Join the Olympia City Council to celebrate the opening of two community spaces this Friday, December 16:
- 2:30 p.m. – Newly Renovated Artesian Well Site on 4th Avenue in downtown Olympia (415 4th Ave E). Bring a mug to toast the fresh artesian water.
- 3:30 p.m. – New Percival Playground next to the Harbor House at Percival Landing on Olympia’s waterfront (405 Columbia St NW). Hot cocoa and cookies will be served.
Artesian Well
The Artesian well at 415 4th Avenue E was originally opened in the early 1900’s on the site of Olympia’s former railroad depot to provide water for steam locomotives. In recent years all that remained for community access to this artesian water was a simple pipe extending out of the asphalt surface of a parking lot.
The well is two inches in diameter, and the water flows at about 10 gallons per minute from an underground aquifer about 90 feet deep. In July 2010, the Olympia City Council authorized purchase of the site from Diamond Parking to bring the lot and artesian well into public ownership.
Site improvements include:
•A new drain to improve water discharge
•A raised, ADA accessible filling area to support heavy bottles
•Decorative concrete surface
•Solar lights
•New signage and a community bulletin board.
Percival Playground
Located adjacent to the Percival Landing Harbor House, the new playground provides another way to enjoy the Landing. Bring your kids for fun on the new:
•Rotating net climbers
•Swings for all ages
•Climbing play structures.
The playground was designed for 2-5 year olds as well as 5-12 year olds and provides plenty of space for all. It is ADA accessible and meets current playground safety standards.
Percival Landing is a 3.8 acre waterfront park located on the east side of Budd Inlet. It is named after the old commercial steamship wharf operated by the Percival family at the north end of Budd Bay. In August of this year, Phase 1 of Percival Landing Reconstruction opened after a yearlong closure for construction. Installation of the playground completes the initial phase of reconstruction.
