University of Washington Master of Landscape Architecture Students Partner with Schmitz Park Creek Restore to Reconnect Urban Wilds with Puget Sound
Seattle, WA (November 11, 2024) – The University of Washington’s Master of Landscape Architecture advanced studio has embarked on a visionary partnership with Schmitz Park Creek Restore, a grassroots initiative dedicated to reconnecting Schmitz Park’s ancient forest with the waters of Puget Sound. This partnership challenges students to explore the unique identity of landscapes, fostering designs that celebrate and revive the wild within Seattle’s urban fabric. Please Join us at the Alki Bathhouse in West Seattle on December 6th from 3pm to 6pm for a community open house and design presentation.
Led by Seattle-based landscape architect Paul Peters, a principal at Hood Design Studio and UW lecturer, the studio immerses students in an in-depth exploration of Schmitz Park’s ecological, historical, and cultural narratives. Working in teams, the students aim to develop designs that restore the connection between Schmitz Park’s 53-acre old-growth forest and Alki Beach. Schmitz Park, historically stewarded by the Duwamish Tribe and donated to Seattle Parks in 1908, remains one of the city’s last remaining wild areas, yet its creek disappears underground before it reaches Elliott Bay. The students envision restoring the creek’s natural flow, creating a continuous “wild corridor”.
The UW students’ conceptual designs draw inspiration from Schmitz Park Creek Restore, a citizen-led effort in West Seattle, which seeks to restore Schmitz Park’s creek and daylight its natural flow. This vision was introduced to the public in May 2024 at a gathering hosted by photographer Art Wolfe, where members of Seattle’s Duwamish Tribe, Schmitz family representatives, and park restoration advocates came together to support the initiative. The enthusiastic reception led Peters to bring the project to his graduate students, making it the focus of their Autumn 2024 studio titled “Where the Wild Things Are.”
To showcase the students’ work and engage with the community, the UW studio, Schmitz Park Creek Restore, and Seattle Parks and Recreation will host an open house on December 6 and 7, 2024, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Alki Bathhouse, 2701 Alki Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116, with student presentations scheduled for December 6 at 4 p.m. This event will offer the public an opportunity to explore the students’ designs and understand the possibilities for restoring Schmitz Creek’s natural flow.
If you have any questions please reach out to Paul Peters at paul@hooddesignstudio.com!