Milestones
Seattle Parks Foundation was originally founded as a nonprofit partner to Seattle Parks and Recreation. Fueled by the energy of civic leaders who wanted the freedom to advocate and fundraise for projects beyond city budgets, Seattle Parks Foundation became an independent nonprofit in 1999.
Timeline:
Throughout our history, Seattle Parks Foundation has worked to support capital campaigns, large-scale community park planning, civic-scale parks, and public space advocacy initiatives. These are just a few of our milestones.
2024
Be’er Sheva Park celebrated its Grand Re-Opening, with updates including a 30-by-150-foot beach with boardwalk, family picnic areas, performance stage, walking paths, a lawn, safety lighting, and fishing and kayaking access.
Pathways Park opens, the first fully accessible nature-based play space in the region.
Cayton Corner Park broke ground.
Seattle Parks Foundation hosted the Love Parks Gala, kicking off our 25th anniversary year and surpassing our fundraising goal to raise over $389,000!
2023
Implementation of Partner Advisory Council.
Launch of new brand/logo and website, inclusive of members-only partner portal.
Be’er Sheva goes to bid for construction of expanded lake access. The improvements are the result of more than two years of community outreach and planning funded by matching grants from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and the Seattle Parks Foundation.
2022
A new Mission, Vision, and Strategic Plan are launched.
SPF facilitated public polling and mobilized our community to advocate for the renewal of the Metropolitan Park District, a $780M investment in our parks.
Duwamish River People’s Park and Shoreline Habitat opens, a span of 14 acres representing the largest environmental restoration project to have been undertaken on the Duwamish River in a generation.
Detective Cookie Chess Park opens, sixteen years after the Rainier Beach youth chess club was formed by Detective Denise “Cookie” Bouldin.
2021
Occidental Square Pavilion opens as a result of the Urban Parks Activation Partnership. A partnership between the Downtown Seattle Assocation, Alliance for Pioneer Square, Friends of Waterfront Seattle and Seattle Parks Foundation, this pavilion offers a covered space for outdoor education, performances and more.
2020
Rebecca Bear joins as President and CEO.
The Seward Park Torii restoration is complete, rebuilding a beloved icon of international friendship given to the City of Seattle by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in 1934. The new torii is built with native basalt and western red cedar, replacing the original that decayed and was removed in 1985.
2017
Completion of Rainier Beach Urban Farm & Wetlands redevelopment. Today the farm is a 10-acre community hub dedicated to organic food production and distribution, environmental education and wetlands restoration, co-operated by Friends of RBUFW and Tilth Alliance.
Published the Georgetown Open Space Vision Framework, which included outreach and engagement efforts throughout the community to assess existing public spaces, and the facilitation of community-led planning for a system of green, connected public spaces.
2016
Tiny Trees Preschool opens in four locations, with startup capital from Seattle Parks Foundation.
Work commences to enhance safe access to school for students in the South Park neighborhood at Concord International Elementary School.
2014
2013
2012
Seattle Parks Foundation commissioned Sustaining Seattle’s Parks: A Study of Alternative Strategies to Support Operations and Maintenance of a Great Urban Parks System, which provided a framework for the four-year effort to establish the Seattle Park District.
2011
Thatcher Bailey joins as Executive Director and the fiscal sponsorship model is launched.
2010
2007
Successfully advocated for implementation of the Bands of Green plan, which has guided work on enhanced green streets and trail connections throughout the city.
2005
Homer Harris Park opened in May 2005, after an anonymous $1.3M donation to build a Central Area park.
Completion of Lake People (Xacua’bs) Park: Seattle Parks Foundation supported the acquisition and development of Lake People (Xacua’bs) Park, and oversaw the maintenance for the first three years beyond its opening.
2003
Restoration of Schurman Rock at Camp Long. The historic climbing wall was off-limits for three years due to cracking as a result of soil sliding prior to restoration.
2001
Karen Daubert becomes the first Executive Director of Seattle Parks Foundation.
