A new 5-acre forest park is coming to North Highline

On Thursday, Executive Dow Constantine announced that King County will transform newly acquired property in urban unincorporated North Highline into a forest park featuring trails, overlooks, and wetlands.

The five-acre site was acquired by King County for $357,000 and is located in a neighborhood that is among the lowest one-third for median income and the highest one-third for hospitalization rates for asthma, diabetes, and heart disease — in the Beverly Park/Glendale neighborhood.

The new park will be located along 8th Avenue South and managed by King County Parks. The greenspace will consist of a path through the forest and a bridge across the ravine that will be created by the Washington Trails Association.

King County

• See also: 
  • Seattle has a new mural representing American protest and racial justice
  • Seattle’s Black Lives Matter mural in the CHOP will be preserved
  • Select “Stay Healthy Streets” will remain permanently closed

“Staying home to prevent the spread of COVID-19 has given each of us an even greater appreciation for open spaces, yet too many underserved communities do not have a park, trail, or green space,” said Executive Constantine.

“The new forest park we are creating with community input will make it possible for more people and families in urban unincorporated King County to experience the benefits of green space in their own neighborhood. It reflects our progress toward making access to open space more just and equitable.”

King County Parks expects that the urban forest will be accessible to the public in late summer or fall 2021.

The green space is the latest progress King County has made under the Land Conservation Initiative, a partnership to protect 65,000 acres of natural areas, parks, forests, farmland, and trails before they are lost forever.

“The initiative focuses on creating more equitable access to open space in communities where there is the greatest need.”