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Tag: Parks

  • Garfield Park Is Getting a Major Makeover: What Riverside Neighbors Need to Know

    Garfield Park Is Getting a Major Makeover: What Riverside Neighbors Need to Know

    Quick Answer: Everett is investing $940,000 to renovate the 19-year-old playground at Garfield Park in the Riverside neighborhood. Construction is scheduled for late spring or early fall 2026, with new slides, climbers, a zip track, expanded swings, shade structures, and fully accessible play surfaces replacing the existing equipment.

    Garfield Park Is Getting a Major Makeover: What Riverside Neighbors Need to Know

    If you’ve watched kids clamber over the aging wooden structure at Garfield Park and thought, “that thing’s been there forever” — you’re not wrong. The playground at 2300 Walnut Street in Everett’s Riverside neighborhood has been serving families for nearly two decades, and the City of Everett has decided it’s time for a serious upgrade. A $940,000 renovation is now officially planned for 2026, and the new setup is going to be genuinely exciting for families in north Everett.

    This isn’t a patch job. It’s a full rethink of one of Riverside’s most beloved community spaces.

    What’s Actually Being Built

    The renovation will completely replace the existing playground equipment while staying within the park’s current footprint. Here’s what’s coming:

    • Multiple slides and climbing structures designed for different ages and abilities
    • A dedicated play area for ages 2–5, so the littlest ones have space designed just for them
    • A cable-free zip track ride — the kind of feature that instantly becomes every kid’s favorite thing in the park
    • Expanded swings, including accessible options
    • Integrated shade structures, because Everett summers do get warm and shaded play areas make a real difference for families spending hours outside
    • New play turf surfacing replacing the old wood fiber, for better safety and cleaner footing year-round

    Inclusive play features are woven throughout the entire design — not tucked into one corner as an afterthought. Cory Rettenmeier, Everett’s recreation and golf manager, emphasized the city’s focus on “improved safety, accessibility and cleanliness” as the core goals driving the new design.

    When Will Construction Happen?

    The city is targeting late spring 2026 for construction to begin, though the actual start date depends on permitting timelines and how long it takes for the custom playground equipment to be fabricated and delivered. If permitting stretches longer than expected, the city has said it will keep the current playground open through summer so families aren’t without the space during the busiest season — then begin construction once local schools are back in session in the fall.

    Either way, the goal is to have the new playground complete and open before the end of 2026.

    The Community Had a Say

    The design wasn’t created in a vacuum. The City worked with the Riverside Neighborhood Association and gathered input through community surveys before finalizing the plans. That process shaped the emphasis on inclusivity and age-specific play zones — things Riverside families said they wanted.

    This is the kind of civic engagement that makes a difference. When neighbors show up for their neighborhood association and respond to surveys, the parks department takes note. The new Garfield Park playground reflects what this particular community asked for.

    A Little History on Garfield Park

    Garfield Park has deep roots in the Riverside neighborhood. It was established in 1931 when the Riverside Chamber of Commerce purchased the land and donated it to the city of Everett — a genuinely community-driven founding that set the tone for what the park has always been. The park underwent major renovations in the 1970s and again in the early 2000s. This 2026 project marks its third significant transformation in nearly a century.

    The park itself offers more than just the playground — there’s open green space, picnic areas, and the kind of neighborhood-scale gathering place that doesn’t get enough credit until it’s gone. The playground renovation is the centerpiece of this round of improvements, but Garfield Park as a whole remains one of north Everett’s most consistent community anchors.

    The Bigger Picture: Everett Investing in Its Parks

    This project is part of a broader commitment by the City of Everett to upgrade its parks infrastructure. Garfield Park’s $940,000 renovation sits alongside other planned improvements across the city’s parks system for 2026. For families in Riverside, it’s a tangible sign that the neighborhood is getting real investment — not just in roads and utilities, but in the green spaces where everyday life actually happens.

    Everett’s Parks & Facilities Department can be reached at 425-257-8300 or recreation@everettwa.gov if you have questions about the project timeline or want to stay updated on construction progress.

