Seattle is known as a metropolitan haven filled with art, diversity, and acceptance. When the word Seattle is spoken people think of the bustling business, innovation, and social interactions that Seattle has become known for. But people don’t know about a park on its south side.
Seward Park like other parks is a place of social interaction and recreation. It boasts 300 acres of beautiful forest land, a home to eagles’ nests, old growth forest, a 2.4 mile bike and walking path, an amphitheater, a native plant garden, miles of hiking trails and much more. One of Seattle’s most cherished areas would never be seen as a barrier, a barricade.
Although not intended for the purpose of serving as a boarder, Seward Park in South Seattle divides the prospering Seattle from the ghetto Seattle. Many people do not think about it but such beautiful land does serve as a physical representation of poverty gap in Seattle.
Looking across the park people are segregated by race, culture, and even social standing. The Caucasian population takes part in picnics, hiking, and even bike riding, while the colored population either plays in or watches the street basket games.
Getting around or through the boarder is not very difficult. Just walk straight on through from one side to the other. Although it seems so simple to me, as I looked harder into the park I noticed people of certain ethnicities walking on certain paths and avoiding others.
Seward park does represent the best of Seattle; diversity, art, innovation, but at the very same time it keeps Seattle’s population on their “own side of the tracks”. It’s scary to think that something so beautiful can serve as an obstacle in such a beautiful city but I guess if we look hard enough we can find manifestations of boarders and segregations everywhere
Your post resonated with me a lot. I grew up in that south end you're talking about, Rainier Beach, and I remember taking (rare) family trips to Seward Park and admiring the beautiful houses that nestled in the slopes surrounding Seward Park.
ReplyDeleteAfter moving away from Rainier Beach, it would be nearly 8 years before I visited Seward Park again. I was incredibly shock to realize how close my "ghetto" neighborhood was to that rich neighborhood. I mean, here was my old tattered neighborhood with a cop car posted up in almost every corner, and then just a few blocks down, million dollar homes. It felt surreal.
Anywho, thanks for sharing!