Kirke Park

Project Title: Kirke Park
Landscape Architect: Site Workshop
Category: General Design - Public Ownership
Location: Seattle, WA
Description:
Located in a dense, single-family residential neighborhood in Ballard, Kirke park feels like an idyllic backyard— inviting imaginative play through commonplace features designed with care. At just under an acre— the park bursts with multi-generational appeal and includes neighborhood gathering space, a playground, nature-play, a community garden, and a “secret’ garden hidden within creatively adapted remnants of a historic building. Integral to the design process, the team led a series of collaborative, design workshops that identified a clear set of priorities while empowering the community with a sense of ownership. Kirke was selected early in the design process as a pilot project for the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES), and offers valuable lessons for the sustainable development of future neighborhood parks. The park was awarded a two-star rating, recognizing a compact site reflecting the promotion of human health and well-being, as well as environmental health through stormwater management, native plantings, and healthy soil.

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