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As a park, I give it a 2 at best. When I was there, there were some gentlemen who camp nearby cooking dinner in the community grills and using 2x4s for the fire (hopefully it wasn't treated lumber); people just sitting in their car staring at me, litter everywhere, and it was downright scary after dark. As a not so great kept secret photography spot of the Seattle Skyline however, it's even better than Kerry Park. I'm not giving away any major secret here because if you follow many Seattle photographers, this "secret" hole in the fence spot has been featured time and time again at sunrise, sunset, blue hour, and even with Christmas Lights around. It's all been done but if you're reading this far, chances are, you're looking for that spot too so I'll save you the trouble! Basically, you have 3 good spots in this area. The Crème De La Crème is the spot through the fence (look at my photo...LOOK AT IT!!). It's in the fenced in dog park area. When I was there, I saw 3 other photographers taking some photos and when I joked that "I see the hole is spoken for", they gave me a dirty look and told me they were doing a time-lapse and that "there is another spot down there"...essentially telling me to take a hike. Fortunately, they were afraid of the park in the dark and left right at the best light so I took over and got my photo. If you happen to be there and the "hole is spoken for" (I don't care what those kids thought, I still think it's funny), there is still a nice alternative spot a little lower outside of the fence overlooking the bike trail (look at my 2nd picture). The only problem is that if you're doing a night shot, once the trial lights come on, it overpowers your long exposure. If all else fails, just go up to the bridge and take a wonderful photo there. If you can't take a decent photo in either of these 3 spots then go to a local school and donate your camera gear because it's impossible to take a bad photo here. A word of caution about personal safety, as mentioned, there are a lot of camps down the hill and around so it's best to not go alone after dark. Also, remember that the dog park area is an actual dog park so watch out for any dogs who may not be too happy with you being there.
Very nice park to check out Seattle's whole view! It was breathtaking. It was a bit cold of course it's Seattle and higher up in elevation! Bundle up and come take a glance. No worries when your up here!
As a Filipino, I wanted to visit the park since it was named after a Philippine hero. There is a bust of the hero with a placard for he dedication of the park. The top of the park has spectacular views of downtown Seattle. There is a small playground at the top and a stone pathway that lead down to the amphitheater area. Unfortunately due to the heavy brush and shrubbery leading down to it, I didn't check it out. Unfortunately, the park is located in a sketchy area. We visited the park in the early afternoon and there was a family living in their car parked in the parking lot.
Come here for the beautiful views of he Seattle skyline and Puget Sound; also to pay some respect to Dr. Jose Rizal - national hero of the Philippines. Good for scenery and quiet for the most part but pretty ghetto. The playground area is small, the park is dirty and there were a lot of homeless people just hanging around giving looks that would make anyone feel unsafe. Definitely don't come here alone, unless you a G because it's sketchy. You're better off going to Kerry Park for some dope city views or better yet just go full-on tourist and go up the Space Needle, at least there you'll only willingly get robbed ($30 plus extra shit like parking and snacks). This is only Yelp advice tho, go live your life the way you want to!
Great view of the city. Windy but priceless. FYI- homeless people hangout here in case you're bringing kiddos
Like everyone says about this park - you come for the wonderful view and that's pretty much it. Get your obligatory photo and leave. Unfortunately, the multiple times I've been here, the park has always been so dirty, with litter everywhere and people smoking weed in the covered picnic area. The last time I was here there were a group of stoners who brought their boombox (seriously), playing really loud music in the middle of the day in the covered picnic area. There are a few other picnic tables on the other side, which is where we ended up eating our takeout, but again, there was litter everywhere. As for the dog park - it's not the best. There is a trail that does downward to an off-leash area. Though I appreciate that there is an off-leash area, the trail and area is usually pretty muddy. Also, along the trail, there were clothes in random spots, as if more and more people kept forgetting a jacket, a sweater, a hat, etc... The park in general seems very unkempt. There is a private parking lot for the park, and every time I have been here there are people parked in the parking lot, smoking weed in their car. If you don't want to be around the smell, then avoid this place. EVERY time I have visited there are groups of people smoking weed here. Bleh. It is walking distance to the International District where you cross the nearby bridge and can take more landscape photos of Seattle. But other than that - I can't say this is by any means a great park to visit.
