A new sketch for the planned park (Image: Seattle Parks)
A new Harvard Ave E park is currently in the planning phase and a new, early design concept has been presented to the public.
Susanne Rockwell, senior planner with Seattle Parks and Recreation is working on figuring out how to best create a space where people can gather and stroll in nature while incorporating historical elements into the current park design.
Since the park space is located in one of the most affluent neighborhoods in Seattle, it is not considered a community of need. The park is eight to 16 years away from having park district funding directly allocated for this site so Seattle Parks is hoping to create private-public partnerships to raise the money needed to create the new public space.
This land has been donated to the city for public use. Rockwell hopes that with the new park, it is open for everyone to enjoy.
“Our parks are open to everyone regardless of sexual orientation or home ownership or where you come from, you are welcome and they are open to everybody.” Rockwell said.
Some neighbors in the area are worried about an increase of crime or encampments that could occur with having a park near them.
(Image: Seattle Parks)
Seattle Parks is implementing “crime prevention through environmental design” to design safe parks for everyone. The concept creates interesting public spaces that are interesting but do not place people in immediate danger. They do this by having visible sightlines and making sure people can see in and out of the park.
“When we design a space that’s open and visual and we activate it with positive activities; positive activities will push out negative behavior and negative activity.” Rockwell said.
To promote sustainability and resilience to the park design, native plants and low water plants, visible stormwater, and durable materials will be added. Adding this will help mitigate climate change impacts, decrease heat islands, and improve air quality.
The 1.6 acres of land and 1955-built home on the property left to the city after the death of philanthropist Kay Bullitt stretches out on the northwest slopes of Capitol Hill in the prestigious Harvard-Belmont Landmark District. CHS reported here on recent planning for the project including a survey that planners said showed preferences for developing the new park land “as a quiet, contemplative place” while making space for the Cass Turnbull Garden as part of the site, a project from Seattle nonprofit Plant Amnesty honoring its late founder.
The property contains a unique A-frame house in which Bullitt continued to live her life until passing away on August 22, 2021.
Bullitt was known to gather and bring people together from all walks of life. Although she came from a privileged position she was known to promote civil rights. Rockwell hopes Bullitt’s legacy is honored by bringing people together in the park site by having strolling paths, gathering places, and natural vegetation, open spaces, and places where children can play in nature.
Originally the park site was the old Henry home that belonged to Horace Chapin Henry. In the house he had a gallery which was said to be opened to the public on weekends. Henry passed the collection and $100,000 to the University of Washington in 1926. We now know it as the Henry Art Gallery.
In 1935, Henry’s sons donated the house and grounds to the City of Seattle as a public library site and the house was demolished. However, the city then decided they did not want a library at that location and sold it to the neighboring Bloedel family who then sold it to the Bullitts.
Now beginning its second journey as public land, the future park will continue to be an active space even through the years of planning and construction ahead.
The next steps in the process are synthesizing all the comments from the October meeting, finishing site survey which looks at the topography to ensure the park pathways are ADA accessible, coming back in the first quarter of 2023 for a refined design, figuring out cost estimates, and working on how to phase the project moving forward. The Bullitt house and and property will also need to go through landmarks review.
Seattle Parks will also need to begin the process of forging new partnerships to pay for creation of the new public space.
You can learn more on the 1125 Harvard Avenue East park project page.
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Seattle should spend parks funding on Bellevue Place Park, which has been boggy and scary for the 30 years I’ve lived on lower Capitol Hill. It’s rarely used now, even for 4th of July fireworks viewing. Let’s activate that park first!
For Kay’s garden, I still like the idea of a specialty garden, like Bloedel or Kubota Gardens or the Japanese Garden in the Arboretum. A small fee of $2-$3 can go a long way in creating a unique and beautiful space.
There are two parks near me and both have continuous problems. I for one will never live near a park in Seattle again
I agree. Seattle is one of the only cities in the world where living near a park is a liability due to the city’s negligence in managing the homeless encampment/drug/crime crisis.
That sounds like a completely made up fact. I don’t disagree that the city is facing a crisis, but I’ve seen this all over the world, and I’m getting the sense that you maybe haven’t seen that much or if you have it’s been a very sanitized version that isn’t reality.
It is. It’s pretty easy to tell that parks have absolutely zero correlation to crime. Laurelhurst, Ravenna, Wedgwood, Montlake, Madison Park, Madrona, West Seattle, Leschi, etc, etc, etc would be crime ridden dystopias.
“This land has been donated to the city for public use. Rockwell hopes that with the new park, it is open for everyone to enjoy.
My wife and I talked to Kay a few years ago while she had the majority of the property used as “not-so-secret” (you had to sign a waiver and abide by specific rules) dog park, and she had said that she had it in her will that the property would NEVER be a public park after she passes and would be maintained as a place for responsible dog owners to let their little buddies run. Its a huge let down that the family had other plans.
That doesn’t sound like a city park to me 🤷🏻♂️
Mmm. I also talked to Kay a few years before her death, and asked her about the incredible gift she has given to our City. I did not have the impression that she wanted the space used as a dog park, but only those with access to her will would no for sure.
“know for sure.” Sorry about the typo.
From a Seattle Times interview 8/26/05:
“The city needs open space more than buildings. So when I die, this is going to be a park”.
https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/kay-bullitt/
The obvious answer would be to sell off the crazy A frame house for redevelopment which would generate the $$ for the park.
I’m sure she conveyed the land with a restriction requiring the house be preserved.
Why ? It’s a 60s energy inefficient mess. The city could take it back based on the amount of property tax she avoided since the donation. I’m glad at least someone in parks realizes that this is a giant money pit park for the wealthy.
Obviously you have no sense of appreciation for her gift, and likely little understanding of much else regarding these issues. But most people seem to comprehend the extent of her generosity, so I’ll take consolation in that fact.
The park would be for anyone to use, not just the wealthy neighbors. And I think that Kay Bullitt deserved the tax break for the awesome and valuable gift she has given to the people of Seattle.
Poulsbo, 98370-9611