In the heart of this neighborhood of tree-lined streets and working
class homes lies Judkins Play Field with baseball diamonds, a water-spray feature, and
picnic tables. In the days before the play field, the area was a ravine 35-40 feet deep.
By 1910 the city had a plan to make a park in what was a predominately
Italian neighborhood. The city’s plan to fill in the ravine with garbage
went sour and all the adjoining neighborhoods turned their noses up at the
aroma of the garbage pit.
By the 1930’s the city decided to haul dirt in and cover the smell but gases from the
rotting trash just kept oozing out of the ground. The plans for a floating bridge and a
tunnel through the Mt. Baker neighborhood didn't change plans for the park but the tunnel
added more dirt to cover the gases.
In 1946 some 30 acres of private and public land was set a side as a potential Civil
Defense airport site including the smelly dirt heap, which was temporarily designated a
‘Park and Recreational Site.’ Originally the new park was to be named
‘Scavotto’s Playground’ after the city councilman that pushed the plan
through.
The bulldozers only unearthed more garbage and more smell, but by 1952 the
playground finally had a ballfield on 2 of the 30 acres. It was named ‘Judkins’
after the nearby street. With new plans for a second floating bridge, the south end of the
property was earmarked for this plan, and in 1959 the northern part was given to Seattle
Public Schools as the home of what would be Washington Middle School.
(See "Enjoying Seattle’s Parks" at the Library for more details.)
Boxing for Everyone!
