Juel Park farm house is renovated. Gardening and Yoga offered.

Juel Park, on the SE corner of Avondale and NE 116th Street, is pretty well known to Frisbee golfers, pick nickers, Bear Creek nature lovers and hikers and that's about it.  But, not for long.  Community gardening and Yoga will soon be added to the Juel Park venue.

I took a visit to Juel Park last Friday.  On the left is grassy area marked off for garden plots.  A gravel road has been extended towards the patch and irrigation water is piped in.  On the right is a new pole fence surrounding an historic farm house.  The farm house is undergoing restoration - new paint, new windows, new roof.   A neighbor in the Redmond Historical Society thinks the farm house is about 70 years old.

A year or so ago, a park consultant suggested the farm building house history displays or an environmental center.  The construction workers I met on Friday said old farm house is soon to be a "Yoga House". 

Parks and Rec already offers eight yoga classes - five are held at the Senior Center, one at the Adair House, and two NEW kids yoga programs are held by the Orange Blossom Society - The Studio on 16715 NE 79th Street.

With eight Parks and Rec yoga programs and over nine Redmond business yoga operations one wonders how far this "exercise in harmony" can grow.  My answer was found on page 30-31 of the new Parks and Rec. guide.   The Yoga House aka  "Golden Lotus School" is working with the city to provide three youth-oriented yoga programs.  But, there's more!  Beyond yoga this eclectic school offers:  "jewery making",  "drawing and discovering yourself",  "world story time", "healthy cooking", "print making", "gardening", "mixed media art class", "natural health", and "wildlife awareness".  Take your pick.

For details on Juel Park community gardening and the Golden Lotus School programs contact the Recreation office at 425-556-2300 or recreationoffiice@redmond.gov.  Plots will rent for $40-$50.  May 1-Oct 31.  What more could any Redmonite want?   Will you be in Juel Park this summer?