Location: Downtown Seattle
Address: Occidental Ave. S. and S. Main St.
Acreage: 0.6
Bet you didn’t know Occidental Square counted as a park, huh? Well, this half an acre is one of Seattle’s most historic open spaces.
In fact, if you visit the park you’ll find several placards that detail some of the area’s interesting history.
A lot of people are intimidated by Occidental Square because of the number of homeless folks who hang out there during the day. There are several social service agencies located close by, so it’s not surprising that this park is frequented by the homeless. But, there’s plenty of room in this brick-laid square for everyone.
Every first Thursday of the month the park turns into the center of action for the Pioneer Square Art Walk. While dozens of nearby galleries hold openings, the square hosts live music and features booths of local, unrepresented artists.
It’s a fun, festive monthly event that draws people into a great Seattle park.
#76 (Visited 1/7/10)