    What to Expect as a Neighbor

    Once construction begins, the playground area will be closed for the duration of the project. The city has been thoughtful about minimizing disruption — that’s the reason for the potential late spring or fall start, whichever avoids peak summer use. For families in Riverside who rely on Garfield Park as part of their daily routine, it’s worth knowing that the closure, when it comes, will be temporary and the result will be worth the wait.

    Keep an eye on everettwa.gov/parks and the city’s official news feed for construction updates as permits move forward.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When will the Garfield Park playground renovation start?

    Construction is planned for late spring or early fall 2026, depending on permitting and equipment fabrication timelines. The city will keep the playground open through summer if the spring window isn’t met.

    How much is the Garfield Park renovation costing?

    The city approved $940,000 for the Garfield Park playground renovation, funded through the city council’s parks budget.

    What new equipment is being installed at Garfield Park?

    The new playground will include multiple slides, climbers, a cable-free zip track, expanded swings, shade structures, a dedicated 2–5 age zone, and new play turf surfacing. Inclusive play features are integrated throughout the design.

    Where is Garfield Park in Everett?

    Garfield Park is located at 2300 Walnut Street in Everett’s Riverside neighborhood in the north part of the city.

    Will the playground be accessible?

    Yes. The new design incorporates inclusive play features and accessible surfacing throughout, not just in designated areas.

    How can I stay updated on the Garfield Park renovation?

    Follow updates at everettwa.gov/parks or contact Everett Parks & Facilities at 425-257-8300 or recreation@everettwa.gov.

  • Forest Park’s Hidden Trails, Animal Farm, and 130 Years of Everett History: A Complete Local’s Guide

    Forest Park’s Hidden Trails, Animal Farm, and 130 Years of Everett History: A Complete Local’s Guide

    Q: What is Forest Park in Everett known for?
    A: Forest Park is Everett’s oldest and largest park at 197 acres, featuring a WPA-era trail system with up to 4.9 miles and 13 hill climb courses, a free seasonal animal farm, a water playground with an orca theme, the Forest Park Swim Center, and historic structures dating back to the 1930s New Deal era — all located at 802 E. Mukilteo Boulevard.

    This Isn’t Just a Park — It’s Where Everett Goes to Be Everett

    Every city has a park it points to on the brochure. Forest Park is the one Everett actually uses. On any given weekend, you’ll find trail runners grinding through the hill climb courses, families lined up at the animal farm, kids screaming through the splash park, and retirees doing slow loops on the upper ridge trail while learning about native plants from interpretive signs a local Boy Scout troop installed. It’s 197 acres of forest, history, and community packed into the city limits, and most people who don’t live in Everett have never heard of it.

    That’s fine with the locals. They like it that way.

    A Park Built by the Great Depression

    The land that became Forest Park was first purchased on September 27, 1894 — ten acres for $4,300, with a requirement that $600 in improvements be made within five years. By 1909, the city had expanded its holdings to 80 additional acres, and in 1913, the park was officially named Forest Park.

    But the park you walk through today was really built during the 1930s. England-born parks superintendent Oden Hall ran one of Washington State’s largest Works Progress Administration projects right here, employing hundreds of workers during the Great Depression to transform what had been rough forestland into a genuine public park. WPA crews cleared trails, built rock walls that still stand today, planted specimen and native trees, constructed animal enclosures for a growing zoo, and erected Floral Hall — a community exhibition building that opened in 1940 and now sits on the National Register of Historic Places.

    When you hike the trails and notice the mossy stone steps and aged service roads winding through old-growth-sized trees, you’re walking on infrastructure that Depression-era workers built by hand nearly a century ago. There’s something about that history that makes every trail feel a little more intentional.

    The Trail System: 13 Hill Climbs and a Ridge You’ll Want to Take Slow

    Forest Park’s trail network is the real draw for anyone who wants to get their heart rate up without driving to the Cascades. The system includes 13 mapped hill climb courses that you can combine for up to 4.9 miles and over 1,100 feet of elevation gain. Kiosks at trailheads show the routes, all marked with numbered posts so you can track your progress — or know exactly where you are when you’re gasping for air on climb number seven.

    The terrain is a mix of soft wooded single-track, moss-lined WPA-era stone stairs, aged service roads, and narrow boot paths. It’s not manicured and it’s not paved — this is real Pacific Northwest forest hiking, with roots to step over, mud after rain, and canopy so thick that even on sunny days the light filters green.

