THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Mercer Island has
475 acres of parks
and open spaces
featuring well
manicured lawns
with water views but
also undeveloped
areas which to foster
a variety of wildlife,
including 135 species
of birds, 50 species of
waterfowl, raccoons,
beaver, muskrats, tree
frogs and rabbits.
Whatever your fancy you
are sure to feed your
outdoor yearning at one
of the many amazing
Mercer Island parks.
Luther Burbank Park
Luther Burbank Park was originally the homestead of
Charles C. Calkins, before becoming a school and then
finally a park in 1931. It's named after the botanist and
horticulturist born in 1849 who developed more than 800
varieties of plants. Several old buildings still make up the
park's landscape. Located on the 77-acres in the northeast
end of Mercer Island, Luther Burbank Park features
spectacular views of Lake Washington, and has facilities for
several water-based activities, including swimming,
boating and fishing. A children's playground, dog
run and wetlands are also attractions at what
was once a hallmark open space 130 years ago.
The heart of the park is made up of a meadow,
tennis courts and an outdoor amphitheater where
folks can enjoy Shakespeare in the Park during
the summer months. Because the park is large
and spread out vertically (with 3/4 of a mile of
waterfront), it's worth checking out the park's
online map in advance to plan where you want to
park according to what your interests are. A sandy
swimming area with a sloping lawn is the draw
at the southern edge of the park. It's guarded in
the summer and is popular with families and day
camp groups.
