WID: Fritz Hedges Waterway Park Tour
Fritz Hedges Waterway Park, opened in 2020, provides a much-needed oasis of green space on the intensely developed Portage Bay shoreline. In this tour, Lara will describe the process of peeling away derelict, post-industrial aspects of the site and replacing it with an intimate, yet diverse public space that links University of Washington and the U District to Portage Bay, provides critical new habitat for migrating species, and interprets the site’s history from its Indigenous uses to the present.
This live, in-person tour is presented by AIA Seattle’s Women in Design committee. The entire tour takes place outside in a finished, partially paved park with accessible routes throughout. No restrooms are available onsite. Please indicate on your registration if you would like to be contacted regarding specific accommodations to fully participate in this program. Contact Connor Descheemaker, Member Engagement Manager, with any questions or concerns.
Learning Objectives
- Explore best practices for inserting green spaces into intensely developed shorelines.
- Explore critical habitat creation for migrating species in an urban context.
- Discuss the history and use of the site from the indigenous peoples to the present.
- Discuss the importance of public outdoor spaces especially during the pandemic.
Speaker
Lara Rose, Principal, Walker Macy
Lara leads Walker Macy’s Seattle office and design of many of the firm’s prominent public landscapes. She has played leading roles on projects throughout the country, including downtown parks, gardens and waterfronts; urban design and campus projects; and sites that support culture and education. Her projects foster exploration and reflection, and are grounded in strong ideas, local ecologies, and finished craft.
