Alki Playfield Regrade – Seattle WA

Alki Playfield underwent a regrade, thanks to New Deal funds, in 1934.

Ballard Bridge Reconstruction – Seattle WA

In 1937 the Seattle City Council passed an ordinance authorizing work to begin on reconstructing the bridge. The job took a year and a half and replaced the timber approaches with approaches of concrete and steel that featured ornamental lighting…. read more

Ballard High School Renovations – Seattle WA

Ballard High School in Seattle opened in 1901, underwent renovations through New Deal funds in 1934. The Civil Works Administration (CWA) completed renovations between 1933 and 1934. Special Report of accomplishment by CWA workers from November 24th, 1933 to February… read more

Beacon Hill Playground Improvements – Seattle WA

Between 1938 and 1941, with funding assistance from the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Seattle Park Department completed several improvement projects at Beacon Hill Playground. In the first of these projects, WPA workers re-painted the playground shelter house in 1938…. read more

Camp Long – Seattle WA

Camp Long is a 68-acre park in West Seattle. The park was constructed with WPA help starting n 1937. It was dedicated in 1941. WPA work in the park includes extensive rock work, the construction of a golf course, cabins… read more

Cascade Playground Comfort Station – Seattle WA

During the 1930s, with the help of Works Progress Administration funds and labor, the Seattle Park Department made significant improvements to Cascade Playground. Among these improvements was the construction of a small brick comfort station in the northeast corner of… read more

Cascade Playground Improvements – Seattle WA

The push for construction of a playground in Seattle’s Cascade neighborhood began during the 1920s. In 1926, using funds from a 1924 bond issue, the Seattle Park Department acquired the proposed Cascade Playground site, which covered nearly the entire block… read more

Central Library (former) Maintenance – Seattle WA

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) funded and carried our maintenance work for the Central Library (The Seattle Public Library). The HistoryLink.org website to highlights the history of the first of three libraries that have existed in downtown Seattle: “Since 1906,… read more

Civic Auditorium (former) Improvements – Seattle WA

Now a part of McCaw Hall, Seattle’s old Municipal Auditorium was drastically improved by the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA). “McCaw Hall is the latest incarnation of what was once Seattle’s Civic Auditorium (1928), which was then gutted and rebuilt… read more

Cleveland Playfield – Seattle WA

In 1931, the Seattle Park Department acquired the property for the Cleveland Playfield at 13th Avenue South and Lucile Street, immediately west of Grover Cleveland High School. As a new park facility, the playground had seen few if any improvements… read more

Colman Playground Improvements – Seattle WA

The Seattle Park Department acquired the land for Colman Playground in 1910, shortly after the opening of nearby Colman School. A regrading project in the early 1910s made the site suitable for picnics and baseball, but otherwise the Park Department… read more

Colman Playground Shelter House – Seattle WA

During the late 1930s, with funds from the WPA, the Seattle Park Department upgraded Colman Playground. The largest component of the improvement project was the construction of a new shelter house near the southwest corner of the playground. WPA workers… read more

Cowen Park Bridge – Seattle WA

“The Cowen Park Bridge is a reinforced concrete arch bridge that spans a ravine in Seattle’s Cowen Park. The structure is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and it is a designated city landmark. The bridge has been… read more

David Rodgers Park Improvements – Seattle WA

The Seattle Park Department utilized funds and labor from the Civil Works Administration and the Works Progress Administration, as well as the state-based Washington Emergency Relief Administration, to complete a series of maintenance and improvement projects at David Rodgers Park…. read more

Fremont Bridge Improvements – Seattle WA

A Public Works Administration grant of $22,500 covered one-third of the cost of a 1936 project to refurbish Seattle’s Fremont Bridge. The bridge, completed in 1917, is a double-leaf bascule drawbridge that carries Fremont Avenue across the Lake Washington Ship… read more

Garfield Playground Improvements – Seattle WA

The Garfield Playground was one of a limited number of Seattle park facilities to receive upgrades through the New Deal’s Civil Works Administration (CWA) program. The main CWA project at the playground involved the construction of a retaining wall along… read more

Georgetown Playground Improvements – Seattle WA

With the help of Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor, the Seattle Park Department made improvements to the Georgetown Playground at South Homer Street and Corson Avenue. In 1936, WPA workers built a reinforced concrete wading pool along the eastern edge… read more

Golden Gardens Park Improvements – Seattle WA

The Seattle Park Department utilized funds and labor from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to complete a series of improvement projects at Golden Gardens Park. Much of the work aimed at stabilizing the steep hillsides in the eastern section of… read more

Highland Park Playground Improvements – Seattle WA

In 1925, the Seattle Park Department purchased the site for Highland Park Playground at Thistle Street and 10th Avenue SW. The playground site saw few improvements during the late 1920s and early 1930s. A series of WPA projects between 1935… read more

