In the folk story “Stone Soup,” a group of travelers come to a village with an empty cooking pot. They approach a river and fill the pot with stones and place it over a fire. One by one, the villagers inquire about what they are making. The travelers say they are making a special meal called stone soup and could use a few additional items to make it complete. One by one, the villagers provide small amounts of vegetables and garnishes creating a nutritious, satisfying meal enjoyed by everyone.
The tenants, stakeholders, and patrons of Magnuson Park create stone soup every day through collaboration and a common love of the park. Magnuson Park attracts diverse groups of people with varying interests that come together with a common value of maximizing the potential of the park. I feel fortunate to come to work every day and engage with this community.
Brian Judd Manager, Warren G Magnuson Park & Park Activation Seattle Parks and Recreation Brian.judd@seattle.gov
A Brief History of Magnuson Park
By diana Lull
Warren G. Magnuson Park is a gem in the Seattle Parks and Recreation system and the second largest park in Seattle. It lies on a peninsula between Pontiac Bay to the north (mostly filled in) and Wolf Bay to the south, and includes extensive shoreline on Lake Washington.
• Ultimate Frisbee® 3-Day Overnight on Orcas Island
• Musical Theater 4-Week Production of “Honk!”
• Adventures in Fairyland: Half-Day
• Hammers and Nails: Half-Day
• Summer on the Farm: 4-Day
• Summer in the City: Full Day; Aquarium, Museums and
• More camps online!
Native Americans from the end of the last glacial period at least 10,000 years ago used the piece of land that is now Magnuson Park. There was a settlement north of the park near what is Pontiac Bay (near Mathews Beach). On the south side, another settlement was based near Wolf Bay (now Windermere). Both settlements enjoyed and maintained the prairie or tall grassland along what is now Sand Point Way. The south side of the peninsula was swamp with a large Mud Lake. By the late 1800’s, there were some farms in the area. The first park at Sand Point was a gift from wealthy developers Mr. & Mrs. Morgan J. Carkeek, and the park was named after them as Carkeek Park.
After World War I, there was a movement to build a Naval Air Base at Sand Point, and King County, which owned the Carkeek property, acquired additional parcels to make that happen. The county initially leased it to the Navy, but ceded the property to them is 1926. The facility became known at Naval Air Station Sand Point and was an active military facility until 1970, when the airfield was shut down.
One of the most notable historic events to take place during this time was Sand Point’s first flight around the world. On Sept. 28th, 1924, 50,000 people greeted the planes as they returned from their around-the-world voyage that left Sand Point on April 6th of the same year.
In 1975, a large portion of the land was given to the City of Seattle, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the University of Washington.
In May 1977, Sand Point Park was renamed for Senator Magnuson, who helped to secure federal funding for developing the park. Warren Grant “Maggie” Magnuson (April 12, 1905 - May 20, 1989) represented the state of Washington in the United States Senate from 1944 until 1981. When he left the Senate he was the most senior member of the body.
The city turned most of it into a park again, demolishing the runways and buildings deemed incompatible with native habitat restoration.
The historic district
The park’s “historic district” features more than 20 brick and metal structures built in the 1930s and 1940s.
Most large buildings have been transformed or re-purposed. Former airplane hangar Building 30 is now an events center that provides facilities for large events. It also contains many artist studios, a gallery, and a smaller events facility in a separate wing. Building 27 has been transformed into an indoor Soccer facility, Arena Sports, and Magnuson Athletic Club.
Building 67 has been transformed by The Mountaineers, using much of the materials found on-site. The Brig (Building 406) is now a center for classes and activities through at least five organizations. And Building 47 now houses Magnuson Community Center and Seattle Musical Theater. A portion near Sand Point Way became Solid Ground low-income housing.
Outdoor Areas
The biggest transformation has been with the outdoor areas of the park. Wetland habitat restoration is ongoing, and there is now extensive
wildlife habitat, from marsh areas to ponds to natural mounds, plateaus and valleys to channel water naturally and divert runoff so it does not enter Lake Washington. Nature trails and observation points wind through these natural areas, and many wild creatures can be seen on any walk. There is even a frog pond!
The 12-acre Sports Fields include Sports Meadow (Fields 1-4) and the Mickey Merriam Athletic Field Complex (Fields 5-12). These fields were created for soccer, rugby, baseball, softball, and cricket, although other sports are played on them as well. Walking trails wind through this raised area, with run-off filtering through the wetlands area.
