Parkways Seattle Parks and Recreation

February is Black History Month, a time to recognize the achievement of local African American heroes and heroines. We invite the public to celebrate by visiting one of the many parks and facilities named for Seattle’s African American leaders, and to learn about their contributions to the city.

Dr. Blanche Lavizzo Park

This park is a narrow strip that connects S Jackson St. and E Yesler Way. Its many oak, poplar and other trees create a shady oasis in the middle of a busy urban area. The park also features a large grassy area with picnic tables, grills, a shelter house and a small amphitheater used for concerts and plays. Dr. Blanche Lavizzo was Washington State’s first African American woman pediatrician. Dr. Lavizzo moved to Seattle in 1956 and served as the first medical director of the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic in Central Seattle. Lavizzo and her husband left medical practices in New Orleans in order to pursue careers in the Northwest.

Sam Smith Park

In September 1998, the central portion of the I-90 lid was renamed Sam Smith Park to honor Seattle’s first African American City Councilmember. In the course of a political career that spanned 34 years, Sam Smith served five terms in the Washington State Legislature (the second black member) and five terms on the Seattle City Council. Smith represented the 37^th district in Olympia beginning in 1958. One of his priorities in Olympia was promoting a bill that banned discrimination based on religion and race in the rental or sale of homes.

Sam Smith Park encompasses the largest and most central part of the I-90 lid. It has a play area for children, picnic tables and tennis courts. It is the site of Blue Dog Pond and the Urban Peace Circle, a sculpture by Seattle sculptor Gerard Tsutakawa, dedicated to children killed by gun violence in Seattle’s inner city.

Powell Barnett Park

This 4.4-acre park lies between East Alder and East Jefferson streets and was named for civil rights activist and community leader Powell Barnett in 1969. Barnett’s father, an ex-slave, was recruited to work in the coal mines in Roslyn, Washington in 1889. Barnett worked in the mines as a young man, but moved to Seattle in 1906 to explore other opportunities. He worked as a sub-foreman installing street car lines and later helped build downtown hotels. Barnett clerked for State Senator Frank Connor and served as a maintenance man at the King County Courthouse before retiring at age 71. Barnett is remembered for his passion to improve race relations in the city.

Flo Ware Park

This park offers a vibrant play area for children, and was named for Flo Ware, a community activist who was dedicated to social change in health care and education systems for the poor and elderly populations 

Homer Harris Park

This park held its grand opening ceremony in 2005 to honor Dr. Harris E. Homer, a dominant athlete and physician. Homer began his athletic career at Garfield High School in the 1930s and later became an All-American football player at the University of Iowa. Because the National Football League was banning black players at the time of his graduation, Homer decided to pursue medical school and went on to become a prominent dermatologist in his hometown of Seattle.

Pratt Park

This neighborhood playground in central Seattle memorializes Edwin T. Pratt, the founder of the Central Area Motivation Program and the Seattle Opportunities Industrialization Center.

Walt Hundley Playfield

This community area includes soccer fields, tennis courts and baseball fields, and was named for Walter R. Hundley, the first African American superintendent for Seattle Parks and one of the first African Americans to head a major parks and recreation department in the United States. Hundley held his position from 1977 to 1988 and was instrumental to acquiring the High Point playfield that was later named after him.

Judge Charles M. Stokes Overlook

This beautiful green space and picnic area in the I-90 lid honors Charles Moorehouse Stokes. Stokes was elected to the Washington legislature in 1950 and served as the first black legislator from King County. He was appointed judge in 1968 and was the first black person on the King County District Court.

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See Part 2 of this series here.

February is Black History Month, a time to recognize the achievement of local African American heroes and heroines. We invite the public to celebrate by visiting one of the many parks named for Seattle’s African American leaders, and to learn about their contributions to the city.