    For a mellower experience, the upper ridge trail is worth every minute. It follows the park’s high spine through mixed forest, and interpretive signs along the way teach you about the native plant species, local wildlife, and geological history of the area. Bring a camera — the filtered light through the canopy is the kind of thing that makes non-hikers understand why people hike.

    The Animal Farm: Free, Charming, and Your Kids Will Not Want to Leave

    Forest Park has had animals since 1914, when a small zoo opened that would operate for over six decades. When the zoo closed in 1976, the Animal Farm rose from its footprint — literally built at the old butcher shop location at the park’s west end starting in 1970. Today it operates seasonally during summer months as a free petting farm with goats, chickens, rabbits, sheep, ducks, and horses.

    For families with young children, this is the anchor attraction. Kids can pet and feed the animals, and horse rides are available for a small donation. It’s low-key, unpretentious, and exactly the kind of thing that creates the memories your kids will bring up at Thanksgiving twenty years from now. The price — free — means you can come every weekend all summer without thinking twice.

    Splash Park, Swim Center, and the Playground That Never Ends

    Behind the main playground area, Forest Park’s water playground features an orca-themed splash park with spray features designed for different age groups, including a smaller section for toddlers. It’s the kind of place where you’ll watch your kids run through the same water jet fourteen times in a row and somehow never get bored.

    The playground itself is enormous — swings, multiple climbing structures, bars, a digger, spinners, and a train-shaped jungle gym that serves as the unofficial meeting point for every playdate in the park. Covered picnic shelters nearby make it easy to set up camp for the day.

    The Forest Park Swim Center, which opened to the public in 1975, sits at the park’s edge. Originally built with a unique removable roof — revolutionary for its time — it was damaged in the Thanksgiving Day storm of 1984 and replaced with a permanent structure in 1985. The swim center offers public swim sessions, lessons, and lap swimming year-round, making it one of Everett’s most-used recreational facilities regardless of season.

    How to Get Here and What to Know Before You Go

    Forest Park is located at 802 E. Mukilteo Boulevard, Everett, WA 98203. The park is open daily from 6 a.m. to dusk. From I-5, take exit 192 for 41st Street and head toward the Mukilteo Ferry. 41st Street becomes Mukilteo Boulevard, and the park entrance is the first left turn.

    Public transit reaches the park via Everett Transit routes 3 and 18. Parking is free and generally available on weekdays, though summer weekends can fill the main lot — arrive before 10 a.m. if you’re bringing kids to the animal farm or splash park.

    Trail surfaces are natural — wear real shoes, not sandals. After rain, the lower trails get muddy, so boots are worth the effort. The hill climbs are legitimate exercise; bring water. And if you’re visiting the animal farm, check the City of Everett Parks website for current seasonal hours before you go — operating dates vary year to year.

    Why Locals Love It

    Forest Park isn’t flashy. It doesn’t have a brewery attached to it or a waterfront view. What it has is 197 acres of honest-to-goodness forest in the middle of a city, trails that were built by hand during the hardest economic period in American history, a free animal farm that delights every kid who walks through the gate, and the kind of quiet that’s increasingly rare in the Puget Sound region.

    It’s the park where Everett residents proposed, where their kids learned to ride horses, where their grandparents danced to band music, and where — if you show up on any given Tuesday morning — you’ll find a handful of regulars doing their hill climbs in comfortable silence, nodding to each other like old friends. Because they are.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How big is Forest Park in Everett?

    Forest Park covers 197 acres, making it Everett’s largest park. It has been part of the city’s park system since the first ten acres were purchased in 1894.

    Is Forest Park’s Animal Farm free?

    Yes. The Animal Farm operates seasonally during summer months and admission is free. Horse rides are available for a small donation. Animals include goats, chickens, rabbits, sheep, ducks, and horses.

    How long are the trails at Forest Park?

    The trail system includes 13 hill climb courses that can be combined for up to 4.9 miles with over 1,100 feet of elevation gain. A more relaxed upper ridge trail is also available for those who want a gentler walk.

    What are the hours for Forest Park?

