Location: Queen Anne
Address: 2401 6th Ave. N.
Acreage: 1.3
What do you do with a former gravel pit? Turn it into a park and use the gravel to make art!
Thomas C. Wales Park sits in the elbow that connects Dexter Ave. to 6th Ave. N., which gives you access to Queen Anne by skirting under Highway 99. It’s easiest to arrive on foot, but there are a few parking spots on 6th Ave. N.
I immediately loved the huge gravel hoops suspended above head almost making the park feel like a science fiction movie set. Walk the little path through the park to get the best view of all of them. The artist Adam Kuby created the gravel art pieces that make this park especially interesting. He also left small openings in these structures to encourage birds and critters to nest, which has resulted in the site’s second life as a small wetland.
The park, which opened in 2011, is named after the former Assistant U.S. Attorney who was murdered in 2001. In appropriate contrast, the park is a peaceful spot worth visiting.
#298 (Visited 9/25/11)