Raving Ravenna

One of my favorite things about living in Northeast Seattle is the countless parks that are either a walk, bike ride, or short drive away. My favorite of these is a quiet little community center just north of NE 65th and East of Green Lake. It’s a bit hidden in a “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” kind of way. 

The Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center has it all. It’s a day center for kids of all ages with programs ranging from karate to orchestra. As I don’t have kids of my own, I haven’t explored the indoor amenities and can’t give any insight on those, though they seem promising and all-encompassing. However, I am very familiar with the outdoor area which includes multiple jungle gyms, a basketball court, a tennis court, walking path, playfield and last, but certainly not least, a community garden. 

It's no surprise that this girl’s favorite amenity is the open playfield. She would be here all day if she could and I don’t blame her. On drier days, I’ll often enjoy a book while she peruses the field, begs anyone to throw the ball for her and says hello to friends. Many residents of the neighborhood rendezvous here with both their two-legged and four-legged children, alike. It’s rarely empty and if you’ve been here, you can understand why. The location gives a cozy little “secret-garden-feel”, assuring parents of the safety of their children, with an open layout away from busy streets. 

The charming community garden is not to be missed. In the Summer it’s full of all varieties of fruits and vegetables and it wouldn’t be uncommon to see people working in the garden. You’ll note they do their own fertilization, so please pick up after your pets ;). There’s a large bulletin board with dates and times posted for work parties, where community members come together to work in the garden. It’s a great way to meet neighbors and test your green thumb, especially if you don’t have space for a garden of your own!

I feel so lucky and grateful to call this neighborhood home. It’s a great place for families and this is one of the many reasons why you should live here too.