    Forest Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to dusk. The Forest Park Swim Center has separate hours for public swim sessions, lap swimming, and lessons — check the City of Everett website for the current schedule.

    How do I get to Forest Park?

    From I-5, take exit 192 for 41st Street and head toward the Mukilteo Ferry. 41st Street becomes Mukilteo Boulevard, and the park entrance is the first left turn. The address is 802 E. Mukilteo Boulevard, Everett, WA 98203. Everett Transit routes 3 and 18 also serve the park.

    Is Forest Park good for kids?

    Forest Park is one of the best family parks in Everett. It features an enormous playground, an orca-themed splash park with age-appropriate sections, a free seasonal animal farm, covered picnic shelters, and gentle trail options alongside more challenging hill climbs for older kids.

    What is Floral Hall at Forest Park?

    Floral Hall is a community exhibition building constructed during the WPA era and opened in 1940. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and continues to host community events.

    Can you swim at Forest Park?

    Yes. The Forest Park Swim Center has been open since 1975 and offers public swim sessions, lap swimming, and swim lessons year-round. The outdoor splash park is seasonal and free.

  • Belfair Business Beat: Sweetwater Creek Park Ribbon Cutting April 10 & Industrial Growth on SR-3 — Belfair Bugle

    Belfair Business Beat: Sweetwater Creek Park Ribbon Cutting April 10 & Industrial Growth on SR-3 — Belfair Bugle

    Something new is opening in Belfair this week — and it’s been a long time coming.

    The Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel Park will hold its official ribbon-cutting celebration on Thursday, April 10 at 1 p.m., hosted by the North Mason Chamber of Commerce. The park sits just off Highway 3, right next to Belfair Elementary School and across from the Theler Wetlands — a spot many of you drive past every day.

    This isn’t your average park. The Sweetwater Creek project, developed through a partnership between the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (PNW Salmon Center) and the Port of Allyn, features the only freshwater ADA-accessible fishing access in Mason County, along with new bridges, trails, a nature playground built from natural materials like boulders and logs, native plant installations, and even solar panels and a small hydropower system. It’s free and open to the public.

    After years of planning, grant compliance work, and community effort, the park officially opened to the public on March 31 — and now it’s time to celebrate. Mark your calendars for April 10 and come say hi to your neighbors. North Mason does community right.

    What’s Opening & What’s Coming

    • Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel Park: Open since March 31. Ribbon cutting April 10 at 1 PM. Free, ADA accessible. Only freshwater ADA fishing access in Mason County.
    • Puget Sound West Industrial (25400 SR-3): Class A industrial development at the Mason/Kitsap county line, up to 1.4 million SF planned. Phase I underway. Sewer capacity expansion along Hwy 3 corridor is in progress to support growth.
    • Port of Allyn: Development partner on Sweetwater Creek and a longtime Mason County economic anchor (18560 E. SR-3, Allyn WA).

    Sources: Mason County Journal, PNW Salmon Center, Port of Allyn, North Mason Chamber of Commerce

  • Community Spotlight: Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel Park Opens — Ribbon Cutting April 10 — Belfair Bugle

    Community Spotlight: Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel Park Opens — Ribbon Cutting April 10 — Belfair Bugle

    Something special is happening right in the heart of Belfair this week — and if you’ve driven past Belfair Elementary on Highway 3, you may have already spotted it. Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel Park is opening its gates, and the North Mason Chamber of Commerce is hosting a ribbon-cutting celebration on Thursday, April 10 at 1 p.m. to mark the moment.

    This isn’t just another park. Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel Park is a years-in-the-making community vision brought to life by the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (also known as the PNW Salmon Center, right off NE Roessel Road in Belfair). Tucked just across Highway 3 from the Theler Wetlands, the park features the only freshwater ADA fishing access in all of Mason County — a real game-changer for families and anglers of all abilities. Plans also include native plant gardens, a nature playground, solar panels, and interpretive trails connecting people to the salmon that make Hood Canal country so special.

    The Salmon Center has been a quiet pillar of North Mason life for years — running Salmon in the Classroom, hosting story-time events for families at their Belfair campus, and stewarding Hood Canal’s watershed one stream at a time. This park is their love letter to Belfair, and the whole community is invited to the celebration Thursday.

