In 1889, Guy Phinney began construction on a private estate that included, among other things, a private zoo and woodland paths to Green Lake, where he built a bathing beach and boathouse. He also funded a trolley line that connected his estate to the greater Seattle area. In 1900, the park was purchased by the city, and in 1903/1910 the Olmsted brothers helped redesign the park into what it is today. In 1932, the construction of Aurora Avenue bisected the park. Many of the trees were transplanted, and the excavated dirt was used to fill in the southern portion of Green Lake. The current 90.9 acre park has amenities including a zoo, a rose garden, lawn bowling, several picnic areas, a skate park, tennis courts, a soccer field, a baseball field, a track, and horseshoe arenas.
Woodland Park is beautiful and expansive. The zoo and rose garden are definitely draws, and there are playgrounds north of the zoo that are great amenities for the locals. The park, in general, is more of a planned event kind of place. Wandering through can be kinda boring. It does have some amazing picnic areas, each with its own pretty nice dedicated and unique areas.
The rose garden was founded by the Seattle Lion Club and Seattle Rose Society in 1922. Designed by Howard E. Andrews, the 1.8 acre garden was completed in 1924. It has about 150 varieties of roses and is one of only two dozen certified American rose test garden.