Located a few blocks up the hill from Little Saigon and the International District is Jose Rizal Park. It is located across the street from the Pacific Medical Center building if you are trying to locate it. Make a turn to your right when you see the PacMed building if you are driving south on 12th Ave. Otherwise, you will encounter Daejeon Park instead. This is not really your conventional type of park. Sure, there is an off leash dog park area but this is really more of a viewpoint type of spot. There is a picnic table area here making it good for an outdoor meal with a view. But really it is the views of the downtown Seattle skyline and the two sports stadiums (CenturyLink Field and Safeco Field) that I come here for. The view is slightly obstructed as there is some brush below towards the north. While most folks go to Kerry Park for their picture taking of the Seattle skyline, if you are looking for a southside viewpoint to shoot from, try Jose Rizal Park as an alternative.
I mean, just look at this view! Mostly it's just great to come here to watch the sunset! This park is tucked away and feels very quaint compared to the rest of the city. It's small, but perfect for a short stop through.
No no noooo...no view is nice enough to have to endure an environment like this. The park was extremely gross, there was trash scattered everywhere, and I saw at least 3 or 4 rats run past me. I love Seattle and this is my 3rd time here but this park definitely revealed the darker side of the city. I didn't even feel comfortable enough to sit on the benches because who knows what's happened on those benches. Everyone who comes here is definitely on something, I'm not sure what but they're all in their own worlds. If you want nice photos and not have to go through the park, I would suggest just walking on the Jose Rizal Bridge that's off to the side and you get a really cool photo of the skyline and stadium along with the highway.
If you plan to come visit at night please be careful do not come alone!! Me and my bf came at night about 7pm and it just felt sketchy. There was tons of homeless in the gazebo and you can just feel the tension even though we were far away. Honestly the views were nice but not enough to actually enjoy for a while due to the environment. I was pitch black except for the street light and the gazebo. I would say find a different place before coming here.
We came here on a Sunday afternoon and practically had the park to ourselves. There was one dog leaving right after we entered, and another entered just as we were packing up to leave. The park is very large and has really nice views of the stadium areas downtown. My dog liked running up and down the hills but, as it is on a hill, keep in mind that you'll have to go down quite a few stairs entering the park and back up as you exit - not handicap accessible. This is a great off-leash park, so bring your pup and check it out!
Every photographer's dream shot is located here! It's an easy drive to get here to see the iconic view of downtown Seattle. It's the perfect area to bring your tripod and set up your camera for that amazing shot. You'll see a bunch of photographers lined up here waiting to capture that gorgeous scenery, most likely before sunset. You can check out this viewpoint on a bridge with I-90 below you or you can walk down into the park and dog park area. There's free street parking and also a small parking lot. If you decide to walk down into the park area, please be careful because I've heard there are some homeless people living below. I'm happy to see a location available for people to stop by and take in this beautiful view of Seattle.
This park uses the namesake of a Philippine national hero. It's not Alki level busy but it's a location where a lot of photographers set up their cameras for the worldly recognized Seattle skyline view. This space is a connection to culture and heritage. If someone from the Philippines is feeling homesick, they should be able to come to this space as a place of comfort. Unfortunately, it's a park that has been left unchecked for the past 10 years. The time capsule and metal plaques were stolen. I know the elders and descendants are frustrated with these disgraceful and disrespectful acts. I hope this park will be restored to a welcoming, clean, and safe environment again. I know the Filipino and Beacon Hill communities would want this. I know visitors from out of town would want this too. I took a direct flight from Sea-Tac Airport to Ninoy Aquino International Airport recently. Visiting Rizal Park in Manila was on my itinerary. Thousands of people were at the park. I had never experienced anything like it. The monument was guarded and barricaded. The open space was beautifully landscaped. If I can fly to Manila and feel good about visiting Rizal Park, I should feel good about visiting this park in my hometown too. This park has history with the Filipino community and I'm confident that with sincere investments and thoughtful attention it will flourish again. read more
Nice park with great views. Although, the parking can be quite scarce depending on how busy the park is. The parking at the park itself is limited but there's plenty of street parking surrounding the park. It's also located directly across from the bus stop for the 36/60! At night, it's not very well lit but the view of the city from this park is gorgeous. read more
