institutional logo

City of Seattle
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 Pro Parks Acquisition Open Space Photographs, 1966-2006


5811-02





Finding aid prepared by Julie Viggiano

Finding aid encoded by Julie Kerssen, 2008


Overview of the Collection

 
Repository Name:
 

City of Seattle
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:
 

5811-02

 
Creator:
 

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

 
Title:
 

Pro Parks Acquisition Open Space Photographs

 
Dates:
 

1966-2006 (inclusive)

 
Quantity:
 

18 cubic feet
37 boxes

 
Languages:
 

Collection materials are in English 

 
Summary:
 

Photographs documenting the evolution and improvement of more than 100 of Seattle's city parks, community centers, trails, recreation facilities, and sports fields.

 

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 1968 Seattle voters approved 7 out of 12 bond issues collectively called the Forward Thrust Bond issue. The approved initiative, Proposition 6, included $118 million for new parks and an aquarium. Along with federal grants and the Seattle Model City Program, the Forward Thrust Bond supported the largest expansion of the Park system in Seattle history. These programs funded more than 70 new parks and park facilities.

In 1990 the Open Space and Trails Program began with $41.8 million from the 1989 King County Open Space and Trails Bond with the mission to preserve open spaces and develop additional miles of multi-use trails. The Open Space program goal was to increase the useable undeveloped environment in the city by acquiring land through purchase, transfer, or donation to preserve as greenbelts, natural areas, recreation areas, and trails.

In 1999, Seattle voters approved a renewal of the 1991 Community Centers and Seattle Center Levy, renewing Seattle Parks and Recreation’s commitment to renovate and expand old facilities and provide new centers.

Content Description

This collection dates from the late 1960's through 2006. Photographs represent the evolution and improvement of more than 100 of Seattle's city parks, community centers, trails, recreation facilities, and sports fields from preconstruction and development through construction and dedication.

Documented are the activities and projects of three city and publicly funded programs: the Open Space program, the Forward Thrust program, and the Community Center Levy Program. Included as well are photographs documenting Open Space Fund Tours, Opportunity Fund Tours and Neighborhood Matching Fund awards events.

Park opening celebrations and dedications, Earth Day celebrations, and park maintenance and upkeep are particularly well documented as are the Duwamish Head Greenbelt, Thornton Creek, Discovery Park, and Flo Ware Park.

This collection heavily represents aerial photography of park development and provides an extensive view of Seattle from above. Especially well chronicled projects are: the Aquarium, the Arboretum, Don Armeni Park, the Burke Gilman Trail, Freeway Park, and Jefferson Park. Included also are images of Woodland Park Zoo construction as well as various Community Centers.

In addition to the prints, other formats include: negatives, slides, and photograph CDs. Though many of the prints and negatives are the same there are several instances where this is not the case therefore negatives and prints should be used in combination for the most exhaustive look at a specific park.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in one series. All dates included in the folder list were recorded from hand written information on prints, print folders, and negative sleeves. Included are a Paper Volume, containing textual material pulled from the collection throughout the organization process, and a Transparency Volume, containing negatives and slides removed from the print collection and housed separately. Also included is a box of Photograph CDs, it is noted in the folder list where they correspond to prints.

Negative numbers from the corresponding Engineering Department negative collection are displayed in the online folder list. Also, accession numbers are displayed in the online folder list. Images are not displayed online in the Photograph Index.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access 

Records are open to the public.

Preferred Citation 

[Title of image, date. Item number.] Pro Parks Acquisition Open Space Photographs, Record Series 5811-02. 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.

 
Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Parks and Recreation
Seattle (Wash.)
Bicycle trails--Washington (State)--Seattle
Community centers--Washington (State)--Seattle
Forward Thrust (Seattle, Wash.)
Parks--Washington (State)--Seattle
Playgrounds--Washington (State)--Seattle
Seattle Aquarium
Woodland Park Zoo
Photographs

Detailed Description of the Collection

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


 

