City of Lake Forest Park
17425 Ballinger Way NE
Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
www.cityoflfp.gov
206-368-5440

February 2026

EVENTS

Third Place Commons Annual Commons Community Fundraising Breakfast
Memoir Writing Group
Upcoming Work Parties

Third Place Commons Annual Commons Community Fundraising Breakfast

March 4, 2026 (7:00 AM-8:45 AM)

Join friends, neighbors, and local civic and business leaders at our annual Community Breakfast, a joyful gathering celebrating our Commons Community! Enjoy live music, a spirited auction, a buy-it-now table, and a delicious breakfast courtesy of our friends at Honey Bear Bakery.

Building on the momentum of our 25th anniversary year, we’re honoring the strong roots of Third Place Commons while looking ahead to new ways of connecting through music, dance, creativity and welcoming spaces for all.

Funds raised at the breakfast provide vital support for Third Place Commons and the Lake Forest Park Farmers Market. As our largest fundraiser of the year, the Breakfast is a meaningful way to support the hundreds of free performances, events, and activities that serve the community year-round.

It’s a fun and uplifting morning – we look forward to seeing you!

Buy your tickets here!

Tickets:

$50 each

$375 for a table of 8

Can’t come but still want to support Third Place Commons? Donate here!

Interested in sponsoring, donating, or volunteering? Email director@thirdplacecommons.org to get involved.

Stay in the loop with everything happening at The Commons by subscribing to our newsletter HERE. See you at the breakfast - don’t miss it!

Memoir Writing Group

February 5 & 19, 2026

(10:00 AM-11:30 AM)

Join Arlene on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month to work on and share your short life stories. This supportive group helps you preserve your memories in writing; participants are encouraged to bring any short pieces they have already written to share.

COST: Members: $4 / Nonmembers: $8 (Per class)

LOCATION: Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Activity Center 18560 1st Ave NE Shoreline, WA 98155

REGISTRATION: Call or visit the senior center to register (206) 365 1536

Upcoming Work Parties

Work parties are a great way to get outside, get some exercise, help maintain parks and open space for everyone to enjoy, and get to know your community. Be sure to dress appropriately for the winter months. Volunteers will assist with debris and invasive plant removal, sometimes planting trees and native species.

Five-Acre Woods - First Saturday of the month - February 7, 2026, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Located at: 18678-18998 40th Pl NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155

Blue Heron Park - Second Saturday of the Month - February 14, 2026, 9:00 AM to 12:00PM - Located at: 17035 Brookside Blvd NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155

Grace Cole Nature Park - Third Saturday of the Month - February 21, 2026, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Location: 16735 30th Ave NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Sustainability Tips
Get To Know Our Parks
Install A Rain Garden

Sustainability Tips

As the new year begins, it’s a great time to commit to some new resolutions. Republic Services shares ways to make your New Year's Resolutions more sustainable with these simple tips!

Drink more water. Around 1.3 million plastic water bottles are used every day. You can help lower those numbers by purchasing a reuseable water bottle or drinking from a glass at home.

Save Money. Trying to redecorate your house? Try finding ways to reuse old items around your home instead. Repurposing household items is a great way to reduce costs and increase sustainability. Looking into buying a car? Consider carpooling or sharing a household car as an alternative.

Be Intentional. When shopping online or receiving packages in the mail, be sure to recycle cardboard boxes and shipping supplies. Try and reduce the amount of impulse shopping to reduce the toll shipping takes on the planet.

Eat Healthy. Switching one or two meals a week into a plant-based diet can help decrease greenhouse gas emissions. You can also start a backyard garden full of herbs and vegetables and composting are other great ways to be more sustainable while also decreasing grocery store costs!

Exercise. Wanting to get healthier this year with exercise? Try going on more walks, running and bike rides outside. This can decrease the commute spent going to the gym and save energy on equipment that needs to be plugged in. Get to know the nature around you!

Get organized. Wanting to offload some of the items around your house? Looking to ditch some of your lesser worn clothing? Consider donating to a consignment shop or charity organization in your area. Commonly accepted items include furniture, toys, clothing, and other household goods. You can also use cardboard boxes as closet or garage organization tools!

Get To Know Our Parks!

Lake Forest Park has 8 wonderful parks that allow you to become closer to nature. Each City Park has its own unique qualities whether you want to take a short walk, throw a frisbee, or enjoy the sounds of a creek or views of the Lake, there is a park for you. The Public Works Department is responsible for landscape maintenance services to preserve and improve the quality of each City outdoor facility. A broad range of equipment and skilled workers maintain and improve the great variety of trees, shrubs, annuals, grass areas, irrigation systems, pathways, park structures (drinking fountains, tennis courts, etc.), and outdoor play equipment.

Lake Forest Park also has a great volunteer support system to help maintain and clean up the parks, look out for work party announcements led by groups like the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation, King County Master Gardener Program, Lake Forest Park Rotary, City Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Tree Board and more! These groups are great contributors volunteering in City Parks.

Reminder, dogs must remain on leash at all parks.

Looking to take a short nature hike? Explore at Grace Cole Nature Park or McKinnon Creek Trail. Grace Cole Nature Park is a delightful 15.2-acre wetland preserved for various native plants, birds and amphibians. Take a stroll on the boardwalk and peer into the headwaters of Brookside Creek. McKinnon Creek Trail is the City’s right-of-way used as a .5-mile pedestrian trail located in a forested area about half a mile northwest of City Hall.

Want to take the kids out to enjoy the great outdoors? Horizon View Park features a playground, new natures repose art installation, swing set, basketball hoop, tennis/pickleball courts, and play fields, while also having access to meadows and remote areas for quiet contemplation. Eagle Scout Park includes a tot-sized playground, fully fenced with 2 pedestrian gates, a bike rack, drinking fountain, and spiral concrete bench.

Lake Forest Park offers many parks that are accessible for dog walking! Pfingst Animal Acres Park is four acres of maintained meadow and tall, arching shade trees to provide a lovely area for picnics or a nature walk, featuring a special drinking spout for dogs. Horizon View Park, McKinnon Creek Trail and Grace Cole Nature Park are all great options for dog walking as well.

Enjoy a picnic at one of our parks! Lyon Creek Waterfront Preserve offers a beautiful dock down by Lake Washington with several viewing points to watch the salmon swimming in Lyon Creek. Whispering Willow Park features a natural kids play area, nature viewing and seating of the park and Lyon Creek.

Learn more about Lake Forest Park’s Parks here!

Install a Rain Garden

Filter stormwater and prevent flooding naturally. In an urban environment like Seattle, every storm washes pollution from rooftops, roads, and other hard surfaces into local waterways.

What can you do? Mimic nature! Install a rain garden or other Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) to capture, slow down, and clean runoff from storms. A rain garden uses plants, trees, soil, and engineering to reduce rainwater pollution and overflows in our drainage and sewer systems. Plus, it adds beauty, native habitat, and pollinators to your yard while solving flooding and drainage issues. Even better, there are many rebate programs and resources available to homeowners.

Learn more about rain gardens and other GSI solutions:

https://700milliongallons.org/

https://www.12000raingardens.org/

WATCH: Building a rain garden in the Pacific Northwest

Learn more with King County here!

Stay Current on City News

Want to keep up with what’s going on at the City? There are several ways to stay informed. Subscription options include notices of city meetings and events, planning announcements, emergency alerts, city newsflashes, and more! Click here for the full list of available subscriptions.