Exploring Highland Park: A West Seattle Neighborhood Guide

Tucked into the southeast side of West Seattle, Highland Park is a neighborhood that can sometimes fly under the radar. But spend a little time here and you’ll find plenty to appreciate: expansive parks, wooded trails, community gathering places, and easy access to the rest of West Seattle.

For people who value green space and a neighborhood with its own distinct identity, Highland Park is well worth exploring.

Start with Westcrest Park

One of Highland Park’s standout features is Westcrest Park, a large green space with a little something for just about everyone.

Walking trails wind through wooded areas and open meadows, while viewpoints offer glimpses toward downtown Seattle and the surrounding landscape. There are picnic areas, plenty of room to wander, and one of West Seattle’s popular off-leash dog areas.

The park also connects to the West Duwamish Greenbelt, making this part of the neighborhood feel surprisingly immersed in nature for being within the city.

For Highland Park residents, Westcrest is the kind of place that can easily become part of the weekly routine, whether that means a morning dog walk, an afternoon on the trails, or simply getting outside for a little fresh air.

Highland Park Playground

Highland Park Playground is another neighborhood gathering place, with play areas, fields, tennis courts and space for casual recreation.

During warmer weather, the park’s spray feature adds another reason for neighborhood families to stop by.

It’s less about being a Seattle destination and more about something that matters when you live nearby: having an easy, everyday place to get outside, meet up with neighbors or let kids burn off some energy.

One of the things that makes this corner of West Seattle particularly interesting is the amount of natural space woven into the surrounding neighborhoods.

The West Duwamish Greenbelt stretches along the eastern side of West Seattle and includes forested habitat and trails that offer a very different experience from the city streets just beyond it.

Combined with Westcrest Park, it gives Highland Park a greener, more wooded character than people unfamiliar with the neighborhood might expect.

A Neighborhood with Community Roots

Highland Park also has a long history of neighbors creating community together.

The Highland Park Improvement Club has been part of the neighborhood since 1919. Over the years, it has served as a gathering place and community organization, hosting events and providing a space for neighbors to connect.

After a fire destroyed its historic building in 2021, the organization began working toward rebuilding the community space while continuing to hold events and programming.

That history says something important about Highland Park. There is a strong sense of neighborhood identity here, along with residents who are invested in the place they call home.

Everyday Life in Highland Park

Highland Park isn’t one of West Seattle’s more commercial neighborhood centers, and that is part of its character.

Life here feels more residential, with parks, green space and neighborhood streets playing a larger role in the day-to-day experience. At the same time, living in Highland Park puts you within easy reach of the restaurants, shops, beaches and gathering places found throughout West Seattle.

It’s a combination that can be appealing if you like having a quieter home base without feeling disconnected from the rest of the peninsula.

Discover More of Highland Park

Highland Park may not always get the same attention as some of its West Seattle neighbors, but that is exactly why it is worth getting to know.

Between Westcrest Park, the West Duwamish Greenbelt, neighborhood recreation and a longstanding sense of community, there’s more here than you might notice on a quick drive through.

And like so many West Seattle neighborhoods, the best way to understand Highland Park is simply to spend some time exploring it.

Sarah Georger-Clark