About Lake Forest Park Lake Forest Park has always prided itself on its small town feel and natural, wooded environment along Lake Washington. Primarily single-family residential, the community since 1909 has been a refuge for professionals drawn to its large forested, park-like lots with views of the lake, so close to work in Seattle or other nearby markets. Lake Forest Park residents active civic involvement led to the city's 1961 incorporation. The tremendous outpouring of resentment over issues in siting a commercial development in a wetlands just north of the lake knitted a community together over common interests. That shopping center today, called Lake Forest Park Town Center, is the focus for community events. The city's population grew slowly to about 3,500 in 1994, when annexation expanded the number of Lake Forest Park residents to 12,426. Furture annexations are likely. Lake Forest Park Housing Lake Forest Park retains many of the tranquil, country-living qualities its first residents sought nearly a century ago. Stands of old-growth Douglas fir, alder anti maples frame its neighborhoods, streams and waterfront. Many of the older homes are built on quarter- to half-acre lots. There are starter homes for under $200,000. There are posh party palaces on the lakefront that cost much, much more. Approximately 76 percent of the land is devoted to residential use. Primarily up-scale, single-family development with a small number of duplex and multi-family units, residential density ranges from two to six dwellings per acre. Multi-family dwellings are generally mid-scale apartment complexes, two to five stories tall. There are 23 acres of commercial land in Lake Forest Park, 4 percent of the city's total and. Most commercial development is Lake Forest Park Town Center, the central, commercial core of the city. The shopping center's larger tenants include an Albertsons and a Rite Aid Drug Store. It also holds a number of services such as banks and travel agents, restaurants, coffee shops, and more. City Hall and the Lake Forest Park police station are also located close to the shopping center, reinforcing this site as a city center as well as shopping complex. In addition to Lake Forest Park Town Center, these is one other small commercial area. But these two commercial areas represent only a portion of the business licenses issued in the city. It should be no surprise, considering the professional nature of Lake Forest Park's population, that over half the businesses registered in the city are home-based. Lake Forest Park Utilities & Service Providers City of Lake Forest Park 17711 Ballinger Way N.E. Lake Forest Park, WA 98155 The city provides land use permits, business licenses, police, fire, parks, and road maintenance. King County agencies provide a number of other services. Four water/sewer providers serve residents: King County Water District #83 (206) 365-3211 Northshore Utility District (425) 486-3278 Seattle Public Utilities (206) 684-5900 Shoreline Water District (206) 361-9295 Eastside Disposal & Recycling Services (206) 682-9730 Lake Forest Park Education Lake Forest Park residents live in the Shoreline Public School District. Shoreline's academic reputation is a draw for many young families that move into the area just to get heir kids into Shoreline schools. Curriculum focuses on the basics, reading, writing, math, computer and social studies. Arts, music, and languages round out the mix. There are special programs for gifted students as well as those who need extra attention. Shoreline serves 10,238 students with one pre-school/day care center, 11 elementary schools (K-6), two middle schools (grades 7 and 8), two high schools and the Shoreline Conference Center and Stadium, which has meeting and banquet rooms, an auditorium and sports facilities designed to meet Olympic specifications. Lake Forest Park students attend the district's Lake Forest Park, Briererest and Brookside Elementary Schools, Lake Forest Park and Kellogg Middle Schools and Shorecrest High School. Shoreline School District #412 18560 1st Ave. NE Shoreline, WA 98155 (206) 367-6111 http://www.shorelin.wednet.edu/ In addition to Shoreline public schools, for the past two decades, Volunteer "professors" in the Lake Forest Park Community School have share their expertise with their neighbors, during regular hut informal evening programs.