Medgar Evers Pool

Medgar Evers Pool is an indoor pool facility located on 23rd Ave., next to Garfield Community Center

Medgar Evers was a prominent civil rights leader. After serving in the U.S. Army and graduating from Alcorn State University, he moved to Mississippi and became involved with the Regional Council of Negro Leadership (RCNL). There he gained experience as an activist. He led multiple boycotts in protest of racist policies held by gas stations and retail stores.

In 1954, Evers applied to attend the University of Mississippi Law School, but was refused admission. As a result, the NAACP began campaigning to desegregate the school, leading to Evers becoming their first field officer in Mississippi. In that role, he investigated hate crimes against black people and supported the voter-registration movement. Though it took until 1962, Evers was key in the ultimate desegregation of the University of Mississippi.

In 1963, Medgar Evers was killed by a white supremacist. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Outrage over his tragic death fueled support for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Today, his home in Jackson, Mississippi is under consideration to become a national monument.

John C. Little, Sr. Park

John C. Little, Sr. park is located in the NewHolly neighborhood. The park includes picnic shelters, a plaza, a children’s play area, and a community garden.

John C. Little, Sr.’s motto was, “In order to improve the life of all people, you must improve the life of young people.” In his lifetime, he received countless awards for community service and served as a member of the Washington Human Rights Commission and the Seattle Board of Park Commissioners.

In the 1960s, he helped to create the Central Area Youth Association, which provided youth athletic leagues, one-on-one tutoring, and job training. During the early 1970s, he helped devise a youth conservation corps in which urban youth trained and worked in Olympic National Park.

His legacy lives on at Seattle Parks and Recreation. An annual award in his honor recognizes the employee who exemplifies his service to youth and community.

William Grose Park

Located at 30th Ave. E and Howell St., this quiet neighborhood park features a rolling green lawn with giant evergreen along a short path.

Grose (1835-1898) was an African American pioneer. In 1876, Grose opened a restaurant and hotel on Yesler Way called “Our House.” Six years later, he bought 12 acres along E Madison St. from Henry Yesler, which became the foundation of the Central District. Grose was one of the founders of the First African Methodist Episcopal church in Seattle and was one of the wealthiest men in the city during his time. He was known as a generous neighbor who regularly helped those in need.

Prentis I. Frazier Park

Prentis I. Frazier Park (401 24^th Ave. E) is a neighborhood park ideal for resting in the shade and playing. The park includes a small play area with benches. Construction began earlier this year on a renovation to the children’s play area.

The park is located behind the historic home of Prentis Frazier, who lived in Seattle in the early to mid-1900s. He was a skilled businessman, working in investments and real estate, and was committed to supporting black entrepreneurship in Seattle. In 1925, he and a partner opened a movie theater on E Madison St. Shortly thereafter, he started the Seattle Enterprise, a newspaper designed to serve black Seattleites. The paper continued to run until the 1950s. He lived in the Central District from the time he moved to Seattle until his death in 1959.

Alvin Larkins Park

Alvin Larkins Park, located at the corner of E Pike St. and 34th Ave. E, is a popular neighborhood gathering place for the Madrona community and frequently sees visitors strolling through from the nearby business district. It is landscaped with maple, pine, fir, and cherry trees. Seattle Parks and Recreation bought the land for the park in 1973 and developed it in 1975. In 1979, it was named Alvin Larkins Park based on the recommendation of the Madrona Community Council.

Al Larkins was a brilliant musician and teacher. While stationed at Sand Point Naval Air Station, he played in both the U.S. Naval Military Band and the Jive Bombers jazz band. He went on to graduate from the University of Washington and became a teacher with Seattle Public Schools, where he was an outstanding music instructor for many years. Larkins helped to found the Rainy City Jazz Band, which performed at the first Bumbershoot Festival, and played with Duke Ellington when he performed in Seattle. Larkins also directed the Madrona Presbyterian Church choir. He was a regular at neighborhood events, devoting time and energy to the Madrona community, where he lived from 1949 until his death in 1977.

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See Part 1 of this series here.