Hing Hay Park

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HOURS

6 a.m. - 10 p.m.

ABOUT THE PARK

Hing Hay Park - "Park for Pleasurable Gatherings" - is a hub of the International District. Terrace-like stairs lead down from Maynard to a red brick square with an ornate Grand Pavilion designed and constructed in Taipei, Taiwan. Artwork on an adjacent building features a dragon in a depiction of Asian-American history in the Northwest. The park is a popular lunch spot, and meeting place for families and friends.

Excerpt from the files of Don Sherwood, 1916-1981, Park Historian.

HISTORY

The first Chinese pioneer came to Seattle in 1860, lured across the sea by the “mountain of gold” they hoped to find in California. With it, they hoped to return to their homelands and become landowners. Instead of the gold, they found only menial jobs, persecution, and misery. Many suffered and died of hardships during the construction of the railroads. After the railroads were build, jobs became scarce for everybody, and Anti-Chinese riots broke out across the western states. Seattle became the scene of such riots in 1886. Many Chinese people who at the time were not allowed citizenship were shipped out, some fled to Canada, relying on strong family bonds for survival.

Today the Asian-American community is an important part of Seattle’s community life. The protective societies, craft halls, and secret rooms that were once vital to survival are no longer necessary, and in their place a vital spirit has blossomed. Hing Hay Park, with its ornate pavilion and outgoing air of conviviality, stands a symbol of that spirit. It was purchased in 1970 with Forward Thurst money and designed by landscape architect S. K. Sakuma. The pavilion was constructed in 1974.
Excerpts from Enjoying Seattle’s Parks by Brandt Morgan