Location: Woodinville
Address: 22505 WA-9, Woodinville
Acreage: 70
As King County’s population has grown enormously over the past two decades, so has its volume of… well, poop. In 2011, the county opened a new third sewage treatment plant, and it’s spectacular. From high-tech odor control to record-breaking membrane bioreactors, the facility itself is as modern as it gets.
But, the best part about Brightwater Center is that it is wrapped with nature, art, an education and community center and public open space. What was formerly an auto junkyard is now an inviting park brimming with animal habitat. If you’re a birder, note that bird species are so prolific at the site that the Audubon Society includes it as a location for its annual bird counts.
Start your visit by checking out the community center where you can learn about storm water and water treatment. The facility hosts workshops, camps, environmental education programs and much more. There are also opportunities to take guided tours.
Then explore the surrounding trails, which are divided into two major habitats (north and south). The paths are mostly gravel, some more accessible than others, but the short lengths make for a kid-friendly outing. If you walk every bit of trail, you’ll log about three miles. Some fun stats about the nature around you: 700,000 native plants make up the landscape, 43 acres of restored salmon habitat, amphibian shelf and ladder (to help critters get between ponds) and an otter pond. More hiking description can be found here.
One of the best features of the park is the art. Fifteen pieces of art by well-known local artists including Ellen Sollod and Buster Simpson are placed throughout the 70 acres.
This is such a fun place to visit your waste.
#498 (Visited 1/13/19)