UPDATE AS OF 6PM WEDS, OCT 1, 2025 - THE SEATTLE LANDMARKS PRESERVATION BOARD VOTED TO TABLE SEATTLE PARKS' REQUEST FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO GAS WORKS PARK. BOARD MEMBERS WANTED MORE SPECIFICS ABOUT PARKS' PROPOSED WORK, A LONG-RANGE PLAN FOR THE PARK, AND DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT DESIGNER RICH HAAG INTENDED FOR THE STRUCTURES IN THE PARK IN THE LONG-TERM: DECAY OR MAINTENANCE. PARKS SAYS THEY WILL BE BACK BEFORE THE BOARD IN TWO WEEKS.

UPDATE VIA CASCADE OF HISTORY FACEBOOK PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FzqBbzzRs/

On this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY, we present audio from the September 17, 2025 meeting of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board.

In a move that has gone largely unreported, the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation (SPR) is seeking permission to make significant changes to the historic structures from the old gas plant that give Seattle’s Gas Works Park its name and much of its character. Since 2008, several people have been injured and three have died while trespassing and climbing on the historic structures.

Later today – Wednesday, October 1, 2025 – the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board seems poised to approve SPR’s request for a “CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL.” This would allow for removal of elements of the old "cracking towers" - giant, rusty pieces of equipment from the original gas plant.

Gas Works Park is internationally known and is a beloved local destination on Lake Union in the city’s Wallingford and Fremont neighborhoods. It was designed more than 50 years ago by the late Richard Haag. Haag was a landscape architect whose vision of preserving the industrial elements and incorporating them into the design of the park was revolutionary at the time, and it has influenced other park designs around the globe.

In an emailed statement on October 1, 2025, a parks spokesperson wrote:

“The Mayor’s proposed 2026 budget adds $1.8 million to support safety improvements and remove certain appurtenances attached to the 'Cracking Towers' at Gas Works Park. Appurtenances have been used by trespassers and include catwalks, ladders, support framing, and select piping and valving, and pipe sections that currently extend beyond the security fencing. Improvements will also include the installation of security lighting to ‘up-light’ the towers from purposefully placed fixtures around the perimeter of the towers.”

As part of the process seeking approval, Seattle Parks employee David Graves made a presentation to the Landmarks Preservation Board on September 17, 2025, and the board members asked questions, and discussed the project with Landmarks Board staff.

Today’s meeting (Wednesday, October 1, 2025) begins at 3:30 pm Pacific Time, and public comment may be made remotely online (see link below).

The audio from September 17 has been lightly edited to compress periods of silence and remove a few A/V related logistical discussions.

For more information about commenting in advance or as part of the October 1, 2025 meeting of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board:
https://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/historic-preservation/city-landmarks

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station is located at historic Magnuson Park - formerly Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

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