Located in the Chinatown-International District, the International Children’s Park is one of three public parks developed in the 1970s in the district as results of community activism for improving the blighted neighborhood. The park has provided a much-needed open space for recreation and gathering in a dense inner-city neighborhood. However, in recent years, the park has suffered from lack of use by local residents despite the expressed desire for more open space in the neighborhood. Factors such as poor visibility into the park and lack of flexibility for programming have often been mentioned by people who are familiar with the conditions of the park.
Working with the Friends of International Children’s Park (FICP) and other community partners, the goal of this studio is to assist the community stakeholders in bringing people (children, adults, residents, and visitors alike) back to the park. The design and community process for improving the park is funded by the Neighborhood Matching Fund of the City of Seattle, awarded to the FICP. The products of this studio contribute directly to the ongoing planning and improvement of the park. As a listed project under the new Parks and Green Space Levy, passed by Seattle voters in 2008, the project will be implemented within the next five years.
To find out more, visit http://courses.washington.edu/replay/