Lake Hills

Lake Hills is located in southeast Bellevue a few miles north of the 148^th exit off I-90. This small, Bellevue community enjoys seclusion as much of its land is taken up by the Lake Hills Greenbelt—150 acres of diverse wildlife habitat including forest, wetlands, streams and lakes. Yet the neighborhood is only minutes from Eastgate, Crossroads, Overlake, and Downtown Bellevue, and is particularly close to Bellevue College. Lake Hills is a close-knit community, equipped with its very own library, and appeals to families looking for more pastoral real estate that also want to rely on close proximity to high-activity industry and shopping, and an excellent school district.

The Lake Hills community prides itself in preserving the agricultural heritage of Bellevue, which is very unique for a neighborhood so close to Downtown. Mid-June through September, in a petite, red barn, the Cha-family-operated, Lake Hills Produce Stand offers farm-fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers for Eastside residents to enjoy. Located on the east side of 148th is the Larsen Lake Blueberry Farm. Operating under the same summer schedule as the produce stand, this farm sells delicious blueberries grown on acres of Greenbelt land near Larson Lake. Families can also come on sunny weekends to hand-pick choice berries from the rows of bushes that line the property, and enjoy special U-pick prices. As well as growing and selling local produce, the King County Master Gardeners offer year-round home-gardening workshops on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Urban Demonstration Garden in Lake Hills, which includes ornamental theme beds and vegetable gardens.

The Greenbelt Ranger Station is also a vital community commons area. There is a Living Green Series hosted twice a month here by the Parks & Community Department. These presentations feature a guest speaker covering environmental information on gardening, wildlife preservation, and “green” transportation. The Ranger Station is also the place for residents to go for free permits to take out non-motorized boats and paddle-boats beyond the Lilli-pads of Phantom Lake. There is also a public park on the lake, with miles of connecting Greenbelt trails, as well as more historical sites. Back when Native Americans were roaming the land, there were trails that connected Lake Washington, Phantom Lake and Lake Sammamish, which were used for carrying canoes to other Salmon-rich waters.

Lake Hills Shopping Center, centrally located off Lake Hill Boulevard and 156^th avenue, offers a wide variety of special amenities. Within the plaza is the Washington Department of Licensing, making license renewal an easy, get-up-and-go trip. A Pal-Do World Grocery store and Korean restaurant also embellish the square. The Lake Hills Library has been around for ages and offers a variety of reading programs for kids, and often participates with small elementary schools. However, due to the aging plaza and library, construction on a brand new, 6.7 acre plaza with retail shopping and multi-residential units, and a brand new, 10,000-square-foot Lake Hills library (including underground parking) began this year. 10 years of planning, and community fundraising and outreach programs contributed to this project. The groundbreaking celebration took place on May 20^th, 2009, and phase-one revitalization is expected to be completed in spring, 2010.

Down the street from the Center are Little League ball fields, with a unique announcing booth making games all the more “professional.” The Samena Club is also nearby offering swimming lessons, and an opportunity for children to participate on swim team. This Club draws kids from all around the Eastside for the wonderful opportunity to participate in swimming meets where they can be a part of a very large and diverse squad, and cheer for teammates of all ages. Edged with sky-high trees that sway on a blustery day, Lake Hills Community Park (a.k.a. “Boat Park”) is centrally located and provides a colorful playground for kids, adjacent to a large hillside which is great for tumbling and sledding given the particular season. On nearly 11-acres of land, the park also offers 2 ballfields, a basketball court, a picnicking area and restrooms.