5 stars for the views at sunset. 5 stars for Seattle having a park named after a true hero of the Philippines. Maybe 2 stars for the state of the actual park: as mentioned in other reviews, it is fairly trashy and does not look like it's being well-maintained. We weren't there very long, though, as we were just there for the views of the sunset, which were totally worth the Lyft ride. I have a Yelp friend who notes that one of the characteristics of a 5-star business is if it's worth traveling across the city for and Jose Rizal Park deserves it if you love stunning sunsets like I do. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Not that sketchy tbh. I saw some ppl come here in groups to enjoy the view. Just beware of dark areas and u should be fine at night. read more
As a park, I give it a 2 at best. When I was there, there were some gentlemen who camp nearby cooking dinner in the community grills and using 2x4s for the fire (hopefully it wasn't treated lumber); people just sitting in their car staring at me, litter everywhere, and it was downright scary after dark. As a not so great kept secret photography spot of the Seattle Skyline however, it's even better than Kerry Park. I'm not giving away any major secret here because if you follow many Seattle photographers, this "secret" hole in the fence spot has been featured time and time again at sunrise, sunset, blue hour, and even with Christmas Lights around. It's all been done but if you're reading this far, chances are, you're looking for that spot too so I'll save you the trouble! Basically, you have 3 good spots in this area. The Crème De La Crème is the spot through the fence (look at my photo...LOOK AT IT!!). It's in the fenced in dog park area. When I was there, I saw 3 other photographers taking some photos and when I joked that "I see the hole is spoken for", they gave me a dirty look and told me they were doing a time-lapse and that "there is another spot down there"...essentially telling me to take a hike. Fortunately, they were afraid of the park in the dark and left right at the best light so I took over and got my photo. If you happen to be there and the "hole is spoken for" (I don't care what those kids thought, I still think it's funny), there is still a nice alternative spot a little lower outside of the fence overlooking the bike trail (look at my 2nd picture). The only problem is that if you're doing a night shot, once the trial lights come on, it overpowers your long exposure. If all else fails, just go up to the bridge and take a wonderful photo there. If you can't take a decent photo in either of these 3 spots then go to a local school and donate your camera gear because it's impossible to take a bad photo here. A word of caution about personal safety, as mentioned, there are a lot of camps down the hill and around so it's best to not go alone after dark. Also, remember that the dog park area is an actual dog park so watch out for any dogs who may not be too happy with you being there. read more
3 years ago
6 years ago
Very nice park to check out Seattle's whole view! It was breathtaking. It was a bit cold of course it's Seattle and higher up in elevation! Bundle up and come take a glance. No worries when your up here! read more
As a Filipino, I wanted to visit the park since it was named after a Philippine hero. There is a bust of the hero with a placard for he dedication of the park. The top of the park has spectacular views of downtown Seattle. There is a small playground at the top and a stone pathway that lead down to the amphitheater area. Unfortunately due to the heavy brush and shrubbery leading down to it, I didn't check it out. Unfortunately, the park is located in a sketchy area. We visited the park in the early afternoon and there was a family living in their car parked in the parking lot. read more
9 years ago
Come here for the beautiful views of he Seattle skyline and Puget Sound; also to pay some respect to Dr. Jose Rizal - national hero of the Philippines. Good for scenery and quiet for the most part but pretty ghetto. The playground area is small, the park is dirty and there were a lot of homeless people just hanging around giving looks that would make anyone feel unsafe. Definitely don't come here alone, unless you a G because it's sketchy. You're better off going to Kerry Park for some dope city views or better yet just go full-on tourist and go up the Space Needle, at least there you'll only willingly get robbed ($30 plus extra shit like parking and snacks). This is only Yelp advice tho, go live your life the way you want to! read more
9 years ago
