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Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park Improvements
Pro Parks Project Information

2200 Martin Luther King Jr Way

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Project Status | Project Description | Community Participation | Important Links

PROJECT STATUS

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Lynn Sullivan, Project Manager
800 Maynard Ave S. 3rd Floor
Seattle, WA 98134
206-733-9105
lynn.sullivan@seattle.gov

Thank you, Seattle. This project is complete!

A series of concrete steps and walks have been installed through the existing terraces. Two plazas were also constructed: one is situated at the center of the top terrace and another at the center of the bottom terrace. Both overlook the fountain.

Park construction is now complete and the park is open to the public.

LOCATION	2200 Martin Luther King Jr Way
BUDGET	The Pro Parks Levy provides $475,000 project costs of planning, design and construction.
SCHEDULE	Planning: 2004 Design: 2004 Construction: 2005 - 2006 Completion: Spring 2006

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park was designated as a memorial park for Dr. King in 1983 and in 1984 $130,000 of Community Development Block Grant money was invested in grading, drainage, and other site improvements. In the late 1980s and early 1990s the community raised additional funds to install a memorial sculpture and reflecting pool.

The black granite 30-foot memorial sculpture and reflecting pool are the centerpiece of the park. The sculpture was inspired by Dr. King's "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech, made the day before he was assassinated in 1968. It was designed by the late Robert Kelly and the project was realized through organizing and fundraising efforts by the Martin Luther King Memorial Committee, chaired by Herman McKinney. The memorial was dedicated Nov. 16, 1991.

Additional work continued on the park in the 1990s and in 2000 Seattle voters approved the Pro Parks Levy which included $475,000 to “improve MLK park including sanctuary seating, pathways, parking, picnic area and landscaping.”

New improvements to the park
Funding from the Pro Parks Levy resulted in the following improvements:
• Walkways through the terraces
• ADA accessibility
• View overlook to fountain

Design Concept

1994 Park Master Plan

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COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

FRIENDS OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR MEMORIAL PARK:
Langdon Marsh
langmarsh@w-link.net
(206)328-5006

c/o St. Clement's of Rome Episcopal Church
1501 32nd Ave S.
Seattle, WA 98144

Parks hosted three community meetings on August 17, September 14, and October 26, 2004 to take community input and review ideas and plans. The improvements will be constructed in 2005.
> Meeting summary 8-17-04