The Many Attractions of Maple Leaf Reservoir Park (Including Stairs!)

Yesterday evening we joined another one of the Museum of History and Industry's (MOHAI) excellent Neighborhood History Tours, this time at Maple Leaf Reservoir Park. Roger Van Oosten, our tour leader, opened by saying "The City of Seattle hit a home run here at Maple Leaf Reservoir Park." He was totally right!

Maple Leaf Reservoir Park encompasses 16 acres, much of it in the form of a circular grass field on top of the new lid covering Maple Leaf Reservoir. It's one of the higher spots in Seattle, so you get great views looking south toward downtown and Mt. Rainier.

It's a lively, art-filled park. We saw boot campers working out; ultimate frisbee players doing drills; runners going up and down the two robust stairways; and a boy playing the resident piano that's in place as part of the "Pianos in the Parks" program.

We also took a quick walk through the surrounding neighborhood of charming Arts and Crafts houses. Roger predicts that many of them will soon give way to denser residential developments, with Light Rail's imminent Link extension from the University Station up to Northgate.  

If you haven't checked out Maple Leaf Reservoir Park and the surrounding neighborhood, it's well worth a visit. Thanks Roger, and thanks MOHAI!