information from Southwest Seattle Historical Society

After some years in planning Schmitz Preserve Park, one of the small to midsize parks in the City of Seattle at 53.1 acres is due to expand once more. By contrast Lincoln Park is 135 acres, Discovery Park is 534 acres. The parcel adds 5000 square feet.



The plan, which has secured approval by the Seattle Mayor’s office, is headed for consideration by a Seattle City Council committee on Tuesday morning, Dec. 12.

Working on this plan for nearly three years is a group calling itself Friends of the Historic Schmitz Park Addition, including former Seattle City Council member Tom Rasmussen, Schmitz family spokesperson Vicki Schmitz and the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is pleased to congratulate and support this recent announcement, which would involve legislation for the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation to acquire the property of West Seattle resident Bruce Stotler, located at the southeast corner of historic Schmitz Park in West Seattle (see map).

This issue will be voted on in Seattle City Council committee on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 during the Civil Rights; Utilities, Economic Development and Arts committee hearing chaired by Lisa Herbold which begins at 9:30 am and is open for public comment. If passed in committee the legislation will go to full Council in early January, 2018.

Schmitz Preserve was donated to the city in pieces between 1908 and 1912. The most generous chunk came from a German immigrant/pioneer/banker/realtor named Ferdinand Schmitz, who served on the park commission during those years. It was Schmitz's idea, as he saw how rapidly the great forest was disappearing, to preserve part of it in its natural state.