Squire Park

Squire Park P-Patch
(submitted by a Squire Park P-Patch community gardener)

In its first life, this site grew foundations, multi-room apartments and parked cars. The apartment building was demolished in the late 1950s and Seattle acquired it in a land trade. Local residents enlisted the P-Patch program and, with the help of the Seattle Conservation Corps, carted off many loads of rubble, spread the soil, and planted the first Central District community garden.

Selected in an open call, Seattle artist Mary Coss designed artistic panels that celebrate the rich history of the Jackson Street jazz era and are integrated into the Squire Park P-Patch fence. The neighborhood was the stomping ground for musicians playing in the numerous local clubs in the area. Coss worked with Garfield High School Jazz Band members to interview musicians. This gathering of personal stories complimented her research for the artwork design. Colorful panels based on seed imagery are integrated throughout the fence. On closer inspection, there is a wealth of information written into these seeds of jazz, including information on the development of jazz, and the development of Seattle as a jazz town. The artist hopes her efforts pique the interest of passersby in finding out more about this colorful history.