Take a peek at a secret downtown park

Tucked between a couple buildings toward the top of the hill off 9th Street is a little gem of a park. I was reminded of it after recent discussion about a map of local fountains. McCormick Park is a well manicured and quiet spot. The golf green like grass is clean and bordered on all sides by bushes, trees and annuals. Though I'm sure put to use as a haven for work day smoke breaks it might be fun to drop by if you have kids. Single spout fountain at the parks center great and a peek over the edge reveals cool blue tile work lining its bottom.

McCormick Park's quiet location also probably makes this a stop for broad daylight hours. When I stopped by last Tuesday evening there were already some characters passing through and meeting nearby that might make even the heartiest urbanite uncomfortable. Such is the mix of grit and glam here in the City of Destiny. Nevertheless, enjoy! It's worth a visit and knowing about.

Comments (7) | To Top

7/3/2007 @ 12:13pm

Wow ... gorgeous! Love the tile work in the fountain. And that it's a beautiful space that has that "I've been here for a long time" feel to it. Nice contrast with all the brand spaking new and sometimes a bit sterile locations sprouting up (which will someday have that feel, of course ... yesterday's version of bland subdivisions are today's historic homes ... now that the trees have grown in and add-ons and other changes have been made.)

What's the cross street for this park?

by tacomachickadee

7/3/2007 @ 12:35pm

"Such is the mix of grit and glam here in the City of Destiny."

Great park. I used to walk though it every time I would go to court when I worked on Broadway.

With that said, green spaces need to surrounded by buildings with alot of activity on them spilling onto them or they just become places for problems. This one is pretty insular, and thus, has alot of problems.

by Erik B.

7/3/2007 @ 1:36pm

chickadee: It's on Fawcett between 9th and 11th.

Erik: It is a bit insular but, as I mentioned, during the day is probably a decent spot to eat a bag lunch or do some Thai Chi.

by KevinFreitas

7/3/2007 @ 3:09pm

I had driven past this gem a million times before last week when the heat at the Black Water Cafe prompted a meeting I was having to move over to this park.

The fountain was shut down and empty when we were there with no indication that it was under repair- nice to see that it actually functions. Still, the buildings on either side of the park turn an indifferent eye to the transient traffic that populates this park, which is too bad.

We ended up having a good - if uneasy - meeting between getting hit up for cigarettes and someone yelling in some drunken undecipherable language.

by morgan

7/3/2007 @ 9:30pm

Uncovering little known parks like these -- well, without the inebriates -- is one the reasons I started the Parks of Western Washington group on Flickr.

Should these shots wind up on Flickr, they would be quite at home added to that group.

by Brooks

5/20/2008 @ 7:05am

My Grandmother lived in and owned two victorians between 9th and 11th and Fawcett. There was a little grocery store
with a full fountain bar (not in service) and great comic books. The whole block was a nice urban neighborhood
until urban (renewal)#? in the late sixties. The Emerson is all thats left. Nice park, my grandmother who ran Nellies Cafe on Puyallup avenue for 30 years spent the rest of her life at 6th and G, another Victorian. Fawcett
we miss you.

Carlson
Carlson

by Carlson

5/20/2008 @ 7:17am

The park is lovely and thanks for sharing Carlson! It's a shame to see some potentially beautiful old houses being demo'd for new developments even today. There are plenty of people here preserving historic buildings and character though so it's certainly not a hopeless battle.

by Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Flim

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