Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation South Division Director's Records, 1994-2002

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Parks and Recreation
Title
Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation South Division Director's Records
Dates
1994-2002 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.8 cubic feet, (5 boxes)
Collection Number
5808-02
Summary
Records concerning parks and playgrounds in South Seattle.
Repository
Seattle Municipal Archives
Seattle Municipal Archives
Office of the City Clerk
City of Seattle
PO Box 94728
98124-4728
Seattle, WA
Telephone: 2062337807
Fax: 2063869025
archives@seattle.gov
Access Restrictions

Records are open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for processing this record series was provided through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Department of Parks and Recreation maintains the City's parks, shorelines, and boulevards; and administers community centers, public golf courses, and other athletic and cultural facilities. Seattle's first park was established in 1884 after David Denny donated land to the City for that purpose. At that time, a three-member park committee, with limited authority, was created to manage the nascent park system. A Board of Parks Commissioners was established in 1890 with control over all public parks and authority to appoint a Parks Superintendent. In 1896, the City Charter created the position of Superintendent of Streets, Sewers and Parks. The Parks Department became a separate entity in 1904. In 1926, a City Charter amendment abolished the position of Superintendent, distributing its responsibilities between the Head Gardener and the Landscape Architect. A 1948 City Charter amendment required the Board of Park Commissioners to appoint a park superintendent to administer the department. In 1967, another City Charter Amendment reconstituted the Board as an advisory body to the Mayor and City Council, changed the agency name to Department of Parks and Recreation, and placed fiscal and operational administration under the superintendent. In 1902 the City hired the Olmsted Brothers, the country's premier landscape architectural firm, to design a parks and boulevards system. Although not all of the plan was implemented, the Olmsted legacy is evident in many of Seattle's parks and boulevards. The City acquired significant amounts of property for park purposes following the turn of the 20th Century, but in 1926 further acquisition was limited by a City Charter amendment that stipulated only money in the Park Fund could be used for that purpose. However, in the 1970s the Forward Thrust Bond issue, along with federal grants and the Seattle Model City Program, supported the largest expansion of the Park system in Seattle history. These programs funded more than 70 new parks and park facilities. The Department manages over 6,000 acres of park land, over two dozen community centers, five municipal golf courses, the Aquarium, and many other recreational and athletic facilities.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Correspondence of the Division Director with citizens and community groups regarding park facilities and programs in south Seattle neighborhoods. Also included are copies of letters of the Mayor and Parks Superintendent responding to citizen correspondence about south district parks issues and complaints

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation South Division Director's Records , Record Series 5808-02. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged into five subseries: South Division Director’s correspondence, Mayor’s correspondence, Superintendent’s correspondence, log letters and subject files.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

South Division Director's Correspondence, 1997-2002Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
South Division Director's Correspondence
1997
1/2
Lou Clark's Correspondence
1998
1/3
Lou Clark's Correspondence
1998
1/4
Lou Clark's Correspondence
1998
1/5
Lou Clark's Correspondence
1998
1/6
Lou Clark's Correspondence
1999
1/7
Lou Clark's Correspondence
1999
1/8
Lou Clark's Correspondence
1999
1/9
Lou Clark's Correspondence
2000
1/10
Lou Clark's Correspondence
2000
1/11
Lou Clark's Correspondence
2001
1/12
Director's Correspondence
2002
1/13
Correspondence - Complaints
2000
1/14
Correspondence - Southeast
2000
1/15
Southeast Manager
2001-2002

Mayor's Correspondence, 1996-1998Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/16
Mayor's Correspondence
1996
1/17
Mayor's Correspondence
1997
1/18
Mayor's Correspondence
1998

Superintendent's Correspondence, 1994-2001Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/1
Superintendent's Correspondence
1994-1995
2/2
Superintendent's Correspondence
1995
2/3
Superintendent's Correspondence
1996
2/4
Superintendent's Correspondence
1996
2/5
Superintendent's Correspondence
1996
2/6
Superintendent's Correspondence
1997
2/7
Superintendent's Correspondence
1997
3/1
Superintendent's Correspondence
1997
3/2
Superintendent's Correspondence
1998
3/3
Superintendent's Correspondence
1998
3/4
Superintendent's Correspondence
1998
3/5
Superintendent's Correspondence
1998
3/6
Superintendent's Correspondence
1999
3/7
Superintendent's Correspondence
1999
3/8
Superintendent's Correspondence
1999
3/9
Superintendent's Correspondence
1999
3/10
Superintendent's Correspondence
2000
3/11
Superintendent's Correspondence
2000
3/12
Superintendent's Correspondence
2000
4/1
Superintendent's Correspondence
2000
4/2
Correspondence - Southwest
2000
4/3
Superintendent's Correspondence
2001

Log Letters, 2001-2002Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/4
Director's Log Letters - Genesee Park, Elizabeth Yates
2002
4/5
Director's Log Letters - Queen Anne Community Center, Patricia Berger
2002
4/6
Director's Log Letters - Director's Log Letters - Ballard Pool, Caren Edwards
2002
4/7
Director's Log Letters - Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
2002
4/8
Director's Log Letters - Rainier Community Center Advisory Council
2001-2002
4/9
Director's Log Letters - Alki Bathhouse, Jackie Ramels
2002
4/10
Superintendent's Log Letters - Friends of Seward Park
2002
4/11
Superintendent's Log Letters - Seattle Housing Authority
2002
4/12
Superintendent's Log Letters - Hiawatha Community Center Advisory Council
2002
4/13
Superintendent's Log Letters - Queen Anne Community Council
2002
4/14
Superintendent's Log Letters - Lake City Playground, Stenholm
2002
4/15
Superintendent's Log Letters - Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance
2002
4/16
Superintendent's Log Letters - Ravenna Community Center / Skateboarders
2002
4/17
Superintendent's Log Letters - Occidental Park, Gayle Chronister / Pioneer Building
2002
4/18
Superintendent's Log Letters - Friends of Bradner Gardens
2002
4/19
Superintendent's Log Letters - Blacks In Government, Walter E. Washington
2002
4/20
Superintendent's Log Letters - Greater Seattle Senior Games
2002
4/21
Superintendent's Log Letters - Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance
2002
4/22
Superintendent's Log Letters - Kid's Place, Zeondra Richardson
2002
4/23
Superintendent's Log Letters - Rainier Beach Community Center, Ron Momoda
2002
4/24
Superintendent's Log Letters - Lowell Barger
1997-1998
4/25
Superintendent's Log Letters - Whittier Heights Community Council
2002
4/26
Mayor's Log Letters - Westcrest Park
2002
4/27
Mayor's Log Letters - Parks Vehicles
2002
4/28
Mayor's Log Letters - Queen Anne / McClure SPICE Center Closing
2002
4/29
Mayor's Log Letters - High Point Park, Rodney and Seana Barker
2002
4/30
Mayor's Log Letters - Magnolia Soccer Fields
2002
4/31
Mayor's Log Letters - Freeway Park
2002

Subject Files, 1994-2002Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/32
Advisory Council Rosters
2000-2002
4/33
Alki Bathhouse
2002
5/1
Friends of South Ferdinand Park
1998
5/2
Georgetown Playfield
1994-1997
5/3
Parks Resource Operations Meeting
1995
5/4
Parks Resource Operations Meeting
1996-1998
5/5
School District's Facilities Plan
1998
5/6
Staff Meetings
1995

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Parks--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Playgrounds--Washington (State)--Seattle

Corporate Names

  • Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Parks and Recreation

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)