State high school girls’ swimming & diving championship comes to WKCAC

Swimming event at WKCAC

This weekend, our Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center is hosting the 2009 Washington State High School Girls Swimming and Diving Championships (2A, 3A, and 4A). The competition begins Thursday, Nov 12 and runs through Saturday, Nov 14. Ticket information is available online from the  Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA).

Several King County high schools will be participating in this year’s championship, including Issaquah (4A), Skyline (4A), and Liberty (3A).

NEW! WKCAC staff will be filming each race, and the clips will then be made available from WIAA’s website, so you can make your own call on those close races.

Good luck to our local swimmers!!

Memorial bench on Cougar Mountain

memorial bench on Cougar Mountain

To honor his parents, Don Mukai worked with King County Parks staff to create this lovely bench through the King County Parks Legacy Fund program. This ‘backcountry’ bench, which is adorned with an inscription from Mr. Mukai, was constructed by Cougar Mountain’s field staff using salvaged wood from trees that had fallen down in the park. Stop and take a rest the next time you are hiking the Wilderness Peak trail (check out the Cougar Mountain trail map).

Through our Legacy Fund program, people can donate benches and trees along our regional trails and hiking trails or in other King County park sites, which is a wonderful way to honor loved ones or give a unique gift for the person who has everything.

Check out our photo gallery for more views of the bench, Cougar Mountain Park in the fall, and other Legacy Fund projects.

White Center Heights bridge open to the public

bridge over White Center Heights pond

The herons, frogs and water fowl are very welcoming. Phase Two of White Center Heights Park in effect. A bridge for the elementary school students to come observe a wetland habitat, check.

Come by and have a look.

The view on Maury Island

Lookout at Maury, photo from early phase

If you are looking to do a road trip, or just happen to live on the island, make sure to swing by the new lookout. Our crews put together a beautiful scenic overlook, so visitors can stop and take in the view of the Cascades, the Sound, the beach, and the abundant wildlife.

Interested in hosting an event from this location? Swing by our Rentals page, and reserve it.

MFG Cyclocross hosting King County CX at Lakewood Park, October 31st.

MFG Cyclocross

Through no fault of its own, MFG Cyclocross found itself in the unenviable position of having to find a new site on extremely short notice for its planned event this weekend.

Given MFG’s demonstrated ability to deliver a successful event and to be good park stewards for its “Kick-Off Cyclocross” event at the County’s Big Finn Hill Park earlier this summer, King County Parks began working with MFG to identify an alternate site.

The result, this weekend, MFG will host King County CX at Lakewood Park and the Evergreen Athletic Fields in North Highline with 500+ avid cyclocross enthusiasts expected to participate.

For more information about the event, click here.

What is Cyclocross? Cyclocross is a form of bicycle racing that takes place in the fall and winter months using modified road bikes. Races generally last between 30 minutes and an hour and are contested on a lap course which typically includes a mixture of paved and unpaved trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles that require the rider to dismount and carry the bike over or around the obstacles before remounting.

Location of Lakewood Park & Evergreen Athletic Fields:
11050 10th Ave SW Seattle WA 98146 Parking also available at the Evergreen Pool and Athletic Fields: 606 SW 116th St Seattle WA 98146