“Let’s make some music as we play!” That’s the invitation that Seattle Center’s Artists at Play extends to everyone. This isn’t just any playground. It’s a dynamic, art-based play environment.
Artists at Play opened in 2015. It transformed a desolate concrete slab into a colorful and inviting space. Before 2011, the World’s Fair Fun Forest amusement rides occupied this area.
The Seattle Center playground resulted from a close collaboration. Northwest artists Trimpin and Judith Caldwell partnered with Site Workshop and Highwire. Their goal was to create an interactive, artistic place for families and children of all ages.
The project team sought input from local kids. They held workshops, presentations, and open houses to gather imaginative ideas. The children’s preferences shaped the playground’s design.
Artists at Play features a range of engaging elements. You will find child-inspired musical instruments, listening stations, and sound swings. There are also turf play mounds, and an ADA-accessible carousel here. A painted maze, an alphabet tree, and a 35-foot climbing tower also add to the fun. The climbing tower is one of the largest in the country.
Judith Caldwell’s bronze handles allow visitors to interact with the Alphabet Tree. By raising and lowering letter strings, you can create the Do Re Mi scale. Bronze word/picture mysteries await discovery within the painted labyrinth.
Trimpin, known for his work at Seattle Children’s PlayGarden and Olympic Sculpture Park, contributed a Song Fence. This unique structure emits sounds when activated. It resembles a vertical xylophone.
From above, Artists at Play enlivens and connects the plaza to the rest of Seattle Center. Improvements include sweeping steps and an inviting deck. These additions provide better access and sunny picnic spots.
Artists at Play occupies the plaza between the Museum of Pop Culture and Seattle Center Armory. It sits just north of the Monorail station. This three-acre plaza has been reinvented thanks to the play area.
Center Art LLC provided private funding for Artists at Play. This funding was part of its lease for the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum. Seattle Center also used the project to upgrade Next 50 Plaza. They added landscaping terracing and a new patio deck.
Artists at Play Plaza offers a flat space for various activities. Private picnics and mobile marketing activations can take place here. The playground’s endless energy and joy surround these events.
The spirit of inclusion guided every stage of the project. This ensures a welcoming playground for children of all ages and abilities. It is a long-needed amenity in a dense urban neighborhood.
So, go ahead and explore Artists at Play. Discover the music, motion, and artistic expression it offers. This space truly reflects the community’s imagination and creative spirit.