About the Magnuson Community Garden

• FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
• The Design Process
• Phase I
• Phase II
• Chronology of Accomplishments

The Magnuson Community Garden is a 4-acre multi-purpose garden developed by many organizations  over several years.  While most of the infrastructure is in place, it will take time for the plantings to mature.  There are programs yet to be developed which will provide opportunities for volunteer participation.    The garden has been developed under the guidance of the Magnuson Community Garden, a nonprofit organization.

The idea for a community garden in Magnuson Park began in 2000 when the Department of Neighborhood's Sand Point P-Patch needed to be moved to a new location.  The P-Patch site had been on property leased from Childrens' Hospital.  The desire for a new community garden was expressed to city officials at the time when the city was developing reuse plans for the decommissioned Sand Point Naval Base.  The community garden concept was considered by the commission developing a master plan for Sand Point. 

The Magnuson Park Concept Plan adopted by Seattle City Council Resolution No. 30063 called for a community garden to be located immediately east of the Community Activity Center (formerly the Brig).  The Council Resolution stated that the "Council encourages early implementation of the proposed community garden/P-Patch."  For more information on the Sand Point Magnuson Park reuse plan see Current Planning Process, Seattle Parks and Recreation

The concept for the 4-acre community garden is that it will serve a function that is integral to the overall park.  It will serve horticultural purposes in plant education, demonstrating native plant materials, composting,  gardening opportunities for persons with disabilities, as well as a P-Patch. The gardeners and garden plots will provide educational opportunities, opportunities to integrate gardening programs into the community center activities, and involve the on-site transitional housing families into garden programs. 

A group led by the Sand Point P-Patch volunteers, which later formed the core of the Magnuson Community Garden Coalition Steering Committee, was successful in its application for a City of Seattle Neighborhood Matching Fund Award to finance the design phase of the project.  The Steering Committee invited others to join the Magnuson Garden Coalition to coordinate the development of the Community Garden.

Barker Landscape Architects was chosen, among other RFP submittals, to prepare a design for the garden.  A series of three public meetings were held to bring the public into the design process.  A concept from the information gathered at the public forums will be produced.  The final plan was reviewed by the Design Review Commission and the Seattle Parks Department which had oversight responsibility for the park. See information about the design process.