I’d wish to appropriate a false impression that Jean Sherrard promulgated in his Now & Then column (“Past, present, future: Balancing safety and art at Gas Works Park,” Jan. 25, Pacific NW Journal). He presents the present choices on the desk as “a seemingly unimaginable binary: go away the hazard as it’s, or take away it totally.” This isn’t the case in any respect.
The Seattle Parks Division has introduced a nicely thought out center path calling for the elimination of all catwalks and ladders. The Parks proposal, introduced to the Landmarks Preservation Board on Jan. 21, removes probably the most tempting climbing targets whereas retaining the majority of the towers. Thus the park would retain probably the most outstanding historic fixtures whereas drastically decreasing the chance of harm and loss of life.
The proposal was tabled by the Landmarks Board pending extra info from the Parks division. I’m hopeful that the extra info may be offered promptly and that the Landmarks Board will approve it swiftly to stop any extra tragedies at Gasoline Works Park.
Tim O’Connor, Seattle