Like everyone says about this park - you come for the wonderful view and that's pretty much it. Get your obligatory photo and leave. Unfortunately, the multiple times I've been here, the park has always been so dirty, with litter everywhere and people smoking weed in the covered picnic area. The last time I was here there were a group of stoners who brought their boombox (seriously), playing really loud music in the middle of the day in the covered picnic area. There are a few other picnic tables on the other side, which is where we ended up eating our takeout, but again, there was litter everywhere. As for the dog park - it's not the best. There is a trail that does downward to an off-leash area. Though I appreciate that there is an off-leash area, the trail and area is usually pretty muddy. Also, along the trail, there were clothes in random spots, as if more and more people kept forgetting a jacket, a sweater, a hat, etc... The park in general seems very unkempt. There is a private parking lot for the park, and every time I have been here there are people parked in the parking lot, smoking weed in their car. If you don't want to be around the smell, then avoid this place. EVERY time I have visited there are groups of people smoking weed here. Bleh. It is walking distance to the International District where you cross the nearby bridge and can take more landscape photos of Seattle. But other than that - I can't say this is by any means a great park to visit. read more
Located a few blocks up the hill from Little Saigon and the International District is Jose Rizal Park. It is located across the street from the Pacific Medical Center building if you are trying to locate it. Make a turn to your right when you see the PacMed building if you are driving south on 12th Ave. Otherwise, you will encounter Daejeon Park instead. This is not really your conventional type of park. Sure, there is an off leash dog park area but this is really more of a viewpoint type of spot. There is a picnic table area here making it good for an outdoor meal with a view. But really it is the views of the downtown Seattle skyline and the two sports stadiums (CenturyLink Field and Safeco Field) that I come here for. The view is slightly obstructed as there is some brush below towards the north. While most folks go to Kerry Park for their picture taking of the Seattle skyline, if you are looking for a southside viewpoint to shoot from, try Jose Rizal Park as an alternative. read more
I mean, just look at this view! Mostly it's just great to come here to watch the sunset! This park is tucked away and feels very quaint compared to the rest of the city. It's small, but perfect for a short stop through. read more
No no noooo...no view is nice enough to have to endure an environment like this. The park was extremely gross, there was trash scattered everywhere, and I saw at least 3 or 4 rats run past me. I love Seattle and this is my 3rd time here but this park definitely revealed the darker side of the city. I didn't even feel comfortable enough to sit on the benches because who knows what's happened on those benches. Everyone who comes here is definitely on something, I'm not sure what but they're all in their own worlds. If you want nice photos and not have to go through the park, I would suggest just walking on the Jose Rizal Bridge that's off to the side and you get a really cool photo of the skyline and stadium along with the highway. read more
7 years ago
If you plan to come visit at night please be careful do not come alone!! Me and my bf came at night about 7pm and it just felt sketchy. There was tons of homeless in the gazebo and you can just feel the tension even though we were far away. Honestly the views were nice but not enough to actually enjoy for a while due to the environment. I was pitch black except for the street light and the gazebo. I would say find a different place before coming here. read more
We came here on a Sunday afternoon and practically had the park to ourselves. There was one dog leaving right after we entered, and another entered just as we were packing up to leave. The park is very large and has really nice views of the stadium areas downtown. My dog liked running up and down the hills but, as it is on a hill, keep in mind that you'll have to go down quite a few stairs entering the park and back up as you exit - not handicap accessible. This is a great off-leash park, so bring your pup and check it out! read more
10 years ago
10 years ago
Every photographer's dream shot is located here! It's an easy drive to get here to see the iconic view of downtown Seattle. It's the perfect area to bring your tripod and set up your camera for that amazing shot. You'll see a bunch of photographers lined up here waiting to capture that gorgeous scenery, most likely before sunset. You can check out this viewpoint on a bridge with I-90 below you or you can walk down into the park and dog park area. There's free street parking and also a small parking lot. If you decide to walk down into the park area, please be careful because I've heard there are some homeless people living below. I'm happy to see a location available for people to stop by and take in this beautiful view of Seattle. read more
Dr. Jose Rizal Park is a hidden gem and a local favorite Park for many people. I remember back in the day, this was a great place to make out with your date or to just clear your head while looking at the gorgeous views. They made improvements with a slide, area for the children, benches, and barbecue pit. A very large parking area to stay in the car to look at the views during the night. On the other side to the right has restrooms and a path to a lower grassy area for hikes and dogs to run around. I love coming here on sunny days just to read a book and glance our beautiful city. You will see many photographers taking pictures of the breath taking views during the day or night. So if you are in the area, enjoy the views of our beautiful city at this Park because it is so worth it. read more
