Warren G. Magnuson Park

Located on the shores of Lake Washington in Northeastern Seattle, Warren G. Magnuson Park* (also known as "Sand Point Park") sprawls out over the majority of a landmass known as Sand Point, formerly the Naval Air Station-Sand Point until 1975.

Today, the 350-acre park is Seattle's second largest after 534-acre Discovery Park in Magnolia, and it offers a wealth of amenities while still maintaining much of the history and character of its military past. Amenities include:

• 3 artificial turf and 4 grass soccer fields
• 4 baseball fields
• 6 tennis courts (not lighted), plus the privately run Tennis Center Sand Point with 10 indoor courts
• Seattle's largest playground, the "Junior League of Seattle Children's Playground"
• Community garden and children's garden
• An extensive off-leash dog area with lake access
• 30-acre wetland and nature preserve boasting 170 wildlife species.
• "Kite Hill" (constructed of debris from the naval base tarmac, the grassy man-made knoll is popular for kite flying)
• Boat ramp access to Lake Washington
• 0.7-mile long Lake Shore Promenade Trail
• Magnuson Swim Beach
• The Fin Project (a public art installation made from submarine dive fins)
• 4 picnic shelters and numerous picnic areas along Lake Washington

The extensive collection of historic military buildings is part of the Sand Point Historic District and is primarily managed by three entities. Seattle Parks and Recreation rents office space to numerous non-profits and other civic focused organizations; the University of Washington owns five buildings; and six of the buildings are managed by Solid Grounds for low-income transitional housing.

* Unlike most military base conversions, the land was actually a recreation area called Carkeek Park prior to its conversion into a naval base after World War I. After the current park was created in 1975 as Sand Point Park, the name was changed two years later to Magnuson Park in honor of Washington's U.S. Senator Warren Magnuson, who also happened to be a former Seattle-based naval officer.

Note: Warren G. Magnuson Park is open from 4 a.m. to 11:30 pm. Call 206.684.4946 to make reservations for any of the park's facilities.