Finn Hill’s History

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1940s to 1960s: Changes on Fill Hill

Aerial photos show that by 1939, many areas that weren’t intensively farmed were reverting to forest, including the areas now included in parks such as Big Finn Hill and Juanita Woodlands. Ground-level photos show that these trees were still young, at most just 40-50 years old, and residents continued to harvest some trees for their own use.

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Shortly after World War II, an anti-aircraft battalion was stationed atop Finn Hill, just south of 117th Street (east of Juanita Drive).  Also just after World War II, some returning veterans established the North Seattle Airpark, with an airstrip running north from 141st Street where QFC stands today (the TLC Preschool on Juanita Drive is in the last remaining building from the airpark).

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But by the mid-1950’s the small farms were beginning to be subdivided, fueling a rapid expansion in housing on and around Finn Hill.  New elementary schools were built (Arrowhead and Moorlands in what is now Kenmore; Sandburg and Thoreau in what is now Kirkland) and were quickly filled. In the summer of 1960 the Inglewood Presbyterian Church moved from meeting at Arrowhead Elementary (in Kenmore’s Inglewood neighborhood) to its new building on 141st Street, and for the first time the Inglewood name sometimes would appear in the top area of Finn Hill. Rapid population growth continued into the 1960’s. The Airpark closed and was replaced by shopping, more farms became subdivisions, and in 1968 Finn Hill Junior High was opened in its current location.

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Still, horses were still a common sight on the roads, and trails through the woods were part of everyday life.  Photos from the 1960’s show the forested areas become steadily more mature, with many faster-growing cottonwood, alder, and maple, but also now including plenty of maturing Douglas fir and some redcedar.

 

1960's to 2010's: Taking Action to Connect Neighbors and Nature

In the midst of this growth, residents deeply valued their access to the woodlands and open spaces. Community advocacy led King County to include $249,000 in the “Forward Thrust” bond initiative to create the 220-acre Big Finn Hill Park; the bond passed in February 1968. About the same time, King County also took over management of OO Denny Park from the City of Seattle.

 

But during a budget crisis in 2001, Denny Park was closed by the County. In response, Finn Hill residents both launched a political campaign and voted to tax themselves to preserve the park. A local vote formed the Finn Hill Park and Recreation District, which managed O.O. Denny for the city of Seattle and preserved the park for all future generations. When Finn Hill was annexed by the City of Kirkland in 2011, Kirkland also took over management of OO Denny Park.

 

Similarly, Finn Hill residents successfully preserved the 40-acre Juanita Woodlands Park from developers, both through organized advocacy and raising more than $500,000 in donations from the local community.

 

Future Generations

We on Finn Hill have been given a magnificent legacy, one we work to continue and strengthen. Named after immigrants, we welcome others to this place. Proud of the natural beauty here, we both enjoy it and invest in it together. Grateful for our strong community, we aim to nurture both nature and neighborhood together.