10 years ago
I found out about this location through a blog. I don't know why it's not more of a popular spot. The views at night are absolutely amazing. I would definitely recommend stopping here during the later hours. read more
L.A., imma let you finish, but Seattle has the best dog parks of all time. We just moved here a few weeks ago so this was our first adventure in Seattle's off-leash areas. This park was a little difficult to find from the main parking lot. The dog park is closest to 12th, BEFORE you hit the main parking area, and there's street parking outside the entrance. I'm used to dog parks that are all sand and pretty small, with limited vegetation, so it was a surprise to find out just how big and natural this park is. It's big enough for the humans to get a good walk in while the dogs run and play. We only encountered a handful of dogs since it was so early on a Sunday, including one guy who brought his aggressive small spitz who kept snapping at my pup. Everyone else had well-behaved dogs, although the humans were a bit distant. Not like the friendly chatter I'm used to at the dog parks in L.A. It's probably a little hit-or-miss depending on the time of day. There was one vaguely sketchy homeless person loitering around the parking lot, but he left me alone and I left him alone. No big deal. There are also a few homeless encampments close to the highway. There's a bunch of signs saying if you see encampments you can report them. It's a small tradeoff to have access to a great park, in my opinion. Overall, it was a good experience and I'm glad it's so close to our new digs. My one wish is that they would put some signs pointing towards the dog park in the main parking area and put signs on the gates -- "Now leaving dog park", or something like that. Pretty sure we accidentally left the dog area and went onto one of the walking paths and I had no clue. read more
11 years ago
I brought a tripod but ended up taking a long-exposure with my camera set on the bridge itself. It might take a few tries since passing King County Transit buses will provide impressive bridge-shaking efforts. Shaking was possibly reduced at spots closer to the underneath bridge supports? Not entirely sure. A gorgeous view of Seattle that's less popular/well-known than those from Kerry Park & Gasworks. Enjoy all the sweet, sweet Facebook likes. read more
5 years ago
First time at this off leash dog park and it was a great experience. According to other reviews this park was recently under renovations not sure what it looked like before but it looks pretty good. So it's a little confusing but there is a parking lot up past the main entrance of the park. If you actually just park on the street the entrance is closer towards the red light. The entrance to the park is a large set of stairs that I am guessing they just put in. Nice wooden stairs with gravel inbtwn, leads you to a second gate down the hill. At the entrance of that gate is a water spout for running water so that is great as not all dog parks have access to fresh water. The park itself is a great size, mostly grass with a gravel trail leading down the middle of it, lots of good places for your dog to run and play. Most of the park is slopped so no real flat areas like other dog parks. When we were there @12PM on a Saturday it was EMPTY only one other person showed up when we were there. Very surprising because most parks are full of people on a nice day like today. Guessing it was everyone elses bad experience or the fact that it was under construction that turned folks away from it. But more people need to come here so my dog has someone to play with =). The view is great, can't beat the view don't think any other dog park has a view of both stadiums, puget sound, olympic mountains and downtown seattle. Overall great dog park, has what you need for you and your pup please pay a visit hopefully see you there! P.S. Some previous post mentioned seeing homeless people. Didn't see a single one but doesn't mean they don't go there. Still be aware of your surroundings where ever you go. read more
13 years ago
A dog park with amazing views!!! I love this park! Today was my first time taking my puppy to this park and he loved it as well. There's a short trail from the parking lot to get to the main park which wasn't too bad. There's also an area that is fenced off if you don't feel safe having your dog roam free. The park is clean! No garbage anywhere, which is great. The park wasn't busy when I got there. There was about 5 other owners with their pets. Everyone was friendly. Not only did I get to enjoy a day at the at the park with my puppy, but I also got to enjoy beautify views of the city. It was beautiful day out. You can see the safeco and century link field as well as downtown Seattle. All in all, 5 stars for this park! I plan on going here on a regular basis read more
7 years ago
This is a chill park on a Sunday morning. I'm giving 4 stars because it could've been cleaner. Good view of the city though! read more
13 years ago
From this bridge, you can enjoy a great view of Seattle skyscrapers. Especially after sunset, it is beautiful. Famous spot for photography read more
9 years ago
9 years ago
11 years ago
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