General Design Category

Cesar Chavez Park - SPECIAL MENTION AWARD
Jones & Jones Architects and Landscape Architects

Project Description:
Combining art, architecture and landscape architecture, Cesar Chavez Park transforms a small, overgrown corner lot into an urban park that inspires a neighborhood. Located in a primarily Latino neighborhood in South Seattle, Cesar Chavez Park is equally homage to its namesake civil rights leader and celebrated public gathering place for an underserved community that constantly pledges "Yes We Can." At the intersection of the main neighborhood arterial and Highway 99 that bisects the neighborhood, the park is at the geographic center of one of Seattle's oldest neighborhoods. Home to Seattle's oldest working farm, the roots of the neighborhood; farming, community, and culture make it a fitting place to remember the first voice to speak out against industrialized farming and its ecological impacts.

Jury Comments:
Located in the heart of Seattle's South Park, a predominantly Latino neighborhood, Cesar Chavez Park is dedicated to its namesake—a champion of human rights and environmental justice. The jury felt that this small local park incorporates several aspects of a successful neighborhood landscape. The central grassy plaza serves as a raingarden for all the site's stormwater. The community worked with an artist and stone carver to create stonework. Theater seating allows for impromptu performance or events with up to 300 in attendance. Here, community members can sunbathe, picnic, and host gatherings, concerts or speakers. Cesar Chavez Park appears to be a fitting tribute to the civil rights leader and a comfortable gathering place for an underserved community.