Burien celebrated the opening of a new neighborhood park on Sept. 15.

City staff members, neighbors, and members of the family whose father donated the land in 1999 gathered at the park for the dedication.

Mathison Park, at 533 S. 146th St. in east Burien, is named after Ted and Bernadine Mathison. They bought the mostly-wooded five acres in 1941 from the Sunnydale Goat Dairy and moved there in 1944.

Ted Mathison built a pumice block house on the site that is still standing. In 1951, they moved into the house where they raised their five children.

Those children-Don, Phil, Stephen and Eric Mathison and Susan Lovrin-cut the ribbon to formally dedicate the park

"The family is thrilled at what is being done here," Phil Mathison told the crowd. "My parents loved the setting and trees and wanted to preserve it for the future."

The first phase of the park was completed this summer. It includes a playground with a play toy for children, paved pathway, benches, picnic tables and landscaping.

Future plans include a parking lot, plaza restroom, picnic shelter, and community garden. In addition, a trail system with views of Mt. Rainier, Sea-Tac International Airport and Puget Sound are planned. Construction of the second phase is set for 2008.

King County Youth Sports Facility provided a $50,000 grant for the children's playground. The Starbucks Neighborhood Parks program provided a $15,000 grant.

Besides the Mathison property, Dorothy Carver and Eleanor Nelson, descendents of Burien pioneer Herman Peters, donated a parcel at the south end of the park.

Their donation allows the park to connect from South 146th Street to South 148th Street.

Mathison Park is the largest of Burien's neighborhood parks and the first to be developed east of First Avenue South.

Work on the first phase of another new neighborhood park, Jacob Ambaum Park, is nearing completion. Large apartment complexes at Southwest 128th Street and Ambaum Boulevard Southwest surround the park.

The first phase features parking, a sport court, picnic tables and benches.

Planned for next summer, the second phase will include a play toy, restroom, plaza, more picnic tables and benches.