High Bridge Park facts for kids
High Bridge Park is a large, beautiful park covering 200 acres in Spokane, Washington. You can find it at Riverside Ave. and A St. in the Latah Valley area. It's open every day and it's free to visit!
A stream called Latah Creek flows along the eastern side of the park. This creek has carved a valley, and three big bridges cross high above it. These bridges carry Interstate 90, the Sunset Highway, and a railroad. They are a cool sight as they stretch over the southern part of the park.
Contents
What You Can Do at High Bridge Park
Near the middle of High Bridge Park, there's a nice grassy area. This part of the park has things you might expect, like picnic tables and grills where you can have a meal outdoors. There's also a picnic spot with a wooden roof, which is great for shade. Kids will love the small playground! Even though this area is mostly grass, tall Ponderosa Pine trees provide plenty of shade. Just up a hill to the west, there's another, smaller grassy spot.
Exploring the Wilder Side
Most of High Bridge Park is quite wild and natural. It's amazing because this park is less than two miles from the busy city center! Long ago, in the early 1900s, people thought about building homes here. In the first half of the 20th century, the park was even a place where tourists could camp with their cars.
After World War II, the park became home to houses for soldiers who had returned from the war. Eventually, these houses were removed, and the land became part of the park. The buildings are gone now, but you can still see signs of the old neighborhood. There are old streets and sidewalks, which are now closed to cars and slowly being taken over by nature. Areas where mobile homes once stood are now covered with thick forests.
Fun Activities
High Bridge Park is a great place for outdoor activities. There's an 18-hole disc golf course that winds through the park, avoiding the main grassy area. If you have a dog, you'll be happy to know that a special dog park opened in January 2011. It's located in the part of High Bridge Park that is west of A Street.
Nearby Parks
High Bridge Park is close to two other city parks, but they are separate. Across Latah Creek, on a steep, 500-foot-high ridge, is Overlook Park. Directly north, across Riverside Avenue, is People's Park. This is where Latah Creek joins the Spokane River.
Images for kids
-
All three High Bridge Park bridges and Latah Creek in the southern end of the park
-
High Bridge Park looking north from the railroad bridge, showing the Sunset Boulevard Bridge and Latah Creek
