Magnolia Park, Seattle: A Misnamed Park on Magnolia Blvd

Frequently asked questions

Magnolia Park is at 1461 Magnolia Blvd W, Seattle, WA 98199, in the Briarcliff area of the Magnolia district.

Magnolia Park covers 12.1 acres.

According to Seattle Parks and Recreation, a Navy geographer mistook the area's madrona trees for magnolias, and the neighborhood and park were named after that error.

The 32nd Ave W Boat Launch is less than 0.1 mile away. Magnolia Tidelands Park and Ursula Judkins Viewpoint are about 0.4 mile away, while the Admiral's House and Magnolia Farmers Market are about 0.5 mile away.

Madrona trees grow throughout this part of Seattle, and they explain why an entire district carries a name that never quite fit. Magnolia Park in Seattle is a 12.1-acre city park at 1461 Magnolia Blvd W, in the Briarcliff area of the Magnolia district, managed by Seattle Parks and Recreation. It shares its name with the surrounding neighborhood, and several more parks, a landmark and a farmers market all sit within half a mile.

The Story Behind a Name With No Magnolias

According to Seattle Parks and Recreation, both the neighborhood and Magnolia Park were misnamed. A Navy geographer spotted the madrona trees growing in the area and mistook them for magnolias, and the label simply stuck.

Today the district, the boulevard and this park all carry a name that never matched the local trees. Keep the tale in your back pocket as you walk through the area, because it makes a fun story to share along the way.

Read the full guide

Finding Your Way on Magnolia Boulevard

Head to 1461 Magnolia Blvd W, Seattle, WA 98199 to reach the park. Its 12.1 acres give Briarcliff a generous stretch of public green space to enjoy. To get to know the surrounding streets before or after your visit, browse our guide to the Briarcliff neighborhood.

Nearby Parks and Stops Within Half a Mile

Start at Magnolia Park and keep exploring, since all of these places sit close by, measured in a straight line:

32nd Ave W Boat Launch (park), under 0.1 mi
Magnolia Tidelands Park (park), 0.4 mi
Ursula Judkins Viewpoint (park), 0.4 mi
Thorndyke Park (park), 0.5 mi
Eastmont Place (park), 0.5 mi
Magnolia Greenbelt (park), 0.5 mi
Admiral's House (landmark), 0.5 mi
Magnolia Farmers Market (farmers market), 0.5 mi

With so many small parks clustered together, you can easily link two or three of them in a single outing. Explore all parks in Seattle to map out a longer route.