P-Patch Community Gardens

Squire Park

Squire Park Patch

In its first life, this site grew foundations, multi-room apartments and parked cars. The apartment building was demolished in the late 50’s and Seattle acquired it in a land trade. Local residents enlisted the P-Patch program and with the help of the Seattle Conservation Corp carted off many loads of rubble, spread the soil and planted the first Central District community garden.

Squire Park P-Patch Fence Artwork Proposal

Below is a brief discription of the project.
Comments on design proposed are being collected until May 21, 2008
Click Here to view slideshow (2.9MB PDF)

Send your comments to Sandy Pernitz at sandy.pernitz@seattle.gov

Selected in an open call, Seattle artist Mary Coss is designing artwork for the Squire Park P-patch. Artistic panels integrated into the fence celebrate the rich history of the Jackson Street era. The neighborhood was the stomping ground for musicians playing in the numerous local clubs. Coss worked with Garfield High School Jazz Band members to interview musicians. This gathering of personal stories compliments her research.

Decorative metal panels infused with jazz lore will stand at the corner of 14th and Fir. A comprehensive list of Seattle jazz clubs is represented as a plant unfolding over a street map. The 14th Avenue vine overlay includes over fifty clubs. Around the corner, the panel on Fir Street reveals the instruments of the big band as parts of a tree form. The rhythm section is based in the roots as the horns emerge within the tree limbs.

Colorful panels based on seed imagery are integrated throughout the fence. On closer inspection, there is a wealth of information written into these seeds of jazz, including information on the development of jazz, and the development of Seattle as a jazz town. The artist hopes her efforts peak your interest in finding out more of this colorful history.