Seattle Municipal Archives
PO Box 94728
600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 3
Seattle, WA 98124-4728
Phone: 206/233-7807
Email: archives@seattle.gov
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives



Guide to the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation Construction and Maintenance Files, 1928-1990


5804-05





Finding aid prepared by Anne Frantilla

Finding aid encoded by Shannon B. Lynch, 2004
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.


Overview of the Collection

 
Repository Name:
 

Seattle Municipal Archives

PO Box 94728
600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 3
Seattle, WA 98124-4728
Phone: 206/233-7807
Email: archives@seattle.gov
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives

 
Collection Number:
 

5804-05

 
Creator:
 

Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Parks and Recreation. Facilities Maintenance Division

 
Title:
 

Construction and Maintenance Files

 
Dates:
 

1928-1990 (inclusive)
1950-1990 (bulk)

 
Quantity:
 

58.8 cubic ft.
(59 boxes)

 
Languages:
 

Collection materials are in English. 

 
Summary:
 

Records of the Parks Department's Facilities Maintenance Division. The records document changes and improvements in Seattle parks as well as the planning, design, and construction of new parks.

 

Historical Note

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, 25 community centers, four municipal golf courses, the Aquarium, and many other recreational and athletic facilities.

Content Description

The records of the Facilities Maintenance Division date primarily from 1950 to 1987; one set of records, dealing with Matthews Beach, dates from 1928 to 1950. The records measure 59 cubic feet. The collection, arranged alphabetically by park or project, documents changes and improvements in Seattle Parks as well as some new parks. The activities were funded through Forward Thrust, Model City Program, and other agencies, as well as with Parks Department monies. The records document the planning, design, and construction processes. The records of the project coordinator for the specific project are included in this collection, and often those of other Parks Department employees appear in the collection as well. Project coordinators included Buddy Brown, Ernie Ferrero, Jim Jessel, and John Vibber.

The record series contains correspondence, contracts and agreements, copies of related legislation, reports, maps, drawings, newspaper clippings, and some photographs. In some cases, copies of deeds are included. The collection provides good documentation of neighborhood character because community input played a large part in the process of improving parks or developing new parks. The relationship between the Parks Department and the various contractors is also very well-documented. Meeting minutes for various projects are included, often documenting the specific project through its various stages. When more than one department or entities outside of the City are involved, as was the case in the construction of the Aquarium or the Freeway Park, for example, the interdepartmental relationships are well-documented through memorandum, reports and contracts. Costs of each project are also well-documented.

Many projects in the collection are of note. One is the documentation of the Burke-Gilman Trail, which covers the years 1973 to 1980 and includes material on the land transfer between the railroad and the City, as well as correspondence between City departments and with community groups. The Capitol Hill Viewpoint or Louisa Boren Lookout was designed by Victor Steinbrueck, and his correspondence with the City is included in the project files.

The Discovery Park project is especially well-documented. Over six cubic feet of material related to land transfer, community input, construction, and the relationship between the City and the United Indians of All Tribes, as well as other issues relating to the development of the park, are included in the records. The records include correspondence with Bernie Whitebear and documentation of various court proceedings with Margaret Coughlin.

Also well-documented are the Thornton Creek area, especially the environmental studies done surrounding the idea of an urban park and trail. There is good documentation of the planning efforts and studies relating to the central waterfront area as well, including explorations of a marina and convention center. The large volume of records related to Magnuson Park reflect the complex decision-making process regarding its use.

In some cases, information can be found in more than one place in the series. Mini-parks are listed under the name of the specific park but there are folders under “Small Parks and Recreation Areas,” which contain some information on mini-parks. There are a few park ideas that were explored, but never came to fruition, such as South Lake Union Park.

Arrangement

Records are arranged alphabetically by park or project.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information 

Received from the Parks Department in 1996.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access 

Records are open to the public.

Preferred Citation 

[Item and date], Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation Construction and Maintenance Files, Record Series 5804-05. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Subjects

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

 
Coughlin, Margaret, 1912-1996--Trials, litigation, etc.
Steinbrueck, Victor
Whitebear, Bernie
Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Parks and Recreation. Facilities Maintenance Division
Seattle Aquarium
United Indians of All Tribes Foundation
University of Washington. Arboretum
Burke Gilman Trail (Wash.)
Discovery Park (Seattle, Wash.)
Freeway Park (Seattle, Wash.)
Louisa Boren Lookout (Seattle, Wash.)
Seattle (Wash.)
Warren G. Magnuson Park (Seattle, Wash.)
Community centers--Washington (State)--Seattle
Parks--Washington (State)--Seattle
Playgrounds--Equipment and supplies--Washington (State)--Seattle
Playgrounds--Washington (State)--Seattle
Public art--Washington (State)--Seattle
Recreation areas and people with disabilities--Washington (State)--Seattle
Reservoirs--Design and construction--Washington (State)--Seattle
Sports facilities--Lighting--Washington (State)--Seattle
Sports facilities--Washington (State)--Seattle
Swimming pools--Washington (State)--Seattle
Urban parks--Washington (State)--Seattle
Clippings
Contracts
Correspondence
Drawings
Maps
Memorandums
Negatives
Photographic prints
Photographs
Reports
Other Creators :
Brown, Buddy
Ferrero, Ernie
Jessel, Jim
Vibber, John Russell, 1915-
Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Parks and Recreation