    Park Details

    • Location: Next to Belfair Elementary School, across Highway 3 from Theler Wetlands
    • Operated by: Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group / PNW Salmon Center (600 NE Roessel Rd, Belfair)
    • Features: Only freshwater ADA fishing access in Mason County, native plant gardens, nature playground, solar panels, interpretive trails
    • Admission: Free and open to the public
    • Ribbon Cutting: April 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM — hosted by North Mason Chamber of Commerce

    If you’re proud of what North Mason is building — come out April 10, shake some hands, and see what your neighbors have been working on. This is what community looks like.

    Sources: PNW Salmon Center (pnwsalmoncenter.org), Mason County Journal, North Mason Chamber of Commerce

  • Outdoors & Environment: New WDFW Shellfish Rules, Twanoh Season & Lake Cushman Update — Mason County Minute

    Outdoors & Environment: New WDFW Shellfish Rules, Twanoh Season & Lake Cushman Update — Mason County Minute

    Heads up, shellfish fans — if you’re heading to the beach this spring, there are some important new rules to know about.

    As of April 1, WDFW rolled out two significant changes for recreational shellfish harvesting statewide. The minimum size for cockles jumped from 1½ inches to 2½ inches, giving more cockles a chance to reach reproductive age. And the geoduck daily limit dropped from 3 per person to just 1 per person per day — a move to protect those slow-recovering intertidal populations. If you haven’t updated your knowledge of the regs this season, now is the time.

    For Hood Canal harvesters, mark your calendars: Twanoh State Park near Union opens for clam digging May 15 through June 15, with oyster season running through September 30. But there’s an important heads-up — beach access at Twanoh will close after clam season wraps for a shoreline restoration project, and campsite reservations are shut down from June 1 through spring 2027. Plan your Twanoh trips accordingly.

    Meanwhile, Lake Cushman is still in its spring drawdown phase. Boat launches won’t be usable until closer to Memorial Day when the water comes back up — so hold off on trailering the boat out there for another few weeks.

    Key Outdoors Updates — Mason County

    • WDFW Shellfish Rule Changes (effective April 1, 2026): Cockle minimum size raised to 2½ inches. Geoduck daily limit reduced to 1 per person. Applies statewide including all Hood Canal beaches.
    • Twanoh State Park (Union): Clam season open May 15–June 15. Oyster season through September 30. Beach access closes after clam season for shoreline restoration. Campsite reservations closed June 1–spring 2027.
    • Lake Cushman: Spring drawdown ongoing. Boat launches unavailable until Memorial Day weekend.

    Always check both the WDFW season status AND the Department of Health biotoxin map before harvesting. Stay safe out there and enjoy the spring weather.

    Sources: WDFW Shellfish Regulations News Release, NW Sportsman Magazine, WDFW Twanoh Beach Page, WA State Parks

  • Mason County Outdoors: New Shellfish Rules, Twanoh State Park Season & Lake Cushman Update — April 4, 2026

    Mason County Outdoors: New Shellfish Rules, Twanoh State Park Season & Lake Cushman Update — April 4, 2026

    Heads up, shellfish fans — if you’re heading to the beach this spring, there are some important new rules to know about. 🐚

    As of April 1, WDFW rolled out two big changes for recreational shellfish harvesting statewide. The minimum size for cockles jumped from 1½ inches to 2½ inches, giving more cockles a chance to reach reproductive age. And the geoduck daily limit dropped from 3 per person to just 1 per person per day — a move to protect those slow-recovering intertidal populations.

    For Hood Canal harvesters, mark your calendars: Twanoh State Park near Union opens for clam digging May 15 through June 15, with oyster season running through September 30. But heads up — beach access at Twanoh will close after clam season for a shoreline restoration project, and campsite reservations are shut down from June 1 through spring 2027. Meanwhile, Lake Cushman is still in its spring drawdown, so boat launches won’t be usable until closer to Memorial Day when the water comes back up.

    Know before you go — always check both the WDFW season status AND the Department of Health biotoxin map before harvesting. Stay safe out there and enjoy the spring weather. 🌊

    Sources: WDFW Shellfish News Release | WDFW Twanoh Beach Page | WA State Parks: Twanoh | WDFW: Lake Cushman