Lake Burien School Park
Rate this placeNearby: Ed Munro Seahurst Park Burien Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Lake Burien School Park is a 4.5-acre park located in the city of Burien, Washington.
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Summary
It was formerly the site of Lake Burien Elementary School, which closed in 1989. The park is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike, offering a range of activities and amenities.
One of the main reasons to visit Lake Burien School Park is its beautiful natural setting. The park is surrounded by trees and is home to a small lake, which is stocked with fish for catch-and-release fishing. Visitors can also enjoy walking trails, picnic areas, and a playground.
One of the highlights of the park is the Community Garden, which is managed by the Burien P-Patch Program. The garden includes individual plots for community members to grow their own vegetables and flowers, as well as a communal garden area that is used to grow produce for local food banks.
Another point of interest at Lake Burien School Park is the Historic Schoolhouse, which was built in 1915 and served as the original Lake Burien Elementary School. The building has been restored and is now used for community events and meetings.
Interesting facts about the park include its use as a movie location for the 1984 film "Harry and the Hendersons," and its designation as a wildlife sanctuary by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The best time of year to visit Lake Burien School Park is in the summer months, when the weather is mild and the park is in full bloom. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities for visitors in all seasons.
Overall, Lake Burien School Park is a wonderful destination for anyone looking to enjoy nature, learn about local history, or participate in community gardening.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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