List of Olmsted parks in Seattle facts for kids
The city of Seattle, Washington, has many beautiful parks, and a lot of them were designed by a famous team called the Olmsted Brothers. Back in 1903, Seattle asked these expert park designers to create a big plan for the city. Their goal was to build a "greenbelt" – a network of parks and green spaces all around the city. This planning continued for many years, with the last park designed by the Olmsteds, Washington Park Arboretum, being completed in 1936.
Today, the Seattle Parks and Recreation system is known as one of the best examples of Olmsted-designed parks in the entire country. Because they are so special, the Olmsted parks system was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. This means they are recognized as important historical sites.
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Who Were the Olmsted Brothers?
The Olmsted Brothers were famous landscape architects. This means they were experts at designing outdoor spaces like parks, gardens, and even entire city layouts. They thought about how people would use the parks, how plants would grow, and how to make beautiful, natural-looking places for everyone to enjoy.
Seattle's Green Vision: The Early Plans
The Olmsted Brothers had a big vision for Seattle. They wanted to connect different parts of the city with green spaces, making it a healthier and more beautiful place to live. Their plans were developed in different stages over several years.
Parks from the 1903 Plan
The first big plan in 1903 included many well-known parks that Seattleites still love today. These parks were designed to offer places for relaxation, play, and enjoying nature.
- Green Lake Park
- Ravenna & Cowen Park
- Woodland Park
- Volunteer Park
- Cal Anderson Park
- Madrona Park
- Frink Park
- Colman Park
- Mount Baker Park
- Jefferson Park
- Seward Park
- Sunset Hill Park
- Magnolia Bluff
- Interlaken Park
Parks from the 1908 Plan
A few years later, in 1908, the Olmsted Brothers added more parks to their growing list of designs for Seattle.
- Hiawatha Playfield
- Schmitz Park
- Lincoln Park
Other Special Parks and Spaces
The Olmsted Brothers also influenced other important green spaces in Seattle.
- Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition: This was a big fair held in 1909. The Olmsted Brothers helped design the grounds, which are now the main campus of the University of Washington.
- Denny-Blaine Park: This park was one of the "improved parks" mentioned in the Seattle Park Board's report from 1909.
- Discovery Park: This is Seattle's largest park, covering 534-acre (2.16 km2). While not fully designed by the Olmsteds, they recommended and influenced its development.
A Historic Park System
The Olmsted parks system in Seattle is very special because it has been so well-preserved over the years. Being added to the National Register of Historic Places means these parks are recognized as important parts of American history and culture. They continue to provide beautiful green spaces for everyone in Seattle to enjoy, just as the Olmsted Brothers intended.
