By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Last Friday, the Judkins Park community gathered for a forum on the future of Judkins Park, bringing together residents, city officials, and key stakeholders to discuss long-overdue renovations. The event, organized in collaboration with Seattle Parks and Recreation, Africatown Community Land Trust, the William Grose Center, No More Under, A Personal Point of View, Inclusion Matters, and several architecture and design firms, aimed to inform the community about upcoming changes and invite public input.
According to Margo Jones, owner of A Personal Point of View, the forum was part of a broader effort to ensure that the community remains engaged throughout the renovation process.
“This is the first of three phases of community outreach,” said Jones. “The purpose of this meeting is to inform the community, gather feedback, and encourage engagement. By the end of this summer, the design process will be finalized, and the actual build-out will start in 2026.”
The Judkins Park Renovation Project seeks to create an inclusive, engaging, and accessible space while recognizing the neighborhood’s history of redlining, displacement, and gentrification. By leveraging public-private partnerships, the project aims to ensure that renovations benefit long-standing residents and maintain the park’s historical significance.
Planned improvements include renovated restrooms, an expanded playground, and upgrades to the Dolores Bradley Spray Park to provide inclusive play opportunities and sensory nature play for children of all abilities.
Jordan Hoy, project planner for the Seattle Parks and Recreation Planning, Capital, and Development Division, emphasized the project’s broader vision.
“We are leveraging our private and public partnerships to go beyond a traditional play area renovation,” Hoi said.
“Instead, we are looking to expand and create a more inclusive play area while making larger investments in the Judkins Park community,” added Hoi. “We are also working with Inclusion Matters, which specializes in inclusive play for children of all ages and abilities. Additionally, we are collaborating with the William Grose Center and Africatown to meet the Judkins Park and Central District communities where they are and prioritize youth voices in the design process.”
The estimated cost of the project is $3.3 million, covering design, planning, and construction. However, full completion depends on securing additional funding.
“Construction of the project in its entirety will be contingent on additional funding. The project team is actively pursuing grant and fundraising opportunities,” said a Seattle Parks and Recreation spokesperson.
The project timeline began in fall 2024, with early 2025 through summer 2025 designated for the design phase. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026.
Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent AP Diaz highlighted the broader significance of parks in building strong communities.
“At a high level, parks play an important role as places where people from all walks of life can come together, feel a connection, and take ownership of a shared public asset,” Diaz said.
“Judkins Park specifically deserves a high-quality play area, spray park, and park design that meets the needs of the community and reflects its vibrancy.”
Originally opened to the public on October 8, 1977, Judkins Park is a multipurpose park corridor in Seattle’s Central District. Named after Norman B. Judkins, a pioneer realtor, the park has long been a gathering place for residents.
Diaz emphasized that parks are essential for children and families, providing safe spaces for recreation, growth, and learning.
“The community trusts us with their most precious cargo every single day—their children,” Diaz said.
“Parents and community members rely on us to ensure there are spaces that reflect the beauty of Seattle. The reason we are here today is to support my team in working with the Judkins Park community and our partners on this amazing opportunity to transform Judkins Park. Having this much available land in a city is rare, and we want to make the most of it.”
Through organizations like the William Grose Center, young people have been given the opportunity to engage in the design process using cutting-edge technology, applying their creativity and vision for the park’s future.
“Projects like this are important for the people who have called the Central District home for 140 years,” said Wyking Garrett of Africatown Community Land Trust.
“Our presence here helps shape the future of the community. Judkins Park is home to the Black Community Festival, Umoja Fest—now in its 40th year—the CD Panthers, and so much more. We want to ensure that these legacies continue into the future.”
Garrett also highlighted the involvement of youth in the design process through innovative technology.
“What I’m really excited about is how young people at the William Grose Center have been involved in designing and contributing their ideas through a game called Minecraft,” Garrett said.
“They are gaining exposure to landscape architecture, urban planning, and community-building while also engaging with technology—and having fun at the same time. It’s a beautiful thing.”
The Judkins Park renovation represents more than just an infrastructure upgrade—it is an opportunity to create a holistic environment that benefits the health and well-being of the entire community.
“Today, we are celebrating something great,” Diaz said.
“We are committing to transforming this space. This is just a small step in a bigger investment that we are putting back into this community.”
