O.O. Denny Park, the Enchanted Forest

Editor's Note: Members of the Kirkland Park Board have launched an effort to publicize each of the city's parks in an effort to encourage residents to volunteer in their protection and upkeep. The first installment in this series was Barbara Ramey's reflections on Edith Moulton Park. See also earlier Kirkland Patch stories on O.O. Denny Park here and here.

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By TED MARX 

Denny Creek runs down a green ravine from the top of Finn Hill, spilling out between broad lawns and beaches into Lake Washington at O.O. Denny Park. For wildlife enthusiasts, there are eagles, owls, woodpeckers, squirrels, and even coyotes.

Along the trails running along both sides of the creek and up the hillside, you’ll see madrona, maple and towering Douglas firs -- including “Sylvia,” a 600-year-old giant that has a circumference of nearly 27 feet and was once the largest Douglas fir in King County (255 feet tall before its top snapped in 1993. I walk this park regularly with my dog -- it is so serene you can walk for hours and not see it all. 

The park was originally the country estate of , an influential resident of Seattle in the 1800’s and early 1900’s. The Dennys named their estate “Klahanie,” which was a saying from the Chinook jargon meaning “out of doors.”

Volunteers from Finn Hill have worked hard over the years to keep the Klahanie spirit alive in this great enchanted forest. In 1916, Mr. Denny’s widow willed the property to the city of Seattle, to be used as a public park, which was officially opened in 1922. 

In 1968, Seattle turned over the maintenance and operation of the park to King County.

Finn Hill residents formed the Denny Creek Neighborhood Alliance (DCNA) in the mid-90’s to support upkeep of the park as well as to protect and restore other natural resources of the neighborhood, to include Big Finn Hill Park and the Juanita Woodlands, (a 40-acre parcel of forest land close to Denny Park, which is overseen by King County).

The volunteers have maintained the Woodlands, park trails and worked with King County to restore the stream bed of Denny Creek. When King County had to close the park in 2001 due to budget shortfall, neighbors worked to establish the Finn Hill Park and Recreation District, which has assumed the county’s maintenance responsibilities, particularly in the public areas by the beach.

The district is supervised by a five-member elected commission and is funded by a tax levy that was approved by Finn Hill residents. This levy expires in 2014.  

Two major annual events occur in the park near the lake each year. The “DennyFest’ community celebration is scheduled for Sept. 18 this year. Activities include numerous bands, a chili cook-off, pie-baking contest, dog show and games. In December, the Christmas ship parade will stop off Denny Park for caroling to hundreds of visitors who will gather around a huge log bon fire along the shore. 

If you like to work outdoors and value great public parks, you can help preserve this gem. Volunteers are needed to work on trails, maintenance of the creek (it has trout and the water will support salmon) and to prevent erosion.

For information on park events and volunteer opportunities-visit the following web sites:

• www.dennycreek.org
• www.finnhillparks.net 

Directions: From Juanita Beach, drive up the hill on Juanita Drive, taking a left on Holmes Point Drive at either Fire Station 25 or near the Inglewood QFC, and proceed one to two miles to the parking area on the lake.

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Ted Marx is a resident of Finn Hill and a member of the Kirkland Park Board. The views expressed are his alone and do not necessarily represent the views of the board.