Lake People (Xacua'bs) Park

Location: 3070 S. Bradford Street

This one-third acre park in North Rainier Valley is a striking natural area and scenic green connection between Rainier Ave and MLK Way, but it hasn’t always been. Lake People (Xacua’bs) Park was made possible through the generous donation of property to Seattle Parks Foundation by developers Diane and Monte Powell and the hard work of a committed group of neighbors who formed Friends of Goat Hill. The park was named for the Xacua’bs (Lake People), ancestors of the Duwamish, the first people to live in the area.

Friends of Goat Hill worked with the Parks Foundation to raise funds and community support for the development of the park. Hundreds of hours were devoted to clearing and restoring the area into the park it is today. The upper portion of the park provides a serene setting with sweeping views of the Cascades, while the stairs and pathways on the hillside and natural area are a green connection to the neighborhoods and commercial districts below.

Community support for the park is strong, with monthly work parties to plant new native plants and control the spread of invasive vegetation in the park. Lake People (Xacua’bs) Park is a reminder of what can be done when citizens band together to improve their neighborhood.