Bainbridge Green

A Glimpse into the Past

Tucked away in the heart of Queen Village, Bainbridge Green is a peculiar linear park that stretches down the middle of Bainbridge Street between 3rd and 5th Streets. What you might not realize as you stroll past is that this narrow strip has quite the backstory.

Back in the 1830s, this wasn't a park at all but home to bustling public market sheds. Fast forward to the early 20th century when those sheds came down, and thanks to some passionate advocacy from the City Parks Association, the area transformed into a proper park in 1906.

What You'll Find Today

Let's be honest - Bainbridge Green today is a bit of a curious sight. The space features tree-lined strips running down Bainbridge Street's center, creating an unusual urban landscape. While it's technically parkland, most of the area currently is parking, with about 175 spaces lining the stretch.

At the end of each block, you'll notice small pedestrian plazas, but they've certainly seen better days. Over the years, the actual green space has shrunk to make way for more parking, leaving us with the current layout of planted medians surrounded by parking spots.

Lesser-Known Parks

If you look closely at the 3rd Street end, you'll spot a historic horse trough from 1910 - one of the few surviving elements from the park's original design. It's a charming reminder of how different city life was over a century ago.

Looking Ahead

There's a breath of fresh air coming to Bainbridge Green. A grassroots movement led by the Friends of Bainbridge Green, with backup from local organizations, is working to reimagine this space as something more vibrant and community-focused.

Their vision includes expanding the planted areas, giving those tired pedestrian plazas a much-needed facelift, and creating a welcoming entrance to the adjacent Fabric Row on 4th Street.

The revitalization plans are thoughtfully trying to balance everyone's needs - creating more public space and pedestrian-friendly features while still acknowledging the parking reality. You might eventually see wider green spaces, new seating areas, improved lighting, and even some eco-friendly additions like stormwater management systems.