"Kirke Park, Ballard by Brooks Running Global Creative. Before the city acquired this land, sandwiched in the middle of an idyllic North Ballard neighborhood, it belonged for 80+ years to the awesome-sounding Seventh Elect Church in Israel. There's all sorts of weird history associated with this plot, and apparently as recently as 1990, a few elderly members of the small sect still lived on the property, quietly practicing their religion, effectively walled off from neighboring homes by huge holly and laurel hedges. Part of the old church's concrete foundation remains, but a recent revamp cleaned up the overgrown lot, added a terraced p-patch, a huge lawn, covered picnic tables, nature trails, and an awesome playground with crazy swings."