McGilvra Place
Interactive Park Map
About the Location
Historical Significance
McGilvra Place is a small, tree-shaded triangle of land located at the intersection of E. Madison St., E. Pike St. and 15th Ave. in Seattle, Washington. Created in 1901, this pocket park is named after John J. McGilvra, a prominent early Seattle settler whose homesite was on Lake Washington at the end of what became E Madison Street.
2013 Renovation
The park underwent renovation in 2013 as part of a public-private collaboration between the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation, Seattle Department of Transportation, Seattle Parks Foundation, and the Bullitt Foundation.
During this redevelopment, great care was taken to protect and celebrate eleven century-old London Plane trees on the site.
Park Features
Improvements to McGilvra Place included transforming an adjacent street into a public plaza, replacing turf with native vegetation, and installing park furniture made of reclaimed timber.
The renovations also provided improved accessibility. The park now serves as a neighborhood gathering space, as recommended by local community plans.
Environmental Innovation
McGilvra Place is notable for being the first project to pursue the Living Building Challenge for the Infrastructure + Landscape Typology, emphasizing sustainable and environmentally friendly features in its design and maintenance.
