The Vision for a Central Park
Superintendent Schwagerl plans to transform a forty-acre ridge tract into an exposition of native Washington flora and a scenic reservoir.
The most important park in Seattle, located on the ridge running north to south, comprises forty acres of virgin forest. Superintendent Schwagerl intends to transform this tract into an exposition of Washington's varied flora, demonstrating the state's capacity for both scenic beauty and commercial textile plant development. Plans include a reservoir shaped like a lake rather than a rigid cement tank to preserve the natural beauty of the ravines. The superintendent is also working on a topographical map to guide the landscaping of the area, which currently contains nursery beds for hardy plants.
“The most important park in Seattle not only as to area, but in view of possibilities, is the city park on the top of the ridge.”
This article describes the early development of what would become the crown jewels of Seattle's park system. It highlights a period when the city was actively debating how to balance infrastructure—like water reservoirs—with public green space, a tension that still exists in urban planning today.
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