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The first public park within the city limits of Seattle was Denny Park - a gift to the city by David T. Denny in 1884.
In 1887, the Board of Park Commissioners was established to oversee development of the Seattle park system.
Seattle Parks Commissioners hired the famed Olmsted Brothers landscape
architecture firm in 1903 to design a comprehensive system of parks
and boulevards for the city. The Olmsted Plan for Seattles parks
spurred the early development of the Seattle park system and has been
the basis of our modern day park system.
Much of Seattle Park history was documented by Donald N. Sherwood (1916-1981).
The Seattle Parks and Recreation's Sherwood History
Files is the incredible legacy of Sherwood, who worked as an engineer
for Parks for 22 years from 1955 to 1977.
Updated May 2, 2008
Park History» Sherwood History Files
» Olmsted Parks
»African Americans and
» Military Base Reuse
» Historic Landmarks
» Historic Resources Plan
Bonds & Major Gifts
»Researching Seattle's City Parks & Playfields (city archive)
Park History on» Olmsted Parks
»Olmsted Park Plan
John Charles Olmsted 1903
National Park Service
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