Flowing Well Park
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Flowing Well Park is a highly-rated "hidden gem" primarily known for its accessible creek and beach areas that cater wonderfully to young children for immersive water play. It uniquely offers varied creek depths, from very shallow suitable for toddlers to a couple of feet deep for a bit of swimming, alongside easy walking trails and opportunities for nature observation.
Key Highlights
- ✓Creek and beach areas are very clean and well maintained.
- ✓Most of the creek is very shallow, perfect for "little kids" (toddlers/preschoolers) to splash and play.
- ✓Parts of the creek are a couple feet deep, allowing older kids to swim a little.
- ✓Easy access to the creek for all ages.
- ✓Opportunities to find seashells, look at fish, throw rocks, and play with shovels/buckets in the creek.
- ✓Nice, easy, and short walking trails, ideal for enjoyment rather than strenuous hiking.
- ✓Abundant wildlife and fish can be spotted, especially if you venture just beyond the main play areas.
- ✓Clean, large restrooms available.
- ✓Covered picnic shelter with tables and plenty of benches scattered throughout the park.
- ✓Filtered water refill fountain is available.
- ✓Some front paths are paved and easily maneuvered, suitable for people with mobility issues.
Standout Features
- ⭐Very clean and well-maintained creek/beach for water play.
- ⭐Varied creek depths accommodate different age groups for water activities.
- ⭐Accessible filtered water refill fountain.
- ⭐Large, clean restrooms.
- ⭐Covered picnic shelter and numerous benches for relaxation and meals.
- ⭐Paved path upfront for mobility-impaired visitors.
- ⭐Opportunities for nature exploration: finding shells, observing fish and wildlife.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →If planning to use the trails with infants or toddlers, bring a carrier or wear them as trails are not stroller friendly.
- →Bring bug spray for walking the paths, especially during warmer months.
- →Consider water shoes or appropriate footwear for young children due to the rocky "beach" area and creek bed.
- →If you want to spot fish, venture just beyond where most people are playing in the creek.
- →Utilize the filtered water refill fountain for drinking water and avoid the well water due to sanitation warnings.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Trails are not stroller friendly, requiring parents to carry or wear tiny ones if using the trails.
- ⚠The "beach" area is entirely rock, which may be challenging for young kids not great with walking/balance or those with sensitive feet.
- ⚠Aside from the paved front section, the walking paths are not handicapped friendly.
- ⚠The park can be a bit noisy due to traffic from 116th Street.
- ⚠The park's well water has posted sanitation warnings and a distinct smell; reviewers advise against drinking it directly (use the filtered refill fountain instead).
Price & Value
No pricing mentioned, implying free entry. The numerous amenities like clean restrooms, picnic areas, and filtered water fountain offer excellent value for a free park experience.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Trails are not stroller friendly.
- •Some front paths are paved and easily maneuvered for people with mobility issues.
- •The majority of walking paths are not handicapped friendly (unpaved).
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Outside food is encouraged, with a covered picnic shelter and scattered benches available.
- •Filtered water refill fountain available; well water should be avoided for drinking.
🚗Parking Info
- •No specific parking details mentioned in reviews, but implies general park parking is available.
👥Crowd Levels
- •No specific crowd level information mentioned, but implied to be a popular "hidden gem" during nice weather.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Creek and beach areas are very clean and well maintained.
- •Large, clean restrooms provided.
- •Most of the creek is very shallow, enhancing safety for young children during water play.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Bringing strollers if you intend to explore the unpaved walking trails.
- • If seeking absolute quiet, as there is some noise from 116th Street traffic.
- • Relying on the well water for drinking due to posted sanitation warnings.
- • If you or your children have highly sensitive feet and prefer soft sandy beaches, as this park's "beach" is rocky.
Pricing/Package/Events
What People Say
What's Great
- Clean and well-maintained facilities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 6 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Christina Christy
11 months agoOur new favorite place! The creek and beach areas are very clean and well maintained. Most of the creek is very shallow and makes for great fun for the little kids. The trails are nice but not stroller friendly, so carry or wear your tiny ones. No hard trails and not very long so it’s really just for enjoyment.
Meda Wara
9 months agoLovely park. Nice walking paths. Easy access to the creek. Parts of the creek are a couple feet deep so kids can swim a little. The flowing well part I've been going to for 50 years. If you look around, you can find a lot of wildlife and fish. For fish, go just beyond where everyone is playing in the creek and you'll see them. There is a little picnic shelter with a couple of tables and plenty of benches scattered around the walking path and flowing well area. Some of the path up front is paved and easily manuavered for people with mobility issues. The rest of the walking paths are not handicapped friendly. I recommend grabbing some bug spray :) before walking the paths. It is a bit noisy from 116th Street traffic. Nice restrooms and plenty of garbage cans.
kelsi wagner
7 months agoI used to come here to fill water with my grandfather. The park has grown quite a bit! There are nice easy walking trails. A stream for dogs or children to play in. There are large clean restrooms and a filtered water refill fountain. There is a covered picnic area. I personally would not drink the well water because of the posted sanitation warnings. There was also a very distinct smell of well water. Overall the park I very pleasant.
Lauren Mart
2 months agoI love taking my toddler here to walk a bit in nature just to get to the creek. In nice weather it's so fun to walk in it and find sea shells, look at fish, throw rocks, play with a shovel and bucket, watch toys float down stream... it's definitely a hidden gem for young kids. But the "beach" is all rock so keep that in mind for young kids not great with walking or balance, or those with sensitive feet.
Samantha Oaks
6 months agoA cute park with a short walking path, ground water aquifer you can drink from, and places to play in the river.