5811-02:  Pro Parks Acquisition Open Space Photographs, 1966-2006

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


17th Ave. Park
  1972-
 
1/2

25th Ave. Park
  -
 
1/3

26th Ave. Park
  -
 
1/4

28th & Jackson Mini Park
  1968-1970
 
1/5

30th Ave. Mini Park
  1969-
 
1/6

34th East & East Pike Street Mini Park
  1974-1978
 
2/7

Alki Playground
  1983-
 
2/8

Aquarium - Construction
  1974-1977
 
2/9

Arboretum - Visitor's Center and Site Improvements
  1985-
 
2/10

Arboretum - Visitor's Center and Site Improvements
  1986-1987
 
2/11

Arboretum - Visitor's Center and Site Improvements
  1983-1985
 
3/12

Armeni Park - Ramp Development
  1982-1983
 
3/13

Armeni Park - Ramp Development
  1982-1983
 
3/14

Armeni Park - Ramp Development
  1975-1976
 
3/15

Armory Park
  1974-
 
3/16

Atlantic City Boat Ramp
  1964-1974
 
3/17

Atlantic City Boat Ramp
  1986-1987
 
3/18

Ballard Community Center
  1972-1985
 
4/19

Ballard Community Center Play Area & Old Adams School
  1971-1987
 
4/20

Ballard Swimming Pool and Tennis Courts - Construction
  1971
 
4/21

Banner Place Viewpoint
  1974-
 
4/22

Bayview Kinnear Play Area
  1983-
 
4/23

Beacon Hill Playground
  1969-1975
 
4/24

Beer Sheva Park
  1978-
 
4/25

Belmont Park
  1969-1974
 
4/26

Benefit Playground
  1978-1981
 
4/27

Bergen Place (Ballard Circle Park)
  1975-
 
4/28

Bitterlake Park & Playfield
  1966-1984
 
4/29

Bradner Park
  1970-
 
4/30

Brighton Playfield
  1972-1973
 
4/31

Broadway Playfield (Bobby Morris)
  1973-1987
 
5/32

Bryant Playfield - Preconstruction, Construction, Dedication
  1975-1978
 
5/33

Burke Gilman Trail - Drainage Installation, Dedication
  1976-1989
 
5/34

Burke Gilman Trail - Preconstruction, Dedication
  1976-1978
 
5/35

Burke Gilman Trail
  1976-1977
 
6/36

Camp Long - Improvements
  1969-1974
 
6/37

Camp O.O. Denny
  1969-1983
 
6/38

Capitol Hill Viewpoint-Preconstruction, Construction (Louisa Borden Lookout)
  1969-1976
 
6/39

Carkeek Park Expansion
  1975-
 
6/40

Central West Seattle Community Center [Highpoint]
  1975-1987
 
6/41

Central West Seattle Playfield [Highpoint]
  1974-1979
 
6/42

Christie Park (43rd Street)
  1980-
 
6/43

Colman Park Walkways - Demolition, Renovation, Inspection
  1978-1988
 
6/44

Commodore Park - Fish Ladder Rededication, Construction, Undated Photos
  1970-1978
 
