By DOROTHY DOUGLAS

Tommy and Danny are excited. This early morning they are at Northgate with Grandpa Bob and Grandmother Dorothy. "Duck, duck, quaack, quaack," says two-year-old Danny, pointing to the ducks swimming in Thornton Creek. The path Danny's family is following travels through natural plantings as Thornton Creek meanders. Danny sees small rapids and is fascinated with the water's path. "Water fall," he says. As they walk onward, five-year-old Tommy notices movement under the water. He tries to show Danny the different kinds of fish and the large lobster-like crayfish. Grandpa points out the birds. Each boy joins Grandpa in trying to imitate the birdsong. Then Tommy shows Danny the insects and flowers along the path. Danny tries to pick some of the flowers, but Tommy tells Danny to "just look."

In 1998, Northgate Mall's South Parking Lot was scheduled for intense development. But the Mall's owners, The Simon Property Group, and Seattle's elected officials finally understood the value of a very special North Central Seattle Civic Center. Now in the year 2007, Northgate Little City Hall, a Library, a Recreation Center, and a Children's Playground are on the site. Best of all, Thornton Creek has been restored to pre-1950 appearance. Many donations and volunteer hours has resulted in a magnificent natural park.

"Time for Grandpa's woodworking class at the Recreation Center. Let's go to the Library. It's storytelling time," Grandmother Dorothy says. After the story, Tommy picks out books to borrow. Then it's time to meet Grandpa Bob at the Mall for lunch.

After lunch, Grandmother Dorothy goes to her ceramics class at the Recreation Center. Tommy and Danny have fun with Grandpa Bob at the Children's Playground. They pretend to be some of the creatures they've seen today. Other children join in and they all have fun, especially since Grandpa Bob is so good at pretending. Best of all is sliding down the salmon slide. Tommy, who enjoys reading, sees a plaque: He reads:

"IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO MADE THIS NORTHGATE CIVIC CENTER POSSIBLE."

Tommy wants to go back along the creek again. When they arrive at the creek even Danny pauses to absorb the surroundings. "It's so peaceful here. You hardly realize that you're so near such dense development," agree Grandpa Bob and Grandmother Dorothy. All four enjoy the creek and its surroundings. They stay for a long time.

Grandmother Dorothy needs some information from the Northgate Little City Hall (Neighborhood Service Center). It's in the Recreation Center so all four go there. While Grandmother Dorothy is conducting her business, Grandpa Bob takes Tommy and Danny to the indoor Children's Play Area. Part of the creek can be seen from the big windows. It feels like being outdoors. Then Grandmother Dorothy appears.

"I want to go the the Mall now and look at trains and toys," Tommy says. Grandmother Dorothy and Grandpa Bob have some things to buy. They often buy from small neighborhood businesses, but as long as they are already here, they might as well shop at the Mall. But first a snack.

Shopping is over. Time to leave. Tommy and Danny live in one of those cute San Francisco-style homes across from North Seattle Community College. A path under I-5 was built for Thornton Creek in 2004. Grandpa Bob and Grandmother Dorothy can walk along a beautiful and peaceful path along Thornton Creek instead of driving when they take Tommy and Danny home from Northgate. The path is the perfect width for a double-wide stroller. Tommy walks, but the packages go into the stroller with Danny.

It has been a beautiful day.

Dorothy Douglas is co-chair of the Victory Heights Chapter of PONDERS (Protect Our Neighborhoods' Design, Environment, Rural feeling, and Streams).