Home of the Good Shepherd facts for kids
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Home of the Good Shepherd
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The park and front entrance to Good Shepherd Center
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | Sunnyside, N. and 50th St., Seattle, Washington |
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| Built | 1906 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002753 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 23, 1978 |
Meridian Playground, also known as Meridian Park, is a fun place in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. It's a great spot for families and friends to enjoy the outdoors.
The park is home to a special building called the Good Shepherd Center. This building is very old and important. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Home of the Good Shepherd. It is also a special landmark for the city of Seattle.
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History of the Good Shepherd Center
The Good Shepherd Center was built in 1906. It started as a Catholic school for girls who needed a safe place to learn and grow. The school helped many girls until it closed in 1973.
Today, the building is looked after by Historic Seattle, a group that helps protect old buildings. The rest of the park is managed by Seattle Parks and Recreation.
What's Inside the Center Today?
The Good Shepherd Center is now a busy community hub. It has space for many different groups, including:
- The Wallingford Community Senior Center, for older adults.
- Meridian School, a place for kids to learn.
- Seattle Tilth, an organization that teaches about gardening.
- Other community groups.
- Affordable homes for artists.
The old chapel inside the building has been changed into a performance space. Here, you can watch unique and experimental shows as part of the Wayward Music Series.
Exploring Meridian Park
The park still has many parts of the old school grounds. You can find beautiful gardens and an apple orchard. The old swimming pool is now filled in, and the bath house has become a picnic shelter.
Fun at the Playground
The playground at Meridian Park is a popular spot. It was updated in 1998 and again in 2007 to make it even better.
- The playground has cool sculptures based on characters from children's books.
- Near the entrance, there are two sculptures that remind us of the building's past. One shows a nun, and the other shows a school girl picking an apple.
- Over the main entrance of the Center, there is a special sculpture of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
- The play area has swings and spinning play structures for older kids. There used to be a water run, but it is now closed.
Gardens and Green Spaces
Besides the playground, the park has other green areas:
- There are two open fields where you can play games.
- To the south, you'll find a P-Patch. This is a community garden where people can grow their own fruits and vegetables. It is run by Seattle Tilth.
People from the community can get involved with the park through the Good Shepherd Center Advisory Board. They help make decisions about the park and building.
