Seattle Parks and Recreation, Garfield Super Block (GSB) Coalition and Seattle Parks Foundation are happy to invite the community to a ceremonial “groundbreaking” celebration for the Garfield Super Block project. Please join us on Wednesday, June 11 at 4 p.m. at the Garfield Community Center, 2323 E Cherry St. The event will feature GSB artists, student musicians from Garfield High School Jazz Band, remarks from elected officials and GSB leaders, and light refreshments. SPR anticipates construction will begin in summer 2025 with completion in spring 2026.
This community-initiated renovation project addresses the unfinished portion of the 2005 Garfield Super Block Master Plan. The renovated park will improve access for multi-generational recreation, with a new play area for different age groups and abilities, a new restroom building and an accessible .34-mile loop path around the park connecting all the amenities in the block. Garfield Super Block comprises the Garfield Community Center, Medgar Evers Pool, tennis courts, Garfield Playfield with its historic ball fields, the Teen-Life Center, the Quincy Jones Performing Arts Center, and Garfield High School’s track and field facilities.
Additional site upgrades include lighting, an accessible ramp at the southeast to complement existing stair access, a multi-use court for tennis and basketball, and a reconfigured plaza area around the restroom.
“The Garfield Superblock is an amazing project that honors the rich history and culture of Seattle’s Central District and serves as a shining example of how the community and City can work together to create healthy, thriving neighborhoods,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell. “I’m so excited to cut the ribbon on this project next spring and want to thank Seattle Parks and Recreation, funding partners, and community leaders for their advocacy and commitment to this project.”
This project is truly a public and private effort with major funds from the City of Seattle & Seattle Park District ($2.83 million), the National Park Service and Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office ($2.245 million), Washington State Department of Commerce ($2.95 Million), King County ($1 million), Seattle Public Schools ($500,000). Without their generous support and community initiative this transformative investment would not be possible. Thank you to the Seattle Parks Foundation for their partnership on this project and fiscal sponsorship.
“The community has been fighting for this project for over twenty years.” said Robert Stephens, Jr. of the Garfield Super Block Coalition. “The timeline of Seattle’s Central Area was brilliantly memorialized on the walls of Garfield High School. We wanted to bring that story to life in the art of Garfield Super Block. From the annual MLK march to historic organizing by the Black Panthers, Garfield has and always will be a central convening area for celebration and organizing with the young people of our city.”
Located in the heart of Seattle’s Central Area, GSB serves as the community’s central gathering place and a historic citywide destination. Known to some as “Little City Hall”, the space pulsates with a rich history of events, people, and moments, which continues today. The improvements will ensure the Garfield Super Block project continues to serve as a welcoming, accessible, and culturally rich gathering place for current and future generations while honoring the deep history and diverse heritage of the Central Area.
As part of this community led project, GSB Coalition formed an art team to help develop and implement an arts masterplan for the site. The goal was to integrate art throughout the park that reflects the cultural diversity and history of Seattle’s Central Area. The art works include several “Pillars of Promise”, “Reforesting the Central Area”, and bronze metal inlays.
“This project highlights what the City can do with collective community, federal, state, county and City support,” said AP Diaz, Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent. “It is a great placemaking investment for the Central Area and creates a space for the community to recreate, gather, learn and meet neighbors.”
SPR is also excited to share, that “G1” the playfield in the southwest corner of the Garfield Playfield will also undergo replacement of its existing synthetic turf. The current synthetic turf is at the end of its life cycle. By pairing this work with the GSB construction, SPR is able to reduce impacts from field closures.
For more information, please visit https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/projects/garfield-super-block-renovation for more information or contact Karen O’Connor at karen.oconnor@seattle.gov. Attendees are encouraged but not required to RSVP.
