McGilvra Place

A Piece of Seattle History

At the intersection of E. Madison St., E. Pike St. and 15th Ave. sits McGilvra Place, a charming triangular pocket park that's been part of Seattle's landscape since 1901. This shady retreat is named after John J. McGilvra, an influential early Seattle settler who once called the shores of Lake Washington home, at the end of what would eventually become E Madison Street.

From Old to New: The 2013 Makeover

In 2013, McGilvra Place got a fresh start thanks to a team effort between the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation, Seattle Department of Transportation, Seattle Parks Foundation, and the Bullitt Foundation.

During the renovation, preserving the park's eleven magnificent London Plane trees - each over a century old - was a top priority. These grand old trees continue to provide character and much-appreciated shade to this urban oasis.

What You'll Find There

The revitalized McGilvra Place transformed a nearby street into a welcoming public plaza, swapped out traditional lawn for native plants, and added some unique seating made from reclaimed timber.

One of the coolest features has to be the permanent table tennis table that's become quite popular with locals. The picnic areas provide a nice spot for a quick lunch or a short break from the city bustle.

The redesign also made the park more accessible to everyone. Now it functions as an accessible neighborhood space, as envisioned in community planning documents.

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Green Innovation

McGilvra Place also incorporates sustainable design principles. It earned the distinction of being the first project to pursue the Living Building Challenge for the Infrastructure + Landscape Typology - basically, it's designed with serious environmental consciousness from the ground up.