cost spring bunny and egg hunt activities all over Seattle this month. Hop to an event in your neighborhood and collect some goodies. For event details, please contact the specific location.
SOUTHEAST
April 17 Spring Egg Hunts
Van Asselt Community Center, 3:30 p.m., Day Campers
Van Asselt Community Center, 6 p.m., Ages 11-17
April 18 Teen Flashlight Egg Hunt
Jefferson Community Center, 8 p.m., Ages 11 and older
April 19 Spring Egg Hunts
Jefferson Community Center, 10 a.m., Ages 11 and younger
Rainier Community Center, 10 a.m., Ages 11 and younger
SOUTHWEST
April 11 Bunny Bonanza Alki Bathhouse, 6:30 pm., All Ages, Cost $5
April 17 Toddler Eggstravaganza High Point Community Center, 10 a.m., Cost $5
April 17 Flashlight Egg Hunt Hiawatha Community Center, 8 p.m., Ages 11-17
April 19 Spring Egg Hunts Alki Community Center, 10 a.m., Ages 11 and under Delridge Community Center, 10 a.m., Ages 3-11 Hiawatha Community Center, 10 a.m., Ages 3-11 High Point Community Center, 10 a.m., Ages 3-11 South Park Community Center, 10 a.m., Ages 1-10
CENTRAL
April 17 Mighty Mites “Egg”-Stravaganza
Miller Community Center, 10 a.m., Ages 5 and under
April 19 Spring Egg Hunts
Cal Anderson Park, 10 a.m., Ages 1-11
Queen Anne Community Center, 10 a.m., All Ages
Montlake Community Center, 10 a.m., Ages 1-11
Yesler Community Center, 10 a.m., Ages 1-11
NORTHEAST
April 19 Spring Bunny Trail
Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center, 10 a.m., Ages 12 and under
April 19 Spring Egg Hunts
Nathan Hale Stadium, 10 a.m., Ages 1-11
Laurelhurst Park, 10 a.m., Ages 12 and under
NORTHWEST
April 19 Spring Egg Scramble
Green Lake Community Center, 10 a.m., Ages 3 and under
Green Lake Community Center, 10:30 a.m., Ages 4-7
Green Lake Community Center, 11 a.m., Ages 8-10
April 19 Spring Egg Hunts
Ballard Community Center, 10 a.m., Ages 2-10
Loyal Heights Community Center, 10 a.m., Ages- 2-10
Magnolia Community Center, 10 a.m., Ages- 2-10
Bitter Lake Annex, 10 a.m., Ages- 2-10
Parks works in partnership with the Associated Recreation Council (ARC) to bring high-quality, accessible and affordable recreation opportunities to the people of Seattle.
The Seattle Japanese Garden’s 2014 season opens on Saturday, March 1 with a celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. To ensure a wonderful season, Reverend Koichi Barrish of the Tsubaki Grand Shrine will honor the Japanese Garden with the traditional Shinto blessing at noon.
This 3 ½ acre formal garden evokes another time and place, a unique and artistic representation of nature influenced by Shinto, Buddhist, and Tao philosophies. Designed and built under the supervision of world-renowned Japanese garden designer Juki Iida in 1960, the garden is a quiet place, allowing reflection and meditation through the careful placement of water, garden plants, stones, waterfalls, trees and bridges.
Admission fees for First Viewing are: $10 for adults 18-64, $5 for youths 6–17, senior adults 65+, college students with ID, and people with disabilities, and free for kids younger than 6.
For free, the community is invited to enjoy the opening of a beautiful new photography exhibit “A Celebration of Spring” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Tateuchi Community Room. The juried show also on March 1 celebrates nine photographers and their fantastic views of the Garden from a spring workshop in 2013.
The Japanese Garden offers monthly tea presentations and demonstration at the Tea House and other great community events during the March -November season when it is open to the public
Seattle Japanese Garden 2014 Schedule
March 1 – March 30 Tuesday – Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
March 31 – Sept. 21 Monday – Sunday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
September 22 – Sept. 30 Monday – Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
October 1 – Nov. 2 Tuesday – Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
November 3 – Nov. 30 Tuesday – Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Japanese Garden is located at the south end of the Washington Park Arboretum at 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E. For more information please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkspaces/japanesegarden.htm or call 206-684-4725.
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