About this episode
Feliks Banel's guests on this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY are Patricia Fels of Friends of Gas Works Park and Barbara Swift of the Gas Works Park Alliance.
The City of Seattle Department of Parks & Recreation (SPR) will, this coming Wednesday, January 21, 2026, ask - once again - for permission from the City of Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board (LPB) to make significant changes to the historic towers at Gas Works Park. Gas Works Park is a landmark on the north end of Lake Union, whose design by the late landscape architect Rich Haag is regarded worldwide as an iconic and brilliant re-imagining of a former industrial site. It's also one of Seattle's most beloved public spaces.
Because Gas Works Park is a City of Seattle landmark, SPR must seek permission from the LPB to make any changes - in this case, SPR wants remove ladders, walkways and other elements of the iconic towers that SPR deems a safety hazard. SPR appeared previously before the LPB in 2025 to ask permission, and the request was not approved, with LPB members asking for additional information. A staff report issued last week by the City of Seattle - in advance of the January 21, 2026 meeting - recommends that the LPB approve the request. Both Patricia Fels and Barbara Swift disagree with the City of Seattle staff report, and they share their reasons why in this interview. This episode was recorded on Saturday, January 17, 2026.
Historic Seattle Call To Action (via Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ZdaP3i6ZZ/
Friends of Gas Works Park
https://fogwp.org/
Gas Works Park Alliance
https://www.tclf.org/laurie-olin-threats-gas-works-park
City of Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board Meeting Materials (downloads PDF)
https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/Neighborhoods/HistoricPreservation/Landmarks/2026/LPB0326.pdf
Gas Works Park Update from CASCADE OF HISTORY Broadcast of October 26, 2025
https://soundcloud.com/cascadeofhistory/ep-125
CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via flagship station SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.
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