Genesee Park (Seattle) facts for kids
Genesee Park is a large, fun park in the Rainier Valley neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. It covers about 57.7 acres, which is like 40 football fields! This park is a popular spot for many activities. It even hosts exciting hydroplane boat races and amazing air shows during the yearly Seattle Seafair celebration.
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Genesee Park: A Fun Place to Explore
Genesee Park is shaped like an "L". It has Lake Washington to its north, which is a big lake. The park is also near the Stan Sayres Memorial Park and the Mount Baker Rowing and Sailing Center. On its other sides, it's bordered by different streets and a small hill. A street called S. Genesee Street runs right through the middle of the park.
A Look Back: The History of Genesee Park
Before it became a park, this area was a waterway called Wetmore Slough. This was before Lake Washington was made nine feet lower in 1917. The lake level was changed to help build the Lake Washington Ship Canal, which connects the lake to Puget Sound.
The city of Seattle bought this land in 1947. For a while, until 1963, it was used as a dump. But then, in 1968, work began to turn it into the beautiful park we see today.
In the 1990s, the Rainier Community Center moved to the edge of Genesee Park. This center offers many programs and activities for people in the community.
What Can You Do at Genesee Park?
Genesee Park has lots of different areas for everyone to enjoy.
- In the northern part, you'll find a nature trail. This is a great place to walk and watch wild birds in their natural home. There's also a big picnic shelter and open grassy areas perfect for playing or relaxing.
- The middle part of the park has sports fields. There's a sand field for soccer and a special artificial turf field for both soccer and football. These fields have bright lights so games can be played even at night!
- You can also find a fenced-in dog park here, where dogs can run and play safely.
- In the southwest part of the park, there's a circular path for walking.
- For younger kids, there are three different play areas with swings and slides. One is north of S. Genesee Street, one is south of it, and another is right by the Rainier Community Center.
Seafair Celebrations at the Park
Every year, during the first week of August, Genesee Park becomes a very exciting place! It's the main entrance for the Seattle Seafair hydroplane races and aerobatics air show. People have been celebrating Seafair since the 1950s. It's a huge summer party for Seattle, and the park is right in the middle of all the action! You can watch fast boats zoom across the water and amazing planes perform tricks in the sky.