Detailed Description of the Collection

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


 

Construction and Maintenance Files, 1928-1990

 
Container(s)
Description
Dates
 
box/folder
1/1


Alki Avenue: Master Plan
  1971-1973
 
1/2

Alki Avenue: Master Plan
  1974
 
1/3

Alki Avenue: Improvements - General
  1972-1977
 
1/4

Alki Avenue: Improvements - Project Description
  1971-1974
 
1/5

Alki Avenue: Improvements - Planning and Program
  1973-1974
 
1/6

Alki Avenue: Improvements - Planning and Program
  1971-1972
 
1/7

Alki Avenue: Improvements - Financial
  1972-1973
 
1/8

Alki Avenue: Improvements - Contracts and Agreements
  1972-1973
 
1/9

Alki Project
  1969-1974
 
1/10

Alki Avenue: Newspaper Clippings
  1971-1976
 
1/11

Alki Avenue: Maps
  n.d.
 
1/12

Alki Playground Tennis Courts: High pressure sodium vapor lighting
  1979-1980
 
1/13

All Weather Playfield Study
  1981-1982
 
1/14

Aquarium: Freshwater Conversion
  1978-1980
 
1/15

Aquarium: Shoreline Permits
  1977-1979
 
1/16

Aquarium: Shoreline Permits
  1980-1982
 
1/17

Aquarium: Marine Mammal Barriers
  1979-1981
 
1/18

Aquarium: Corrosion Study - Galka Associates
  1979
 
1/19

Aquarium: General - Parking
  1979-1981
 
1/20

Aquarium: Parking
  1973-1974
 
1/21

Aquarium: Correspondence
  1971-1974
 
1/22

Aquarium: Project Manager's Notebook
  1973-1975
 
1/23

Aquarium: Site Selection
  1971
 
1/24

Aquarium: Environmental Impact Statement
  1974
 
1/25

Aquarium: Bicentennial Event
  1976
 
1/26

Aquarium: Piers 60 and 61
  1972-1975
 
1/27

Aquarium: Economic Study
  1971-1974
 
1/28

Aquarium: Acoustic Study
  1974
 
1/29

Aquarium: Contracts and Agreements
  1971-1974
 
1/30

Aquarium: Financial
  1971-1975
 
1/31

Aquarium: Planning and Program
  1970-1972
 
1/32

Aquarium: Planning and Program
  1973-1977
 
1/33

Aquarium: Project Description
  1971-1973
 
1/34

Aquarium: Newspaper Clippings
  1971-1977
 
1/35

Aquarium: Tropical Pacific Exhibit - Correspondence June - Dec.
  1979
 
1/36

Aquarium: Tropical Pacific Exhibit
  1978-1979
 
2/1

Aquarium: Tropical Pacific Exhibit - Project File Jan. - April
  1980
 
2/2

Aquarium: Tropical Pacific Exhibit - Project File May - June
  1980
 
2/3

Aquarium: Tropical Pacific Exhibit - Project File July
  1980
 
2/4

Aquarium: Tropical Pacific Exhibit August - Dec.
  1980
 
2/5

Aquarium: Tropical Pacific Exhibit - Jan. - March
  1981
 
2/6

Aquarium: Tropical Pacific Exhibit - Project File April - May
  1981
 
2/7

Aquarium: Tropical Pacific Exhibit - Project Files June - July
  1981
 
2/8

Aquarium: Tropical Pacific Exhibit - Project File August - Dec.
  1981
 
2/9

Aquarium: Tropical Pacific Exhibit - Project File Jan. - May
  1982
 
2/10

Aquarium: Tropical Pacific Exhibit - Project File June - Dec.
  1982
 
2/11

Aquarium: Tropical Pacific Exhibit - Project File
  1983
 
2/12

Aquarium: Tropical Pacific Exhibit - Project File Jan. - July
  1984
 
2/13

Aquarium: Tropical Pacific Exhibit - Project File July - Dec.
  1984
 
2/14

Aquarium: Tropical Pacific Exhibit - Project File January
  1985
 
2/15

Aquarium: Tropical Pacific Exhibit - Newspaper Clippings
  1979-1981
 
2/16

Arboretum Bike Path: Project File
  1971-1982
 
2/17

Arboretum Bikeway: Newspaper Clippings
  1972-1975
 
2/18

Arboretum: Lighting
  1969-1970
 
2/19

Arboretum: Management/University of Washington
  1971-1972
 
2/20

Arboretum: Management/University of Washington
  1973
 
2/21

Arboretum: Management/University of Washington - Newspaper Clippings
  1972-1973
 
2/22

Arboretum: Visitors Center - Project File
  1980-1981
 
2/23

Arboretum: Visitors Center - Project File Jan. - July
  1982
 
2/24

Arboretum: Visitors Center - Project File August - Dec.
  1982
 
2/25

Arboretum: Visitors Center - Project File Jan. - April
