Priest Point Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Priest Point Park |
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| Type | Municipal (Olympia) |
| Location | Olympia, Washington |
| Area | 314 acres (1.27 km2) |
| Status | Open all year |
Priest Point Park is a wonderful public park located in Olympia, Washington. It was the city's first park right on the water. The park opened in 1905, giving everyone access to the Budd Inlet of Puget Sound.
Contents
Park History
Priest Point Park has a long and interesting past. Long ago, this area was a place where Native American groups set up their camps.
Early Mission Site
In 1848, some Catholic missionaries arrived in the South Puget Sound area. They were part of a group called the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Father Pascal Ricard led these missionaries. They called the site St. Joseph's of New Market.
Father Ricard and three other priests built a few simple buildings. These included a classroom and a chapel. They also planted an orchard and a garden. The missionaries ran a school for Native American boys from the local Squaxin Island Tribe.
Different tribes, like the Nisqually, Puyallup, and Snoqualmie, used the mission as a place to trade goods. The mission closed in 1860, a few years after Father Pascal Ricard left.
Becoming a City Park
In 1905, the land became a city park. This happened after plans to build houses there did not work out. Many volunteers helped to create the park. They cleared trails and added beautiful plants.
They also set up a large, two-story building called a chalet. This Swiss-style building was donated by Leopold Schmidt. He owned the Olympia Brewery. The chalet was first used at a big event called the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland, Oregon, in 1903-1904. The chalet stayed at Priest Point Park until the early 1950s.
What You Can Do at the Park
Today, Priest Point Park is a great place to visit. It has many fun features for families and friends.
Park Facilities
You can find picnic shelters where you can eat outdoors. There are also nature trails perfect for walking and exploring. Kids will love the large playground. The park also has basketball courts and public restrooms.
The park has about a mile of saltwater shoreline along the Budd Inlet of the Puget Sound. Ellis Cove is a part of the park that goes into the land. There is a trail that goes all around it. You can also enjoy a beautiful formal rose garden.
Wildlife and Birdwatching
Priest Point Park is a fantastic spot for birdwatching. You can see many different kinds of birds here. Look for the colorful northern flicker and different types of woodpeckers, like the downy and pileated woodpecker.
Other birds you might spot include the red-breasted nuthatch and the brown creeper. If you look north of Ellis Cove, you might see osprey nesting. The muddy areas and rocky beach are home to birds like greater yellowlegs, western and least sandpipers, and dunlin. You can often see Bald eagles and pigeon guillemots flying around the park too.
