PHOTOS: Celebrating Westcrest Park’s expansion

| Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

More than six years ago, work began to “bury” West Seattle Reservoir in Highland Park, creating land for a Westcrest Park expansion. And now, the park work is finally done. A ribboncutting ceremony this morning kicked off the official celebration, two weeks after the fences came down to open the expansion to the public. See the man with the white beard helping cut the ribbon? That’s Marshall Dunston, who named the park Westcrest decades ago:

We’re told that was the result of a contest (update: see a 1976 photo on the Parks website). At the podium in the photo above is Brian Hawksford, who represented Mayor Murray’s office today; Michael Shiosaki from Seattle Parks represented Parks Superintendent Jesús Aguirre. Also represented in abundance: West Seattleites having fun at the 20-acre park expansion!

In addition to the newly built features including ziplines and play equipment, Parks brought in a bouncy house for today’s celebration:

Also invited, local food vendors, including White Center-headquartered Full Tilt Ice Cream, whose founder Justin Cline was staffing the truck:

If you haven’t checked out the park, the expansion end is near 8th/Cloverdale.

holdingmyhorses July 25, 2015 (6:09 pm)

Maybe don’t smoke at the park. Even small cig butts are fuel for so much dry grass. I extinguished a butt tossed in the parking lot last evening by a departing group. Also, be on highest alert when grilling on the tables. Have something on hand to douse fires.

Pleasant views at sunset with waist-high prairie flowers and uninvited weeds blowing in the wind.

No shadey zones though. Intensely hot up there last week.

lina July 25, 2015 (8:07 pm)

Thanks so much for everyone who helped make this day and this awesome park happen. I love westcrest, the forested areas, the dog park and now the great new playground. We’ll be spending lots of time there!