Walk In The Park -- Marymoor

If you are interested in soccer, baseball, cricket, flying, regional trails, the largest off-leash dog area in the state, a velodrome, climbing rock, rowing, birding, King County’s cultural heritage, gardening, a family picnic, concerts, or movies, Marymoor Park is the place for you!

Of course my favorite activity at Marymoor Park is visiting the 40-acre off-leash dog park. My companion dog, Sadie, knows this as "doggie disneyland". On a sunny weekend, hundreds of dog lovers will gather in the off-leash dog park to share "dog stories". And of course, folks can buy a favorite gourmet coffee beverage and a doggie treat from my friend at Cara Mia -- a bright green mobile espresso cafe.

The off-leash dog park is well maintained by King County and S.O.D.A. volunteers.
S.O.D.A. is a non-profit organization formed to provide on going support and stewardship for the Off-Leash dog exercising areas at Marymoor Park in Redmond, Washington and Grandview Park in SeaTac, Washington.

Marymoor Park is so popular, it has its own website and includes a MSN Wi-Fi service. Last year, I heard an outdoor concert at the amphi-theatre at Marymoor. Los Lonely Boys rocked the park!

Our twin daughters took us to see Cirque du Solei at Marymoor, 2 years ago. In May 2006 our daughter Allison was pregnant, so the event staffers let us park right up close to the entry gate. A week later our first grandson, Conor, was born! I read in the Redmond Reporter that the international sensation returns to Redmond April 24- May 25.

Some eight years ago, we attended WOMAD (World of Music, Arts & Dance sponsored by Peter Gabriel) at Marymoor. We discovered a superstar world-music band called Afro Celt Sound System. We also heard Ravi Shankar and his students, performing traditional Indian Classical music. My wife especially enjoyed the drum grotto, where we found a community of drummers.

In 1990, the Goodwill Games, held a bicycle race at the Velodrome located at Marymoor. This was very exciting to watch, as the international racers pedal really, really fast.

Marymoor Park is the gateway to the regional trail that follows the Sammamish River north to Bothell, where the trail continues around Lake Washington, and ends at Gas Works Park, on the northern shore of Lake Union.

Friends of Marymoor Park
Marymoor Velodrome Association
Washington State Bicycle Association

Richard Morris, co-author

Ed. Hill Neighborhood