  1983
 
2/26

Arboretum: Visitors Center - Project File May - June
  1983
 
3/1

Arboretum: Visitors Center - Project File July - Oct.
  1983
 
3/2

Arboretum: Visitors Center - Project File Nov. - Dec.
  1983
 
3/3

Arboretum: Visitors Center - Project File Jan. - June
  1984
 
3/4

Arboretum: Visitors Center and Site Improvement - July - Dec.
  1984
 
3/5

Arboretum: Visitors Center - Project File Jan. - June
  1985
 
3/6

Arboretum: Visitors Center - Project File July - Dec.
  1985
 
3/7

Arboretum: Visitors Center - Project File Jan. - June
  1986
 
3/8

Arboretum: Visitors Center - Project File July - Dec.
  1986
 
3/9

Arboretum: Visitors Center - Project File
  1987
 
3/10

Arboretum: Visitors Center - Lawsuit (Parks Construction v. The Arboretum Foundation et. al)
  1988-1990
 
3/11

Arboretum: Visitors Center - Lawsuit - Deposition of E. Ferrero
  1990
 
3/12

Arboretum: Visitors Center - Contract Amendments
  1983-1987
 
3/13

Arboretum: Visitors Center - Newspaper Clippings
  1975-1983
 
3/14

Don Armeni Park: Parlato Bench Donation
  1983-1984
 
3/15

Don Armeni Park: Boat Launching Ramp
  1973-1984
 
3/16

Don Armeni Park: Design Selection
  1981
 
3/17

Don Armeni Park: Design Contract
  1981
 
3/18

Don Armeni Park: Dedication
  1983
 
3/19

Don Armeni Park: Photographs
  1969-1983
 
3/20

Don Armeni Park: Preconstruction Meeting and Reports
  1982
 
3/21

Don Armeni Park: Budget
  1980-1982
 
3/22

Don Armeni Park: Program
  1976-1980
 
3/23

Don Armeni: Program
  1980
 
3/24

Don Armeni Park: Program
  1981
 
3/25

Don Armeni Park: Program Files
  1982
 
3/26

Don Armeni: Project Files
  1983
 
3/27

Don Armeni: Program File
  1984
 
3/28

Don Armeni Park: Shoreline Development Permit
  1981-1983
 
3/29

Don Armeni Park: Trees
  1981-1982
 
3/30

Don Armeni Park: Trees
  1983-1984
 
4/1

Don Armeni Park: Boat Launching
  1968-1975
 
4/2

Don Armeni Park: Newspaper Clippings
  1973-1983
 
4/3

Armory Park
  1970-1973
 
4/4

Atlantic City Boat Ramp: Project File
  1969-1971
 
4/5

Atlantic City Boat Ramp: Project File Jan. - June
  1972
 
4/6

Atlantic City Boat Ramp: Project File July - Dec.
  1972
 
4/7

Atlantic City Boat Ramp: Project File
  1973
 
4/8

Atlantic City Boat Ramp: Project File
  1974-1976
 
4/9

Atlantic City Boat Ramp: Shoreline Management Act Permit
  1972
 
4/10

Atlantic City Boat Ramp: Maps and Drawings
  n.d.
 
4/11

Atlantic City Boat Ramp: Newspaper Clippings
  1972-1974
 
4/12

Atlantic City Park Extension
  1969-1970
 
4/13

Ballard Recreation Center / Playground (includes maps and drawing)
  1969-1970
 
4/14

Ballard Recreation Center: Lighting
  1971-1972
 
4/15

Ballard Swimming Pool: Project File
  1968
 
4/16

Ballard Swimming Pool: Project File
  1969
 
4/17

Ballard Swimming Pool: Project File
  1970
 
4/18

Ballard Swimming Pool: Project File
  1971
 
4/19

Ballard Swimming Pool: Project File
  1972-1973
 
4/20

Ballard Pool: Newspaper Clippings
  1969-1972
 
4/21

Ballard Swimming Pool Roof
  1978-1980
 
4/22

Ballard Tennis Courts
  1971-1973
 
4/23

Ballard Tennis Courts
  1974-1975
 
4/24

Bergen Place (Ballard Circle Park)
  1974
 
4/25

Bergen Place (Ballard Circle Park)
  1975
 
4/26

Bergen Place (Ballard Circle Park)
  1976-1977
 
4/27

Bergen Place (Ballard Circle Park) Newspaper Clippings
  1975-1978
 
5/1

Banner Place Viewpoint
  1969-1972
 
5/2

Bar - S Playground
  1969-1975
 
5/3

Powell Barnett Playground (Empire Way Playground)
  1974
 
5/4

Bathhouse Renovation
  1968-1971
 
5/5

Bathhouse Renovation: Newspaper Clippings
  1971
 
5/6

Beacon Hill Playground
  1977-1978
 
5/7

Beacon Hill Playground
  1979-1980
 
5/8

Beer Sheva Park / Atlantic City Park
  1978-1980
 
5/9

Beer Sheva / Atlantic City Park: Newspaper Clippings