VOLUNTEER
PARK LILY POND RESTORATION
The Seattle Parks Foundation
is currently spearheading a fundraising effort to restore Volunteer
Park’s twin lily pond pools. Volunteer Park was designed by
the Olmsted Brother’s firm, complete with the elegant lily
ponds, at the turn of the 20th century. The pools, filled with cool
water and topped with serene floating lilies, enchanted and delighted
park visitors for decades. Unfortunately, they fell into disrepair
over twenty years ago, and were drained once the circulation systems
deteriorated and the concrete bowls were damaged beyond used. The
Seattle Parks Foundation has already raised over three quarters
of the funds needed for the over $200,000 project. The Foundation
plans to restore the pools to their former beauty and grandeur as
a way to honor our Olmsted parks in their 100th year, and to perpetuate
their historic legacy. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held May
3rd as part of the Olmsted Centennial Conference (see link at
left), and the targeted completion date and dedication will
be in the fall of 2003.
MONTHLY WALKING
TOURS IN OLMSTED PARKS
Seattle Parks Foundation
has organized walking tours of 12 Olmsted parks, a major component
of this year’s events and festivities to celebrate and honor
the Olmsted Centennial. Like other events, these tours are designed
to enhance participants’ awareness of and appreciation for
Seattle’s unique, historical, and beautiful Olmsted-designed
park landscapes. Tours will take place the 3rd Saturday of every
month from 10 am-noon. All are invited to join the tours, which
will be led by Seattle Parks Foundation representatives, local park
activists, and representatives from Friends of Seattle’s Olmsted
Parks, and the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation. See the
calendar of events
for specific dates and locations or visit the Seattle Parks Foundation
website (see below).
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For more information about
the Lily Pond Restoration project or the walking tours contact:
Hilary Bramwell, Project Manager
206.332.9900
hilary@seattleparksfoundation.org
http://www.seattleparksfoundation.org/
