Inspired by the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix, the park, named in his honor, will beautify Seattle, motivate youth and others to achieve in music and art, and strengthen the cultural pulse of the Emerald City, Jimi Hendrix’s hometown.
Jimi Hendrix Park is located in the heart of Seattle’s vibrant Central District (2400 South Massachusetts Street), a thriving multi-cultural community rich in heritage. Nestled adjacent to the Northwest African American Museum and grounds of former Colman School, Jimi Hendrix Park will be a primary focal point for multi-cultural events, gatherings, and activities for the community.
At 5.8 acres in size, Jimi Hendrix Park will be awash in vibrant colors of the Pacific Northwest and will include ample green space for everyone to enjoy. Featuring an array of new improvements that reflect themes found in his music, Jimi Hendrix Park may include lyrical stepping stones, rain drums, a sculpted butterfly garden and/or many other features. These artistic representations serve as a beacon to youth, summoning them to unlock their imagination and encourage them to pursue their dreams.
The park may also feature a performance space dedicated to showcasing the talents of local artists and musicians.
The Friends of Jimi Hendrix Park have selected a design team for the park at 24th Ave S and S Massachusetts St. During the spring and summer, the team will conduct a series of public meetings. The first meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. May 17 at the Northwest African American Museum.
The park has already secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding, including $500,000 from the Parks and Green Space 2008 Levy Opportunity Fund, $70,000 from a Neighborhood Matching Fund and a $20,000 donation from Janie L. Hendrix. The estimated cost for the project is $2 million, according to their website.
The Friends of Jimi Hendrix Park recently announced the selection of a design team to distill ideas from the community and the legacy of rock legend Jimi Hendrix into a vision for development of the Central District Park that bears his name.
Murase Associates was chosen from among 11 applicants to lead a public engagement process and envision landscape and structural elements that will transform a swath of turf adjacent to the Northwest African American Museum into a living tribute to the musical genius of Seattle native Jimi Hendrix.
“I was most impressed with the passion for this project expressed in Murase’s application and presentation, as well as their commitment to creativity, innovation and community involvement,” said Janie Hendrix, the CEO/President of Experience Hendrix L.L.C., the family owned and operated company and founder of the Jimi Hendrix Park Foundation.
The Friends of Jimi Hendrix Park envision a space that will motivate youth and others to achieve in music and art, and strengthen the cultural pulse of the Emerald City as a primary focal point for multi-cultural events, gatherings, and activities for the community.
“The goal is for this park to become an iconic space that recognizes and celebrates the contributions of Jimi Hendrix to the world of music, and to the community and the region,” said Carver Gayton, former director of the Northwest African American Museum. “We are excited to be working with the creative team at Murase. The choice wasn’t easy after our request for qualifications attracted 40 inquiries from landscape architects and 11 strong proposals.”
During the spring and summer, Murase Associates will conduct three public meetings to engage the community and surrounding neighborhood in developing the design. The initial meeting is scheduled for Tues., May 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Northwest African American Museum.
Funding for the design work and construction of the park development comes from the Seattle Parks Levy Opportunity Fund, which awarded $500,000 to the project last December, as well as a $76,000 Neighborhood Matching Fund grant. Fund-raising activities by the Foundation will also raise funds for the project.
The mission of the Jimi Hendrix Park Foundation is to create a community space inspired by the electrifying music and story of Jimi Hendrix – a gathering place for individuals of diverse backgrounds and ages to celebrate cultural heritage, experience community pride, and enjoy innovative educational programming in partnership with the neighboring Northwest African American Museum.
In 2006, the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department renamed the 5.8-acre neighborhood space Jimi Hendrix Park, with the goal of turning it into a community gathering space honoring the Seattle-born artist’s extraordinary life and musical legacy. The park is adjacent to the old Colman School at 2400 S. Massachusetts St., which since 2008 has housed Seattle’s Northwest African American Museum.
