A. B. Ernst Park

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HOURS

4 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.

ABOUT THE PARK

Built on a steep hillside, Ernst Park is comprised of a spiraling path of water-permeable concrete, bordered by artful garden-bed walls that park designer Lynn Thompson created to serve as seating. The path spirals down from N 35th St. to a small amphitheater, and continues down via stairway to N 34th St. The park provides wheelchair access to the community room of the Fremont Library (a Carnegie library) next door. The park also provides pedestrian connections between the library, commercial core, and residential. There is enough seating in this small park for 150 to 200 people. The sloped beds are landscaped with barberry and other sustainable native vegetation.

HISTORY

The Fremont Neighborhood Plan recommended a park at this site to include plazas, wheelchair access, and hardscape such as retaining walls and planters to mitigate the steep slope at this sunny spot. Seattle Parks and Recreation conducted a thorough and open design process with extensive opportunities for community involvement. Parks and Recreation bought the land for this park in 1998, planned the park in 2002, and built the park during 2003 and 2004. Pro Parks Levy money provided $396,000 toward the park's planning, design, and construction.

Ernst Park was named after Ambrose Ernst, known as the "Father of City Playfields," who served on the Board of Park Commissioners from 1906 to 1913, and died in 1931. Ernst, a Fremont resident, was instrumental in implementing Seattle's Olmsted parks plan.