Meadowbrook Pond

What a great park! Very cool things to be found while exploring, including some oyster shells in concrete that stimulated lovely memories for me. What a peaceful place…

FYI, the pond walk and surrounding area is closed to the public until Sept. 2013.
This SPU page applies:

Meadowbrook Pond is a hidden gem in, of course, the Meadowbrook neighborhood just north of Wedgwood. The pond is a wildlife reserve and is about to undergo improvements which include making the pond larger. There was a park security guard who appears to be more of a host to the pond and is very knowledgeable about the wildlife which ranges from beavers, to Canadian gees, different duck breeds, etc.

The Meadowbrook Pond is a wonderful little sanctuary which features diverse wildlife (ducks, beavers, cranes, frogs, bats and much more), interesting foliage, sculptures and trails all integrated so that human and wildlife alike can enjoy the surroundings. It also plays a very practical role, capturing sediment from Thorton Creek and reducing downstream impact.
In July 2012 the Meadowbrook Pond began an extensive dredging project. A chain link fence went up and heavy equipment was brought in. According to the Seattle Public Utilities (
), dredging to remove sediment is necessary about every three to four years with a major pond cleaning occurring every ten. Based upon the work I saw, the project that was begun last summer must fall under the latter category.
Additionally, according to the website run by Families For Lake City, the project had three primary objectives (
):
1. Reduce the impacts of flooding on roads and streamside properties
2. Increase worker safety
3. Improve stream and riparian habitat
It was great to see that the work also included some badly needed updates, returning the park to its original pristine setting. The past few years, prior to the renovation, had seen what I consider to be a significant deterioration of the pond ecology with noxious plants overgrowing the area, an occasional stench and even unwelcome graffiti. Also, the Public Utilities reported on their website that non-​native bullfrogs, which are classified as prohibited aquatic animal species by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife were identified in the pond.
The Meadowbrook Pond reopened to the public In October 2012, but work will continue in the summer of 2013. It’s unclear (at least to me) how that work will affect the public’s access.
If you’ve never been to the Meadowbrook Pond, I highly encourage you to visit. It is simply a stunning place to go for a family walk. Bring your binoculars, bring a camera and embrace this magical part of Seattle.
Tip: The Friends of Meadowbrook Pond provide all sorts of activities available to the public, including updates, tours, and annual luminaria walk and more. Find them on Facebook (
).

Maria is right, this is an oasis.
I never would have known this was here if not for my sense of adventure. We drove by the area a few times. And we kept wondering what this large wooded and tall grass area could be. Well, one day we pulled over and checked it out.
There was a path and sign, «Meadowbrook Park». A park? Really? We strolled down the beautiful pathways, bridges, and decks. Lots of water, lovely art work and tons of wildlife. Completely peaceful.
The whole park is filled with very zen like art, which only makes it more special. There are ducklings! Cute little ducks in the springtime. Cranes, geese, and other beautiful water fowl. Oh and beavers! You really think they are swamp monsters at first. Especially since the area was once a sewage plant, it gets your mind wandering.
While the park is a little on the small side, it’s a great stop during the day to relax. Its mostly locals to the area, so most people walk or jog to the park. But if you must drive, there really are no places to park along the side of the park. You need to park over near the community center and walk across to get the hidden treasure.