Powell Barnet Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Powell Barnett Park is a popular park located in the Central District neighborhood of Seattle, Washington.


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Summary

This park boasts a wide variety of activities for visitors of all ages, making it a great destination for families and outdoor enthusiasts.

Some good reasons to visit Powell Barnett Park include its playground, basketball courts, and open green space for picnics and sports. The park is also home to a community center that offers classes, after-school programs, and other activities for residents.

One specific point of interest in the park is the Powell Barnett Pool, which is open during the summer months and offers swim lessons and recreational swimming opportunities. Another notable feature is the park's historic pergola, which was built in 1912 and is now a designated city landmark.

Interesting facts about Powell Barnett Park include its namesake, Powell Barnett, who was a prominent African American businessman and community leader in Seattle during the early 1900s. The park was named in his honor in 1969.

The best time of year to visit Powell Barnett Park is during the summer months, when the weather is warm and the pool is open for swimming. The park can become crowded during peak hours, so visitors may want to plan their visit accordingly. Overall, Powell Barnett Park is a great destination for anyone looking to enjoy a day outdoors in Seattle.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
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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