Seattle's Rainier Valley, known for its diversity and vibrant community, will soon become home to a new park honoring a local civic leader. According to Seattle Parks and Recreation, the grand opening of Cheryl Chow Park is slated for April 5, 2025, with an inclusive ribbon-cutting event between noon and 2 p.m.
The celebration is set to be a community affair offering food, entertainment, and the first look at amenities designed for people across all generations, and everyone is invited to join in the festivities. Cheryl Chow, whose memory the park honors, was a Seattle City Councilmember from 1990 to 1997 where she was a known advocate for parks and worked to extend access to after-school programs, her commitment to the community was multifaceted including time spent as an educator and as a coach which demonstrated her investment in Seattle's youth and her legacy continues through spaces like the one being dedicated in her name.
Located at S Charlestown Street, nestled between 34th and 35th Avenue South, Cheryl Chow Park addresses the need for green spaces in densely populated urban areas. This new park, compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), offers adult exercise equipment, a half-court basketball, BBQ grills, picnic areas, and eye-catching play structures.
Reflective of the neighborhood's cultural tapestry, the park also showcases community-sourced graphics, including textile fabric designs displayed on banners throughout the park, each one tells a story of the many cultures that stitch together the diverse fabric of North Rainier, truly a fitting tribute to a council member who deeply valued inclusive community spaces. Funding for Cheryl Chow Park comes from a variety of sources, including Seattle Park District Funding, the King County Parks Levy, the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, and Group Health/Kaiser Permanente, which all have contributed to bringing this long-time dream to fruition.