Highland Park Playground Shelter House – Seattle WA

During the 1930s, with the help of Works Progress Administration funds and labor, the Seattle Park Department made significant improvements to Highland Park Playground. The largest of these improvement projects was the construction of a one-story brick shelter house in… read more

Husky Pool – University of Washington – Seattle WA

"This structure, housing the swimming pool, was erected as an addition to the physical-education building. The swimming pool is 42 by 75 feet and galleries for spectators are provided to seat 1,000. The construction is reinforced concrete with exterior walls… read more

Husky Stadium Expansion – Seattle WA

The University of Washington’s Husky Stadium was expanded during the 1930s as a result of WPA funding assistance and efforts. A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 announced $23,345 in funds for the site and described some of the work: “A… read more

Ice Arena (former) Improvements – Seattle WA

Seattle’s old Ice Arena, no longer extant, was drastically improved by the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA). A WPA press release from Jan. 1938 reported: “Modernizing of the Seattle Civic Auditorium and Ice Arena by WPA workers will begin January… read more

Jackson St. Railroad – Seattle WA

Workers for the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) laid track for a railroad on Jackson St., in Seattle’s Central District neighborhood, in 1934.

Jefferson Park Golf Course Clubhouse – Seattle WA

"This clubhouse was built by the city of Seattle in connection with one of its public golf courses that are included in the city park and recreation areas. The building has a small basement, a first floor, and a partial… read more

King County Extended Water Supply – Seattle WA

This project was one of a number of WPA and PWA projects in Washington state: “The project piped water into southern King County. The area previously used well water. The six miles of pipe cost of $27,570.”

Lake Washington Floating Bridge (former) – Seattle WA

“Constructed in just 18 months, the first bridge across Lake Washington opened on July 2, 1940. Funded partly by the Public Works Administration, the pontoon bridge was an engineering marvel, the longest floating span in the world at that time…. read more

Laurelhurst Playfield Field House – Seattle WA

During the late 1930s, with funds from various New Deal programs, the Seattle Park Department made significant improvements to Laurelhurst Playfield. The largest of these improvement projects was the construction of a field house near the southern end of the… read more

Laurelhurst Playfield Improvements – Seattle WA

The Seattle Park Department acquired the site for Laurelhurst Playfield along NE 41st Street between 45th Avenue NE and 48th Avenue NE in 1927. Although a few improvements to the site were completed between 1929 and 1932, a series of… read more

Lincoln Park Trail – Seattle WA

Relief workers built a trail in Lincoln Park – which is almost certainly the stone-lined trail and steps down to the beach that still exist.  They may have built the picnic shelter, as well. A photo from the University of… read more

Lithia Park Improvements – Ashland OR

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) made extensive improvements to Lithia Park, a 100-acre park at the heart of Ashland OR, from 1935 to 1938.   Lithia Park was established in the early 20th century along Ashland Creek above the main… read more

Lowman Beach Park Improvements – Seattle WA

Lowman Beach Park, a small park property that provides access to Puget Sound in a primarily residential area of southwest Seattle, was the site of two Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects. The first project involved the construction of a cement… read more

Loyal Heights Playfield – Seattle WA

The Seattle Park Department acquired the property for Loyal Heights Playground in 1941 and, that same year, employed WPA workers to clear and regrade the site, which naturally sloped downward from north to south. More than 7,300 cubic yards of… read more

Madison Park Improvements – Seattle WA

Madison Park, located at the eastern end of Madison Streeet, next to Lake Washington, was the site of several small Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects. The first of these projects involved the replacement of the park’s clay tennis courts near… read more

Madrona Playground Improvements – Seattle WA

In 1927, the Seattle Park Department acquired the site for Madrona Playground at East Spring Street and 34th Avenue. The playground site received a few improvements during the late 1920s and early 1930s, including the grading of the playfield and… read more

Madrona Playground Shelter House – Seattle WA

During the late 1930s, with funding assistance from the Works Progress Administration, the Seattle Park Department upgraded Madrona Playground. The largest component of the improvement project was the construction of a new shelter house near the north end of the… read more

Magnolia Bluff Sewers – Seattle WA

A WPA-sponsored project improved sewers in the Magnolia Bluff neighborhood of Seattle. The project, which received $2,135 in WPA funds, provided work for 16 men for two months.

Maple Leaf School (demolished) Addition – Seattle WA

A grant from the Works Progress Administration funded the construction of an addition to Seattle’s former Maple Leaf Grade School during the late 1930s. The school, which was part of the Maple Leaf School District at the time, was located… read more

McGraw St. Bridge – Seattle WA

Grants from the Public Works Administration and the Works Progress Administration helped fund the construction of a new bridge to carry McGraw Street across the Wolf Creek ravine in Seattle’s Queen Anne Hill district. The new bridge opened in 1936…. read more

Mercer Playground (demolished) Improvements – Seattle WA

The former Mercer Playground at 2nd Avenue North and Harrison Street in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood was the site of several small WPA maintenance and improvement projects. In 1938, WPA workers painted the playground shelter house, as part of a… read more