Last week I had the privilege of touring Seattle’s new waterfront park with my friend Owen Oliver. A writer and artist, he has been a key consultant to park designers highlighting Coast Salish priorities. We first met several years ago when he reached out to me about my book
I remember when the Viaduct was built, IIRC it had large no-image color panels as its public art. I liked it and treasured the views when driving it as an adult. I also thought the Tunnel a bad idea, but agreed a decision needed to be made. Gregoire deserves some credit. That tunnel works, we use it all of the time. And it made possible all of the great things described in today's post. A side note, our Waterfront (linear) Park drew some of its inspiration from the NYC High Line. I lived alongside of it for three years when it was still a railroad line.
Speaking of the High Line, I wish they would have left one elevated section of the Viaduct as an elevated view platform. It could have had a slide or some other fun way to get off of it.
Will check it out in the Spring. Will look at the waterfront park though the eyes of a former New Yorker who walked the High Line and the nearby Hudson River Park Trust. Anything opening the waterfront to people is a big plus. The elevated highway reminded me of the old West Side Highway in NYC. Dark, dirty and collapse was only a matter of time. The new tunnel is a great way of getting to the airport (which seems to be already over extended.) Thanks for you articles.
Reading today's post was calming. Even though I'm inside, I was taken back in time to a place where the first people lived outside and understood so much about the natural world, its resources, our connections, and the wonder of it all. Thank you.
When I heard and viewed the initial designs for the Overlook Walk and waterfront park, I was cautiously optimistic. Upon completion, I think the designers did an excellent job and David's description provides a wonderful story.
Thank you for these insights! Having been primed to look and feel, I will come back to them after I spend more time there, hopefully quite soon. I will compare what I saw and felt to what you've shared here. It will be fun!
I remember when the Viaduct was built, IIRC it had large no-image color panels as its public art. I liked it and treasured the views when driving it as an adult. I also thought the Tunnel a bad idea, but agreed a decision needed to be made. Gregoire deserves some credit. That tunnel works, we use it all of the time. And it made possible all of the great things described in today's post. A side note, our Waterfront (linear) Park drew some of its inspiration from the NYC High Line. I lived alongside of it for three years when it was still a railroad line.
Speaking of the High Line, I wish they would have left one elevated section of the Viaduct as an elevated view platform. It could have had a slide or some other fun way to get off of it.
Will check it out in the Spring. Will look at the waterfront park though the eyes of a former New Yorker who walked the High Line and the nearby Hudson River Park Trust. Anything opening the waterfront to people is a big plus. The elevated highway reminded me of the old West Side Highway in NYC. Dark, dirty and collapse was only a matter of time. The new tunnel is a great way of getting to the airport (which seems to be already over extended.) Thanks for you articles.
Thank you for this article. I wish I'd known these details when I took my family to visit Waterfront Park.
Reading today's post was calming. Even though I'm inside, I was taken back in time to a place where the first people lived outside and understood so much about the natural world, its resources, our connections, and the wonder of it all. Thank you.
Thanks for your kind words.
When I heard and viewed the initial designs for the Overlook Walk and waterfront park, I was cautiously optimistic. Upon completion, I think the designers did an excellent job and David's description provides a wonderful story.
Thank you for these insights! Having been primed to look and feel, I will come back to them after I spend more time there, hopefully quite soon. I will compare what I saw and felt to what you've shared here. It will be fun!
Marvelous story for its many aspects.