"Freeway Park ("Jim Ellis Freeway Park")" Top 5 Page for this destination National/Local - Parks/Gardens Tip by glabah

Most of the time, large highways cut a very ugly scar through urban areas. For the most part, this is true of Interstate 5 though Seattle.

In one area on the west side of downtown Seattle, however, a park has been constructed directly above Interstate 5. The common name on most of the maps as well as some of the signs is "Freeway Park" but the official name is now "Jim Ellis Freeway Park". This is only fitting, as for many years Freeway Park was the official name of this park. The new name was adopted in 2008, after 40 years of bonds that funded this and many other features that now make Seattle a much more livable place. Jim Ellis was the mastermind behind this "Forward Thrust" series of bonds, and thus the honor of having this park his bonds helped fund feature his name.

In the park there are several attractive modern fountains (only one of which was turned on when I visited on May 28) and a number of benches and pathways that are made far more pleasant than are the areas where the freeway is not covered.

The official address is 700 Seneca Street, and a number of bus routes go near this park. See the Seattle Metro bus route map (featured on their web site) for precise location.

The park actually features quite a network of paved trails, sidewalks and staircases connecting varous parts of the street and sidewalk system, so it is a little complicated to give an exact street address or intersection. Generally the park is between Union and Spring street and between 6th and 9th Avenues. A map of the park is located in the park, and it provides the best idea of the shape and location of the park. See photo 2.

Website: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=312