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Seattle Municipal Archives Guide


ID: 5804-05

Record Group: Department of Parks and Recreation

Record Series: Planning, Construction and Maintenance Records
1928 -2003
91.62 cubic feet (92 boxes; 16 reels of microfilm)

This series documents changes and improvements in Seattle parks, as well as the construction of new parks, through th e records of the Facilities Maintenance Division. These activities were funded through Forward Thrust, Model City Progra m, and other agencies, as well as with Parks Department monies. The planning, design, and construction phases of projects are documen ted. Records are primarily those of project coordinators, as well as engineers, the city architect, and the Parks Superi ntendent. The record series contains correspondence, contracts and agreements, reports, maps, drawings, newspaper clippings, and p hotographs. The series offers good snapshots of neighborhood character because community input was often an important pa rt of the process of improving or developing new parks. The relationship between the Parks Department and contractors is also very well documented, especially through correspondence and meeting minutes which document projects through various stages. When more than one department or entity outside of the City are involved, as in the construction of the Aquarium or Freeway Park, for example, interdepartmental relationships are well documented through memoranda, reports and contracts. 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 bet ween City departments and with community groups. The Capitol Hill Viewpoint or Louis Boren Lookout was designed by Victor Steinbru eck and his correspondence with the City is included in the project files. The Discovery Park project is especially well documented. Land transfer, community input, construction, and the relatio nship between the City and the United Indians of All Tribes, as well as other issues relating to the development of the park, are documented in the records. The records include correspondence with Bernie Whitebear and documentation of various court p roceedings with Margaret Coughlin. Also well represented is the Thornton Creek area, especially the environmental studies done surrounding the idea of an u rban park and trail. Additionally, the planning efforts and studies relating to the central waterfront area, as well, in cluding explorations of a marina and convention center are detailed in the records. The large volume of records related to Magnu son 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 th e specific park, but there are also folders under "small parks and recreation areas" which have information on mini-park s. Some park plans, such as South Lake Union Park, were explored, but not executed.

Location:
Seattle Municipal Archives

Finding Aids:
Folder List
EAD Guide to the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation Planning, Construction and Maintenance Records 1928-1994

Personal Name Subjects:
Brown, Buddy
Coughlin, Margaret, 1912-1996--Trials, litigation, etc.
Ferrero, Ernie
Jessel, Jim
Steinbrueck, Victor
Vibber, John Russell, 1915-
Whitebear, Bernie

Corporate Name Subjects:
Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Parks and Recreation.
Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Parks and Recreation. Facilities Maintenance Division.
Seattle Aquarium.
United Indians of All Tribes Foundation (U.S.).
University of Washington. Arboretum.

Topical Subjects:
Playgrounds -- Equipment and supplies -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Reservoirs -- Design and construction -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Sports facilities -- Lighting -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Urban parks -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Golf courses -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Parks and Playgrounds
Fort Lawton (Seattle, Wash.)
Burke Gilman Trail (Wash.)
Photographs
Sports and Recreation
Playgrounds -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Parks -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Woodland Park Zoo
Discovery Park (Seattle, Wash.)
Public art -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Swimming pools -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Community centers -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Sports facilities -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Recreation areas and people with disabilities -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Westlake Park (Seattle, Wash.)
Occidental Park (Seattle, Wash.)
Warren G. Magnuson Park (Seattle, Wash.)
Contracts
Gas Works Park (Seattle, Wash.)
Louisa Boren Lookout (Seattle, Wash.)

Genre Terms:
Memorandums
Correspondence
Maps
Design drawings
Microfilms
Clippings
Photographic prints
Negatives
Drawings
Reports

Geographical Subjects:
Seattle
Seattle (Wash.)

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