Perhaps you are seeking a panoramic view of the Emerald City. Then look no further. We’re at Westcrest Park Viewpoint. This is one of West Seattle’s largest parks, offering something for everyone.
Westcrest Park spans 88 acres. It includes scenic walking trails and open space. The park’s elevated position offers sweeping views. You can see downtown Seattle from here. It makes this a popular spot for photography and city-gazing.
Originally, the water department purchased this site in 1917. It once held the city’s highest and single largest reservoir. The reservoir was built in 1932. In 1961, negotiations began to acquire “surplus area”. This was for park and recreation purposes.
In 2015, Westcrest Park opened a 20-acre expansion. It provides even more panoramic views. You can see the mountains and city skyline. The expansion integrates multi-generational amenities. These include a flexible great lawn and a play area. There are zip-lines and hillside slides. You can also enjoy swaths of native prairie and strolling paths. Parking, streetscape improvements, restrooms, and public art are also available.
David Boyer created a new public artwork named Flyers. It was installed in the park. The piece consists of 15 kinetic sculptures. They look like birds and planes. These are mounted on steel poles. Flyers was commissioned with Seattle Parks and Recreation’s 1% for Art Funds. The Office of Arts and Culture managed it.
Dog owners especially love the large off-leash area here. It includes open fields and shaded spots. Dogs can run freely here. Westcrest Park also features a playground. There are picnic areas and a community garden. This makes it a great destination for families.
Whether you want to enjoy a leisurely walk or play fetch with your dog, Westcrest Park is a versatile space. It can accommodate various outdoor activities. Today, the park provides a variety of recreational resources. These include wooded nature trails and a viewpoint platform.
In 1910, Olmsted suggested a large park might be located along the hillside. This would be in conjunction with a parkway. He responded to interest from the South Park community. They wanted to develop such a park. Olmsted recommended deferring the establishment of a hillside park. He wanted to wait until the parkway might be designed.
Olmsted wrote about developing a parkway. It would skirt the southern borders of South Park. The parkway would climb the hillside gradually. It would be part of that project to provide a hillside park. It could be more than 40 acres. From there you could command the views of the Duwamish valley. This includes South Park.
Westcrest Park is more than just a park. It is a place where nature, art, and community come together. As you stand here at Westcrest Park Viewpoint, take in the beauty around you.