“Equity not scenic welfare” declared Herbert Muschamp about community parks. That quote resonates deeply here at Cal Anderson Park. This space wasn’t always the vibrant hub you see today. It’s a story of community, resilience, and reclaiming public space.
Cal Anderson Park’s story began in 1889. Seattle needed a better water infrastructure after the Great Seattle Fire. The city built the Lincoln Reservoir right here. Completed in 1901, the area around the reservoir became Lincoln Park. The Olmsted Brothers designed it. They were famed landscape architects known for Central Park in New York City.
The park included a wading pool, a field house, sand courts and a playground. But by the early 1990s, Lincoln Park had fallen into disrepair. Weeds grew tall. The restroom was covered in graffiti. People avoided it.
Then Kay Rood and the community organization Groundswell Off Broadway stepped in. They envisioned a welcoming open space. They wanted to bring new life to this neglected resource. They organized meetings, cleanups, and community projects. It was a long process.
In 1922, the playfield south of the reservoir was renamed Broadway Playfield. This was done to avoid confusion with the new Lincoln Park in West Seattle. In 1980, Broadway Playfield was renamed Bobby Morris Playfield. This honored Bobby Morris. He was a Broadway Highschool alum, a local sports referee, and later King County Auditor.
A major turning point came when the city decided to cover the Lincoln Reservoir. This was to protect water quality. Groundswell saw an opportunity. They advocated for buried water tanks. They wanted to create new park land on top.
In April 2003, the entire area was officially named Cal Anderson Park. It honored Cal Anderson. He was Washington State’s first openly gay state legislator. He died of AIDS in 1995. From 2003 to 2005, the reservoir was rebuilt as a covered basin.
The park reopened on September 24, 2005. It was a transformation. The neglected space became a jewel of Capitol Hill. Cal Anderson Park featured a water fountain, a plaza, and a children’s play area. There were also tennis courts, basketball courts, and a dodgeball court.
Cal Anderson Park has seen its share of history. In the 1970s, it informally hosted some of Seattle’s first Pride festivals. In 2009, Forbes magazine recognized it as one of the 12 Best City Parks in the U.S. In 2020, protesters occupied the park. They declared it part of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ). It was later renamed the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP).
Today, Cal Anderson Park stands as a testament to community action. It’s a place for recreation, relaxation, and gathering. The AIDS Memorial Pathway runs along the park’s north edge. It continues into the adjacent Capitol Hill Station Plaza. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty. Remember the dedication that transformed this space. Think about the power of community to create lasting change.