Seattle Landmarks Vote Keeps Gas Works Park Intact, For Now
The City of Seattle’s efforts to strip historically significant character-defining ladders, walkways, and what they call other “pedestrian appurtenances” from Gas Works Park, designed by landscape architect Rich Haag and listed in the National Register of Historic Places, have been blocked, for now. The city mounted the effort following the tragic death in July 2025 of a fifteen-year-old young man, Mattheis Johnson, who illegally scaled one of the towers and fell to his death. The city issued an emergency declaration, secured funds to remove the features, and on September 17, 2025, came to the Landmarks Board with a proposal to strip off the “pedestrian appurtenances.” The Board was unconvinced and asked the city to provide a more comprehensive application during their next meeting on October 1. The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) first reported about the initiative on September 26.
During the October 1 Board meeting, Andy Sheffer, the Deputy Superintendent of Operations at Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) claimed that “the intent of these structures was that they would deteriorate over time.” Several Board members, believing Sheffer was expressing Haag's "intent," found the observation persuasive and vote determinative. Others, however, requested confirmation in writing.
The city came back to the Landmark Preservation Board again on October 15. David Graves presented on behalf of SPR; Sheffer was not in attendance. As TCLF noted in the October 14 article Gaslighting Seattle's Gas Works Park, the city’s revised proposal provided no documentation confirming Haag’s intent, and under questioning Graves could only speculate about what Sheffer meant. During the proceedings Board Chair Ian Macleod lightly admonished Graves (and by extension Sheffer) saying he was “troubled” by the “offhand comment” made at the Oct. 1 meeting about Haag’s intent. The city continued to assert swift action was necessary to prevent people from climbing the towers, though Graves allowed that a skilled climber would still be able to scale the towers even if the “pedestrian appurtenances” were stripped. This was in line with a comment made by Board member Lawrence Norman at the Oct. 1 meeting who said of the proposed changes, “real climbers will figure a way around this.”
However, what concerned Board members most was the lack of a master plan, preservation plan, and security plan for Gas Works Park. While all of them acknowledged the tragedy in July, they also wanted to know what other steps, short of stripping the towers, had been considered. For example, what about cameras and additional lighting? What about the fence that currently surrounds the towers? As Board Chair Macleod said at the outset, and later in the meeting, he considered the city’s request to be “urgent” and not “emergent.” There was concern that not enough analysis had been done to justify such a drastic and irreversible act.
Graves told the Board that he and the city needed a decision that evening noting that a “no” vote would derail the expedited procurement process that accompanied the emergency declaration and potentially threaten the funding. The Board held firm; they acknowledged that removing the “pedestrian appurtenances” might ultimately be the outcome, but their motion denying the application stated: "The proposal removes too many designated features at the towers without sufficient justification"; and added: "Additional information requested includes: a structural report and/or testing, a security analysis, a preservation plan, and an overall master plan for this structure within the park." The motion also noted: "The Board determined that other alternatives with lesser impact should be considered first, including video cameras and lighting for improved security." They also voiced surprise at the lack of such planning for a National Register-designated park that was internationally famous.
The next Board meeting is scheduled for November 5, though it’s unclear if SPR would return with a revised proposal. And based on discussions between the Board and staff, there was an open question about how the city might circumvent the Board in order get their application to strip the towers approved.
Members of the public are asked to contact; [a] the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board and thank them for their thoughtful decision making in this matter; and [b] Seattle Parks and Recreation urging for the creation of a preservation master plan that will guide stewardship and decision making at Gas Works Park.
To contact Landmark Preservation Board Chair Ian Macleod and Board members, write to:
Ms. Erin Doherty, Landmarks Coordinator,
Ms. Sarah Sodt, City Historic Preservation Officer, Landmarks Coordinator for Downtown, South Lake Union, First Hill, and Pike/Pine Neighborhoods
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
P.O. Box 94649
Seattle, WA 98124-4649
E: erin.doherty@seattle.gov
E: sarah.sodt@seattle.gov
To contact Seattle Parks and Recreation, write to:
Mr. Anthony-Paul (AP) Diaz, Superintendent and Director
Seattle Parks and Recreation
100 Dexter Ave N
Seattle, WA, 98109
Email: pks_info@seattle.gov
