When children enter the outdoor laboratory of child-sized Baker Park, located adjacent to Cinquegranelli Montessori School, they begin to ponder their connection to the earth. They begin their walk on a path that winds around a meadow, they can skip around a rocky pond, weave through a butterfly garden and run down a slight slope into a shady grove of evergreens.
Click to read about Baker Park's beginnings.
Baker
Park's construction began in 1993. An article in a local newspaper
covered the big event.
The Meadow: The west lawn is large (30x80) and level enough (1-4% grades) for unstructured play (running, frisbee, volleyball). Surrounding the lawn area on the north and east are 16-24" raised planting beds with stacked seat wall-height broken concrete walls. The planters contain trees, shrubs, perennials, groundcovers and seasonal flowers.
The Natural Area: The south edge of the park is a natural area. Nurse logs, wet area plants, shade tolerant plants, butterfly attracting plants are planted with an aim to maintain visibility into the park to prevent hiding areas. A low area water-collecting feature is included in the wild area. Small deciduous native trees attract wildlife and provide screening along the south park edge.
The Forest: All the trees existing before the part are left intact and preserve the character of the old nursery, and additional planting has enhanced the forest.
Standing tall in the west end of the park is the Raven Bear Frog Totem Pole, carved by Haida Tribe Frog Clan member Fred Lauth in the summer of 1999.
Tree frogs once lived on Crown Hill; children wonder why they are missing now. One question we ask them is: What are the conditions needed to restore their habitat?
Besides science, the totem has also offered a chance to learn about art. The children's art of the totem teaches creativity, inspiration and a chance to see through their eyes.
Earth Hero Award 2002: Honors the children's environmental stewardship at Baker Park on Crown Hill. Signed by Ron Simms, King County Executive, May 2002. For more information regarding this program, visit the King County's Earth Legacy Initiative.
Certificate of Appreciation: Awarded by the Parks & Recreation Department for participating in Seattle's Millennium Project, Seattle Service AmeriCorp 2000 & Woods Legacy Project. Given May 28, 1999 by Paul Schell, Seattle City Mayor; Sue Donaldson, City Council President, Seattle Service AmeriCorp Co-chair 2000; and Ken Bounds, Parks and Recreation Superintendent.