Tukwila Pond Park trail

Location: Tukwila

Length: More than one-quarter mile (to be extended on the pond's south side).

Level of difficulty: Level gravel trails and wooden viewing platforms.

Setting: Tucked in the midst of Southcenter lies a 24-acre natural oasis for wildlife and humans amidst megastores and parking lots. Most of the site is occupied by a 19-acre pond, which formed in this low-lying area after development began to dominate this formerly agricultural river valley after the 1950s.

Madronas, cottonwoods and willows fringe the tranquil pond, and native plantings are continually being added to the 3-acre public viewing area on the west side of the lake. The area provides welcome habitat for small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Ducks abound, swallows loop above the water's surface, and a multitude of red-winged blackbirds defend their territories above the swoosh of nearby Interstate 5 traffic. Noted as a bird observation site by the Audubon Society, this area is host to an impressive variety of species per acre. Mount Rainier rises to the south, while the Issaquah Alps can be seen to the east.

Highlights: A kiosk behind the restrooms offers historical information about the valley, and fascinating historical and aerial photos document the region's development since pioneers settled here in the 1850s. Interpretive signs on the viewing walkways describe the value of wetlands for flood control and water purification. For more information, call 206-768-2822.

Facilities: Restrooms and picnic tables.

Restrictions: Leash and scoop laws in effect for pets.

Directions: From Interstate 5 southbound from Seattle, take the exit for Southcenter Mall (Southcenter Boulevard). Turn left at the bottom of the exit ramp onto Southcenter Boulevard, then turn right on Southcenter Parkway.

From Interstate 5 heading north, take the exit for Southcenter Parkway, and turn right off the exit ramp. The park is bounded on the west by Southcenter Parkway and on the north by Strander Boulevard. Currently, informal parking is in retail parking lots (for example, behind Parkway Square and the Bon Marche Home Store on Southcenter Parkway, or Target on Strander Boulevard). The park's address is 299 Strander Blvd..

Cathy McDonald is coauthor with Stephen Whitney of "Nature Walks In and Around Seattle," with photographs by James Hendrickson (The Mountaineers, second edition, 1997).