A. B. Ernst Park

History and Namesake

A. B. Ernst Park is a small urban park located in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. Named after Ambrose Ernst, known as the "Father of City Playfields" who served on the Board of Park Commissioners from 1906 to 1913, the park was built on a steep hillside.

Design Features

The park's design incorporates a spiraling path made of water-permeable concrete, which winds its way down the hillside. This path is bordered by artful garden-bed walls, designed by park designer Lynn Thompson to serve as seating.

The spiral path leads from N 35th Street down to a small amphitheater, and continues via a stairway to N 34th Street. Despite its small size, the park offers ample seating capacity, with enough space for 150 to 200 people.

Accessibility and Connections

One of the key features of A. B. Ernst Park is its accessibility. The park provides wheelchair access to the community room of the adjacent Fremont Library, a Carnegie library.

It also serves as a pedestrian connection between the library, the commercial core of Fremont, and nearby residential areas.

Landscaping

The sloped garden beds are landscaped with barberry and other sustainable native vegetation, adding to the park's natural aesthetic.

Recent Expansion

In December 2010, Seattle Parks and Recreation purchased a vacant 0.10-acre lot immediately west of the park to expand it. The design for this addition was developed with community input and includes elements such as a small slide, additional pathways, a gathering area, and new landscaping and irrigation.