6/45

Cowen Park - Pre-Construction, Post-Construction
  1974-1976
 
7/46

Delridge Playfield
  1981-
 
7/47

Downtown Seattle - Waterfront
  1980-1983
 
7/48

Eckstein Park
  -
 
7/49

Fauntleroy Park
  1970-25205
 
7/50

Fort Dent Athletic Complex
  1978-1981
 
7/51

Firehouse Park
  1969-1987
 
7/52

First Hill Pocket Park
  1967-1978
 
7/53

Freeway Park - Construction
  1974-1981
 
7/54

Freeway Park - Preconstruction, Construction
  1969-1983
 
7/55

Freeway Park Construction , Safety and Improvements
  1972-1975
 
7/56

Freeway Park Construction, Dedication
  1979-1984
 
8/57

Freeway Park Construction
  1974-1979
 
8/58

Fremont Canal Park - Pre Canal [Ross Creek], Post Canal
  1981-
 
8/59

Garfield Community Center & Track [Powell Barnett Park]
  1969-1984
 
8/60

Garfield Playfield - Improvements
  1969-1987
 
8/61

Garfield Playfield Expansion
  1969-1980
 
8/62

Genesee Park
  1970-1981
 
8/63

Georgetown Playfield
  1969-1981
 
8/64

Gilman Playfield
  1972-
 
8/65

Golden Gardens Park
  1969-1976
 
8/66

Green Lake Boating and Sailing
  1973-1980
 
9/67

Green Lake Community Center
  1974-1976
 
9/68

Green Lake Park
  1970-1981
 
9/69

Green Lake Park
  1966-1979
 
9/70

Hale School Track and Field
  1981-
 
9/71

Hamlin Park
  1969-
 
9/72

Harrison Street Pocket Park
  1969-1971
 
9/73

Helene Madison Pool
  1979-1987
 
9/74

Hiawatha Playfield and Community Center
  1971-1985
 
9/75

Highland Park Playground
  1972-1983
 
9/76

High Point Community Center
  1981-1982
 
9/77

Hing Hay Pavillion
  1974-1976
 
9/78

Horton Hill Park
  1975-
 
9/79

Howe Playfield
  1983-
 
9/80

Hughes Playground
  1970-
 
9/81

Hutchinson Playground
  1970-1977
 
9/82

Ingraham Swimming Pool [Helene Madison Pool]
  -
 
9/83

Interbay Sportsfield
  1981-
 
9/84

International Childrens Park
  1978-1981
 
9/85

International District Mini Park
  1978-1981
 
10/86

Jackson Park Golf Course
  1969-1981
 
10/87

Jefferson Park Community Center
  1973-
 
10/88

Jefferson Park Golf Course
  1966-1971
 
10/89

Jefferson Park Lawnbowling
  1969-1985
 
10/90

Jefferson Park Playfield
  1978-1979
 
10/91

Judkins Park and Playfield
  1974-1978
 
10/92

Kobe Terrace
  1974-1976
 
10/93

Lake Washington/Seward Park Bike Path
  1974-1983
 
10/94

Lake City Community Center
  1971-1982
 
10/95

Lake City Park
  1979-1981
 
11/96

Lake City Treatment Plant
  1978-
 
11/97

Langston Hughes Community Center
  1976-1980
 
11/98

Lakewood Moorage
  1969-
 
11/99

Laurelhurst Playfield
  1969-1977
 
11/100

Leschi/Madronna Bulkhead
  1969-1976
 
11/101

Leschi Moorages Extension
  1969-1984
 
11/102

Leschi (N) Moorages
  1975-1976
 
11/103

Leschi Playground
  1971-1972
 
11/104

Lincoln Park
  1969-1985
 
11/105

Lower Woodland Playground
  1969-1983
 
11/106

Lower Woodland Sportsfield Improvements
  1981-1983
 
11/107

Lower Woodland Sportsfield Improvements
  1980-1983
 
12/108

Lowman Beach
  1983-
 
12/109

Loyal Heights Community Center
  1979-1987
 
12/110

Madison Park
  1969-1984
 
12/111

Madrona Briar Patch
  1978-1979
 
12/112

Madrona Park/Playground
  1969-1979
 
12/113

Magnolia Community Center Improvements
  1978-1982
 
12/114

Magnolia Waterfront
  1965-1967
 
12/115

Magnuson Park
  1973-1980
 
13/116

Maplewood Playfield [Beacon Hill]
  1969-1975
 
13/117

Market Park [Virginia Street Park]
  1979-1984
 
13/118

Market Park [Virginia Street Park]
  1979-1982
 
13/119

Martha Washington Site Study
  1979-
 
13/120

Matthews Beach
  1967-1975
 
13/121

Mayfair Park
  1970-
 
13/123

Meadowbrook Playfield
  1969-1978
 
13/124

Meadowbrook Pool
  1971-1979
 
13/125

Meadowbrook Restroom
  1974-
 
14/126

Meridian Neighborhood Playground
  1975-1981
 
14/127

Meridian Neighborhood Playground
  1981-1984
 
14/128

Montlake Community Center
  1969-1982
 
14/129

Mount Baker Boulevard
  1976-
 
14/130

Mount Baker Park
  1974-1984
 
14/131

Mount Baker Rowing and Sailing Facility
  1982-1985
 
14/132

Mount Baker Rowing and Sailing Facility
  1984-
 
15/133

Myrtle Edwards Park
  1979-
 
15/134

Neil J. Sandel Playground
  1968-1974