Kinnear Park

Summary

Kinnear Park is a 14.1-acre (57,000 m2) park on the southwest slope of Queen Anne Hill in Seattle, Washington, United States located between W. Olympic Place on the northeast, W. Mercer Place and Elliott Avenue W. on the southwest, the 9th Avenue W. right of way on the west, and the 6th Avenue W. right of way on the east. It is two-tiered, with a lawn and open space atop the cliff, and a wooded area below.

Kinnear Park
Smith Cove seen from Kinnear Park
Map
TypeUrban park
LocationSeattle, Washington
Coordinates47°37′37.5″N 122°21′54″W / 47.627083°N 122.36500°W / 47.627083; -122.36500
Area14.1 acres (5.7 ha)
Operated bySeattle Parks and Recreation
StatusOpen year round
WebsiteOfficial website

History edit

Kinnear Park is named for local real estate developer George Kinnear, who sold an 11-acre (4.5 ha) parcel of land to the city for a dollar in 1887.[1][2] He donated a second parcel of 3 acres (1.2 ha) in 1897. While work on the park had already begun when E. O. Schwagerl was appointed Seattle's superintendent of parks in 1892,[2] he greatly influenced its design as its landscape architect, directing the planting and the construction of various amenities.[3]

In 1903, John C. Olmsted was commissioned to prepare a comprehensive parks plan for Seattle. Although Kinnear Park had already been completed, he approved of its design, saying in his report, "the park is pleasing in detail and extremely valuable, owing to the fine views which it commands over the Sound. It is a good sample of the miles of similar bluff parks which it is hoped the city will eventually have," and including the park in his overall plan.[4]

It has been designated a Seattle landmark by the city government.

References edit

  1. ^ Dorpat, Paul (June 20, 2014). "The scene in Kinnear Park, 1900". Seattle Times. ISSN 0745-9696. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Smith, Holly (October 18, 2012). "Kinnear Park – 899 W Olympic Pl". Queen Anne Historical Society. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  3. ^ Mendelson, Kathy (November 9, 2009). "Edward Otto Schwagerl and the Golden Age of Seattle Park Planning". Pacific Northwest Garden History. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  4. ^ "Kinnear Park Ribbon Cutting". Friends of Seattle's Olmsted Parks. 2014. Retrieved October 3, 2018.

External links edit

  • Parks Department page on Kinnear Park