Streissguth Gardens

Location: 900 East Blaine Street

A gift to Seattle from the Streissguth family, this unique urban green space features a wooded area, winding trails, and countless plantings. The park’s flora includes both ornamentals and edibles that blend into an adjacent hillside in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The Streissguth Gardens are particularly enjoyed by the many that travel the East Blaine Street stairs. These stairs border the public park to the north and form a “green connection” that links the gardens and St. Marks Greenbelt above, to the new I-5 Colonnade Park and Lake Union below.

Another generous gift from the Streissguth family to Seattle Parks Foundation seeded an endowment fund for the gardens’ ongoing maintenance. Additional contributions to the maintenance endowment fund are still needed to ensure that this urban treasure continues to receive the highest quality care.

Once a steep and soggy hillside on the northwest side of Seattle's Capitol Hill, the public Streissguth Gardens emerged as the result of years of dedication. Beginning in the 1970’s Ann and Dan Streissguth and later their son, Ben, slowly hand-cleared the slope of invasive plants such as ivy, blackberries, horsetail, and nettles. They then made way for the likes of native trillium, rhododendron and the countless other well-adapted trees, shrubs, and flowers chosen for their ability to thrive in that environment. They ultimately created a beautiful year-round garden and generously share it with all those who come for a visit or pass the garden by way of the neighboring public stairway. The Streissguth Gardens have thus come to provide neighbors and visitors alike with an incredible urban garden experience featuring views of Lake Union, Downtown Seattle, and the Olympic Mountains beyond. For more information about the property’s history, layout, and more, visit www.streissguthgardens.com. If you are interested in contributing to the Streissguth Gardens Maintenance Endowment Fund, contact Deputy Director, Lydia Bassett, 206.332.9900 x15.