Other outdoor delights include the dog off-leash park and beach, the children’s Playground, a huge children’s’ play area gifted by Seattle Junior League, a community P-Patch, a peaceful grassy Amphitheater, Kite Hill, and much more. See some more suggestions of what you can do at Magnuson Park in another article in this publication.
➸ History, from page 2
ThE JUNIOR LEAGUE Of SEATTLE PLAYGROUNd,
By diana Lull
wATChING A TENNIS MATCh AT TENNIS CENTER SANd POINT, By diana Lull
Magnuson Park Spring Events
April - June 2016
April 8 - 10
Best of the Northwest Art and Fine Craft Show
April 8 - May 9
South Pacific at Seattle Musical Theatre
April 10
Plant Amnesty Master Pruner Series
April 16
Magnuson Series Earth Day running event
April 30
Emergency 5K, Run/ Walk to Save a Life
May 1
Building 30 - Open Artist Studios & Magnuson Park Art Gallery
May 7
Girls on the Run 5K event
May 8
Plant Amnesty Master Pruner Series
May 28
Magnuson Series Memorial Day running event
June 5
Touch A Truck event
June 12
Plant Amnesty Master Pruner series
ROOSEVELT VS LAKESIdE hIGh SChOOL SOCCER MATCh, by diana Lull
Photo courtesy of nwartalliance.org
Earth Day Run, photo courtesy of Seattlepipeline.com
Touch-a-truck, photo courtesy of findwell.com
by Jacqie Callahan
MALLARd dUCKS BY ThE wATER, by diana Lull
Play
Explore the Outdoors!
• Nature Walks
• Fitness Classes
• Trips
• Scholarships at Magnuson Park
Seattle Parks & Recreation
Lifelong Recreation Programs for active adults, ages 50 & better.
Call 206-386-9106 www.seattle.gov/parks with us!
There are many things to see and do outdoors at Magnuson Park. Come back often to experience it all:
1. See Spectacular Views of Lake Washington and Mount Rainier from the shoreline promenade
2. See what’s growing in the Community P-Patch
3. Sit on the stairs of the Amphitheater
4. walk or run or bike around the park
5. Explore the wetlands; there are 30 acres of them!
6. Take a nature walk on the many trails throughout the Park
7. Identify birds and waterfowl…it is the 2nd largest bird habitat in a Park in the city
8. Enjoy how the plants, bushes and trees change with the seasons
9. Explore the tree-filled south trail area
10. find the frog pond
11. Examine the “Fin Project” sculptures
12. Bring the kids to play at the Seattle Children’s Playground
13. Go fly a kite on Kite Hill
Summer Camps at Magnuson Park
Photo by diana Lull
Warren G. Magnuson Park
Warren G. Magnuson Park
Magnuson Park Tenants
Many worthwhile organizations reside in or have events in Magnuson Park. Be sure to tell them you saw them in the Experience Magnuson Park quarterly!
Arena Sports Magnuson Park, 7751 63rd Ave. NE – 206-985-8990
Audubon Society Summer Camp, 6344 NE 74th St. – 206-523-8243
Bats Northwest, 6310 NE 74th St. – 206-256-0406
Building 30 Art Studios, 7448 63rd Ave. NE
Cascade Bicycle Club, 7787 62nd Avenue NE – 206-522-3222
The Center for Pediatric dentistry, 6222 NE 74th St. – 206-543-5800
danceSport International, 6344 NE 74th St. – 206-550-6461
Earth Corps, 6310 NE 74th St #201E – 206-322-9296
freestone Environmental, 6310 NE 74th St. Suite 203E – 509-943-5222
Girls on the Run 5K race (May event) – 206-528-2118
Camp Goodtimes Project, 7400 Sand Point Way, Suite 101S – 206-940-0062
Magnuson Athletic Club, 7751 63rd Ave. NE 98115 – 206-985-8990
Magnuson Community Center, 7110 62nd Ave NE – 206-684-7026
Magnuson Community Garden, 6344 N.E. 74th St., Suite 104 – 206-684-7026
Magnuson Series (running events in the Park) -- magnusonseries.org
Meridian Geographics, 7400 Sand Point Way NE Suite 204N – 206-291-8250
