Celebration Park, Federal Way

Celebration Park is the largest and most frequented park in Federal Way, Washington.[1]

For Idaho archeological park, see Celebration Park.
Celebration Park
LocationFederal Way, Washington
Area83.5 acres

The park is 83.5 acres and contains a children's play structure, four lighted baseball fields, four lighted soccer fields and trails and pathways connecting to the BPA Trail.[2] It also includes a community center.[3] It is located at 1095 S. 324th Street.

History

The land on which Celebration Park now sits was originally the Evergreen commercial airstrip, with a single northeast/southeast 2200-foot runway.[4][5] Construction began in 1948.[6] The airstrip was owned by 60 members of a flying club in Federal Way made up by Boeing employees which was founded in 1946.[6] The airstrip was described as "pretty rough, adjacent to a junkyard, and the runway was just a slot cut through the tall fir trees with a very rough dirt and glacial rock runway that often dented propellers & tail feathers too."[5]

The airport was used during the Seattle World Fair, by a charter service providing scenic tours of the Pacific Northwest, by law enforcement planes when patrolling the highways around the Federal Way area, and as an emergency landing strip for commercial flights which got into trouble after taking off from Sea-Tac.[4] The airfield was in operation until 1979.[7][5]

The idea for a community park on the area was first proposed in 1988 after proposals were made to build an office park on the land.[4] The area was the only remaining open area in Federal Way.[4] The land was purchased by the City of Federal Way in December 1990.[6]

The name "Celebration Park" was chosen in 1992 following a naming contest with 75 entries by local residents.[4]

In September 2006, was used to host the Senior Softball World Championships.[1]

References
  1. "Celebration Park defies controversy, marks 10-year anniversary in Federal Way | Federal Way Mirror". Federal Way Mirror. 2009-05-11. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
  2. "Community Parks | City of Federal Way". www.cityoffederalway.com. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
  3. Federal Way. Arcadia Publishing. 2008. pp. 122–. ISBN 9780738558981.
  4. "The history of Celebration Park | Maureen Hathaway | Federal Way Mirror". Federal Way Mirror. 2009-06-23. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
  5. "Abandoned & Little Known Airfields of the Tacoma Area".
  6. "Federal Way Historical Society timeline" (PDF). Federal Way Historical Society.
  7. "Unique Historical Places in Federal Way" (PDF). Federal Way Historical Society.

47.307°N 122.320°W / 47.307; -122.320

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