Remember the fight. The fight to save a piece of Seattle’s history. That’s what Ramp 1 represents.
Today we stand before a remnant. A remnant of a battle fought decades ago. Ramp 1 stands as a testament to citizen action.
Back in the 1960s Seattle was on the verge of a freeway boom. The R.H. Thomson Expressway was planned. It would have been part of a ring of freeways around the city. This expressway threatened the Arboretum. It would have cut through the dense Central District. Many African-American residents would have been displaced.
The 520 Floating Bridge was built in the early 1960s. Its construction included ramps into the Arboretum. These ramps were meant to connect to the new freeway.
But citizens rallied. They fought for a decade to stop the R.H. Thomson Expressway. University of Washington students joined. Faculty members joined too. The Black Panthers stood with them. Environmental activists and concerned neighbors all united.
Larry Gossett a King County Council Member supported the activists. He said keeping a remnant of the freeway would remind us of citizen action.
The expressway plans were defeated. The 520 ramps remained. They became known as the Ramps to Nowhere. People used them in unexpected ways. Canoeists and kayakers paddled through the concrete columns. Students partied on top of the ramp. Brave souls even jumped into the water below.
The Washington State Department of Transportation is replacing the 520 Bridge. They planned to remove the Ramps to Nowhere. But activists rallied again. This time they wanted to save a piece of the ramps.
Seattle Activists Remembered Celebrated and Honored led the effort. They wanted to show future activists that civic engagement works.
Some people wanted the area restored to its natural state. But others supported the memorial idea. Iain Robertson a landscape architecture professor thought it could enhance the park. He believed the arch could help people find their way. It could frame views to the north.
Robertson also thought ruins add depth to the landscape. He said Seattle is a young city. This memorial adds richness to the Arboretum.
The city council voted to study the pier’s structure. They intended to take ownership from the state DOT. This was a step toward saving a piece of bridge history.
While these forms are highly suggestive they are not specific as to the nature of the work. Viewers are therefore prompted to answer lingering questions as to the nature and purpose of the work conducted.
Ramp 1 is more than concrete and steel. It’s a symbol of community power. It reminds us that we can shape our city’s future. It shows what happens when people unite for a common cause. It is a reminder of the power of people.