Woodland Park (Seattle)
Encyclopedia
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
in Seattle's Phinney Ridge
Phinney Ridge, Seattle, Washington
Phinney Ridge is a neighborhood in north central Seattle, Washington, USA. It is named after the ridge which runs north and south, separating Ballard from Green Lake, from approximately N. 45th to N. 85th Street. The ridge, in turn, is named after Guy C. Phinney, lumber mill owner and real estate...
and Green Lake
Green Lake, Seattle, Washington
Green Lake is a neighborhood in north central Seattle, Washington, USA. Its centerpiece is the lake and park after which it is named.Its generally accepted boundaries are Interstate 5 to the east, beyond which lie Roosevelt and Maple Leaf; N 85th Street to the north, beyond which lies the...
neighborhoods that originated as the estate of Guy C. Phinney, lumber mill owner and real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
developer. Phinney died in 1893, and in 1902, the Olmsted Brothers
Olmsted Brothers
The Olmsted Brothers company was an influential landscape design firm in the United States, formed in 1898 by stepbrothers John Charles Olmsted and Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. .-History:...
firm of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
was hired to design the city's parks, including Woodland Park.
The park is split in half by Aurora Avenue N. (State Route 99
Washington State Route 99
State Route 99, abbreviated SR 99, commonly called Highway 99, is a numbered state highway in the U.S. state of Washington extending just under from Fife in the south to Everett in the north, with a gap in Tukwila.-Southern division:...
). Its western half is given over to the Woodland Park Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo is a zoological garden around the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. Occupying the western half of Woodland Park, the zoo began as a small menagerie on the estate of Guy C. Phinney, a Canadian-born lumber mill owner and real estate developer...
. Its eastern half, which is connected to the zoo by arched bridges over the highway and often called Lower Woodland Park, consists of trails, a picnic area, ballfields, a miniature golf
Miniature golf
Miniature golf, or minigolf, is a miniature version of the sport of golf. While the international sports organization World Minigolf Sport Federation prefers to use the name "minigolf", the general public in different countries has also many other names for the game: miniature golf, mini-golf,...
range, horseshoe pits, bmx bike course, and lawn bowling, and is contiguous with Green Lake Park.
Wildlife in the park
The park is home to many species of birds and mammals as well as a few reptile and amphibian species. Most notable species include Western Coyotes, Feral Rabbits, Barred Owls, and Red Eared Sliders (released turtles).Most Common Bird Species
American Crow,
American Goldfinch,
American Robin,
Anna's Hummingbird,
Bald Eagle,
Barn Owl,
Barred Owl,
Bewick's Wren,
Black-Capped Chickadee,
Bushtit,
European Starling,
House Finch,
Hairy/Downy Woodpeckers,
Northern Flicker,
Oregon Junco,
Eurasian Rock Dove,
Spotted Towee,
Stellar's Jay,
Various Gull Species,
Various Sparrow Species,
Various Swallow Species, and
Various Waterfowl.
Most Common Mammal Species
Western Coyote, Nutria, Feral Rabbits, Norway Rats, Gray Squirrel, Mt. Beaver, and American Beaver.
Most Common Reptile and Amphibian Species
Red Eared Sliders, Spring Peepers and Garter snakes.