Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) has successfully received our permits for the project. We are now preparing our final bid documents. We anticipate going out to bid in early summer 2026. A notification will be sent when the project is nearing construction. The scope of this project is the development of a new play area, picnic area with tables and grills, seating and landscape.

See the play area design plan here

Public Art Project

ARTS is pleased to announce Sarah Thompson Moore (Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians) and Shiela Berger of MINDSITE Studio as the selected artists for the Marra-Desimone Park public art project. Moore and Berger will work to create art that honors the park’s rich agricultural roots, reflecting the history of the land and its connection to the community.

Sarah Thompson Moore, a Coeur d’Alene, Idaho-based artist specializing in monumental sculpture, brings her expertise in site-specific installations, informed by themes of nature, history, and culture. Shiela Berger, who has exhibited internationally, from the Rubin Museum in NY to the US Embassy in Laos, brings her experience enhancing public spaces through nature-inspired sculpture. Their combined and diverse artistic backgrounds promise a unique and meaningful addition to Marra-Desimone Park.

For more information about the public art project please reach out to Jesse Jimenez (Jesse.Jimenez@seattle.gov). For more information about the City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture here:

Office of Arts & Culture | Seattle - Arts | seattle.gov

A “Long Range Development Plan for Marra-Desimone Park” was initially approved by the Parks Board in 2006 and laid out a three-phase approach to developing Marra-Desimone Park with project goals including agriculture, community integration, environmental stewardship and more.

The construction of Phase 1 was completed in 2022. The scope of this phase included constructing a main accessible path (including overlooks and picnic area pad), constructing a swale with plantings (SPU), developing a new parking area, and performing major earthwork and grading.

The primary scope of the current project is to construct a play area at Marra-Desimone Park and further review site plan.

In addition, Marra-Desimone park was selected as the site for the South Park fitness zone - a project selected in the 2024 Park Community Fund process. The scope of work is to add outdoor exercise equipment in Marra-Desimone Park so there is a free, accessible space for South Park residents to exercise. The fitness zone will be constructed once the play area construction is complete.

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is partnering with the following organizations to ensure the project is community focused.

• PLACE is developed the long-range plan and is designing the play area and fitness zone at Marra-Desimone Park.
• African Community Housing & Development is community partner who has been leading and facilitating community outreach and engagement for the project, prioritizing involvement from the Black community and historically underrepresented groups.

Together, SPR and its partners are working to remove barriers to engagement and ensure Marra-Desimone becomes a place of belonging, equity, and enriched access for all.