As in many parts of Washington, the story of Lake Forest Park begins with Native Americans: the Snohomish tribe remained in the area as late as 1903. But they already knew something was up throughout the late 1800s when East Coast settlers started buying land to either sell to lumber companies or fell trees themselves. In 1909, the city was eventually founded, sans Indians, as one of the area's first planned communities. It did not receive formal incorporation until 1961.
Lake Forest Park is one of the few places where the name tells it like it really is. The "Lake" comes from being on the shores of Lake Washington, which you could theoretically see from the higher residential elevations. But your view is usually blocked by the tall and thick groves of trees sprouting from every backyard and empty space: hence the "Forest" part. The main drag, Bothell Way NE, contains most of the retail businesses. But its heavy traffic can make commuting by car to Seattle a pain. As an eco-friendly alternative, the express bus reduces the trip to only 40 minutes.
This bedroom community lies inside King County, just north of Seattle. Less than four percent of the area is devoted to commerce with most residences consisting of single-family homes. Very few apartments exist although you will find rental housing in Lake Forest Park.
Neighborhoods
For best results, use a real estate agent as your apartment locator. The city has the following neighborhoods.
Turtle Rock: Just as in much of Lake Forest Park, this neighborhood's winding roads, lack of sidewalks and thick groves of trees make it feel more rural than suburban. The only turtles crawling around are garden effects. Lyon Creek snakes through several backyards but remains hidden from public streets because of the heavy foliage. One apartment complex, Canterbury Court Apartments, just misses being part of this neighborhood because it's across the street from the northwest border.
Brookside: The brook in question is McAleer Creek, which is mostly buried behind residential backyards. It is visible from Pfingst Animal Acres Park, where a salmon viewing platform affords views of the annual salmon releases. The southeast corner of this neighborhood contains Lake Forest Towne Center, which acts as the central square. It's mostly a shopping area but does contain City Hall, the public library, and the police station.
Sheridan Beach: This area contains the only complexes in the city, including Watercrest Apartments, which has 1-3 bedroom floor plans, covered parking, fitness center, and sauna. If you want studio apartments for rent, try Woodland North. Renting an apartment or house in Sheridan Beach automatically gives you membership to the Sheridan Beach Club, which boasts private beach on Lake Washington and a pool that's known for its swim team. The Burke-Gilman Trail, a popular walking and biking trail, enters here from Seattle. The city's restaurants, stores, and other commercial spaces line Bothell Way NE, which also supports most of the bus routes.
Horizon View: On the shoreline, Lyon Creek Waterfront Park affords the only public access to Lake Washington. Move further inland and you go up until you reach Horizon View Park. At about 500 feet or so, it's the highest point in Lake Forest Park. Rec facilities here include a play field, basketball half-court, tennis court, and a pretend red train. The greens are open to dogs as long as they remain on a leash.
Life Along the Lake
If the proliferation of plants doesn't convince you of the local commitment to the environment, the Green Fair, held in March, should. Learn about substituting household chemical products with green alternatives. Running from Mother's Day to the second week in October, the Farmers Market rewards health-conscious consumers with fresh produce every Sunday. In July, you can admire juried work during Craft Day. Come October, the Lake Forest Park Civic Club invites you to the Annual Pumpkin Carving Event mid-month and then to Costume Party with a live band nearer to Halloween.
