Category Archives: Parks

America for sale – $1M gets you in

Posted on December 14, 2025 by Jim deMaine

By Danny Westneat – Seattle Times columnist When the Trump administration plastered his name on signs in Seattle taking credit for an infrastructure project he had fought bitterly against, I called it a “sign of the shameless times” and “a new level of Orwellian.” … Continue reading →

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Seattle Waterfront’s New Pier 58 Playground

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mike C. Over the past few years, I have been watching the Seattle Waterfront change. From the fantastic Ocean Pavilion expansion, to the brand-new Overlook Walk connecting the waterfront to Pike Place Market, each addition has been more … Continue reading →

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Keepers of the Land

Posted on February 27, 2025 by Jim deMaine

by David B. Williams in the Street Smart Naturalist (thanks to Mary M.) Many, many years ago, I was a national park ranger at Arches National Park and the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. As a ranger, I led … Continue reading →

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Freeway Park Volunteers Needed

Posted on February 7, 2025 by Jim deMaine

 ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏   Volunteers Needed! Join us at our annual Winter Neighborhood Clean-Up on Saturday, February 15th from 10-11:30am.   Meet us right in Seneca Plaza to help … Continue reading →

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MORE PAVING, FEWER TREES. SO MUCH FOR A GREEN ‘ONE SEATTLE’

Posted on December 7, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to MaryLou P. – from the Seattle Times For Seattleites who appreciate trees, Mayor Bruce Harrell’s “One Seattle” comprehensive plan ought to spark grave concerns. The city’s proposed 20-year blueprint for growth contains major changes for residential neighborhoods, paving … Continue reading →

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Freeway Park Calendar

Posted on December 4, 2024 by Jim deMaine

For more: www.freewayparkassociation.org

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A letter to Councilwoman Joy Hollingsworth

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Joy, We’re enjoying the new Seattle city park on the Graystone property. Skyline and other First Hill residents played important roles in getting it developed. It’s on the property that previously housed the office of Paul Thiry, one of Seattle’s … Continue reading →

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Stopover on your First Hill walk

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Jim deMaine
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Remembering Charley Royer, Seattle’s only three-term mayor

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Helping the city reinvent itself after the Boeing bust, Royer pushed for a Westlake Park makeover, the Convention Center and low-income housing. by Knute Berger in Crosscut Charles “Charley” Royer during his first year as Seattle Mayor in 1978. Royer died … Continue reading →

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Freeway Park Newsletter

Posted on June 7, 2024 by Jim deMaine
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Posted on May 22, 2023 by Jim deMaine

By David Brewster in Post Alley/Seattle A disturbing, Seattle-relevant story in the New York Times traces the exodus of highly educated employees from “superstar cities.” Seattle and other expensive coastal cities are definitely on the list, and the story notes the loss of magnetism … Continue reading →

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Volunteer in the Park!

Posted on March 25, 2023 by Jim deMaine
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Freeway Park annual autumn neighborhood clean-up

Posted on October 11, 2022 by Jim deMaine

This Saturday, October 15th, join the Freeway Park Association and First Hill Improvement Association for our annual autumn neighborhood clean-up! Help us beautify our community by picking up litter around Freeway Park and the First Hill neighborhood. Trash bags, trash … Continue reading →

Posted in In the Neighborhood, Parks | 1 Comment

Instead of a Wall, a Binational Park To Be Built on Border of Texas & Mexico

Posted on April 5, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Pam P. – from the Goodnewsletter Only two years ago, the border town of Laredo, Texas, was bracing itself for the construction of the towering steel and concrete border wall that threatened to cut off the city, its … Continue reading →

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Crossroads: A Turning Point for Downtown’s Freeway Park?

Posted on January 31, 2022 by Jim deMaine

From Ed M. who sends this from postalley.org By Mike James and David Brewster Editor’s Note: Freeway Park is a much-admired design by one of America’s most revered landscape architects, Lawrence Halprin. The 5.2-acre park, which bridges the I-5 Freeway, … Continue reading →

Posted in environment, Gardening, History, In the Neighborhood, Nature, Parks | 1 Comment

First Hill Improvement Association (FHIA) – Tree Replacements

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Jim Tanner

Ed.- from FHIA via Sue VanLeuven Good Morning Everyone,  I have some exciting news about our efforts to replace the trees that were removed by the 800 Columbia project! Yesterday, 4 replacement trees were planted along Marion Street from 8th … Continue reading →

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Freeway Park Fall Lantern Festival

Posted on October 15, 2019 by Jim deMaine
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A view and noise of the viaduct teardown

Posted on May 15, 2019 by Jim deMaine

This view shows the progress of the viaduct teardown from a friend.s condo at the corner of Western and Madison. What a great improvement in the development of a world class waterfront.

Posted in environment, History, Parks, Transportation | 1 Comment

Why Mount Rainier was once called Mount Tacoma

Posted on April 4, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Should it be Rainier, Tacoma or perhaps Tahoma? Actually there is a peak just off Mt. Rainier called Little Tahoma, the third highest peak in Washington State. A long time ago I was able to look down on … Continue reading →

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Twinkle Twinkle Freeway Park

Posted on November 29, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Hi All! You and your community are invited to our 7th Annual “Twinkle Twinkle Freeway Park” on Friday December 7th. Join us for an evening of Caroling, Smore’s and Holiday fun! I’ve attached a poster, so please print and share … Continue reading →

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Posted on November 24, 2018 by Jim deMaine

From outsideonline: “After World War II, Americans flush with cash and vacation time (then a new concept) started exploring national parks in droves.After 1945, the final year of the war, visitation skyrocketed. Yellowstone alone saw 189,000 people—more than double the … Continue reading →

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Walking to Little Saigon

Posted on October 23, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Walking south on 9th past Harborview and following it downhill across Yesler last Sunday, I found the new park quite lively situated among all the construction going on. There were lots of young families with kids on the well laid out … Continue reading →

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Fall Lantern Festival Freeway Park – October 26th

Posted on October 16, 2018 by Jim deMaine

“Join us in celebrating the installation of the Community Lanterns, and the changing seasons in Freeway Park! The lanterns, created by the Freeway Park community, will bring color, light and movement into the Park throughout the Fall and Winter. Festivities … Continue reading →

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Freeway Park – September activities

Posted on August 26, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Click below to see the September activities at nearby Freeway Park.  Freeway Park 8/25

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The beginnings of a garden

Posted on June 23, 2018 by Jim deMaine

On the way to Baretll’s today, I saw a few folks from Horizon House watering the nascent garden behind the fence at the corner of Madison and Terry. According to the volunteer the property is leased by St. James from … Continue reading →

Posted in In the Neighborhood, Nature, Parks | 3 Comments