Originally accessed:
03/01/2007
Organization:
Historylink.org
Notes:
"His 1903 master plan laid out a 20-mile-long system of parks and playfields strung along scenic boulevards. Lake Washington Boulevard linked Seward Park, Colman Park, Frink Park, and Washington Park (home of the future Arboretum), and he redesigned Capitol Hill's Volunteer Park (a former cemetery acquired in 1874). Olmsted's plan also created Ravenna Boulevard, lowered and landscaped Green Lake, and redesigned Woodland Park on Guy Phinney's former estate, which the city had acquired in 1899." "Between 1905 and 1907, the area of Seattle more than doubled through annexations of Southeast Seattle, West Seattle, Ballard, and other communities. Olmsted returned to revise and expand his parks plan in 1908. Olmsted expanded his "emerald necklace" of boulevards by 30 miles to ring West Seattle and arc southeast to Jefferson and Seward parks. The city raised levies and spent $4 million to make much of Olmsted's plans a reality between 1904 and 1912."
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