On this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY, we get the latest news on a plan by the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation (SPR) to make significant changes to historic Gas Works Park on Lake Union in Seattle's Wallingford/Fremont neighborhoods.

Conservation architect Patricia Fels is our guest. She took part in the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board (LPB) meeting on October 1, 2025, and listened in as the board members chose to "table" SPR's proposal to remove elements of the iconic "cracking towers" at Gas Works Park, rather than reject the request. SPR said they will revise their proposal and be back before the LPB as soon as the next meeting on October 15, 2025.

Patricia Fels is a member of Friends of Gas Works Park, and worked closely with the late Richard Haag, noted landscape architect who designed the groundbreaking public space - which includes industrial elements from the "gas works" that previously occupied the site. Fels also wrote the landmark nomination for Gas Works Park, and knows its history and context better than just about anybody.

Cascade of History asked Seattle Parks and Recreation for comment immediately following yesterday's tabling of their Gas Works proposal, but we have not yet heard back as of midday Thursday, October 2, 2025.

For additional information and context, here's a BONUS EPISODE from earlier this week featuring audio from the September 17, 2025 meeting of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board and the Gas Works Park presentation by SPR:

https://soundcloud.com/cascadeofhistory/bonus-episode-gasworks-slpb

For more information about Friends of Gas Works Park:

https://fogwp.org/

For more information about the Wednesday, October 8, 2025 2pm meeting of the Parks, Public Utilties & Technology and Committee of the Seattle City Council:

https://www.seattle.gov/council/meetings/committees-and-agendas/parks-public-utilities-and-technology

For more information about commenting on items before the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board:

https://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/historic-preservation/city-landmarks/public-comment

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station is located at historic Magnuson Park - formerly Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

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