Information from the Port of Seattle

The Port of Seattle announced the top three names chosen for each of the six Port-owned parks and shoreline access sites along the Duwamish River to new names that reflect their cultural, historical and environmental significance. The Port partnered with Seattle Parks Foundation, a well-recognized public parks and greenspace non-profit, to design and implement the re-naming campaign with transparency, equity and community involvement. The names were announced on a press conference call joined by dozens of community members.

"Speaking on behalf of the Seattle Port Commission, we are delighted by the strong tribal and community participation in this effort,” said Fred Felleman, Port of Seattle Commission Vice President and tribal liaison. “It’s important these public parks have names that reflect their location and cultural significance.”

The top name nominations for the six parks are:

Terminal 105 Park

• Hermoso Park and Habitat Area
  (er-mo-so: Beautiful)
• t̓uʔəlaltxʷ Village Park & Habitat Area
  (Toolalt[w], t-oo-ah-lal-too-wx: Herring’s House / Name of an old village site on the west bank of the Duwamish River / A description of where herring live/spawn)
• t̕uʔəlaltxʷ Memorial Park & Habitat Area
  (Toolalt[w], t-oo-ah-lal-too-wx: Herring’s House / Name of an old village site on the west bank of the Duwamish River / A description of where herring live/spawn)

Terminal 107 Park

• Duwamish Bend Park and Habitat Area
• həʔapus Village Park and Habitat Area
  (haapoos, ha-ah-poos: Name of a small stream draining across a flat on the west side of Duwamish River)
• yilə’qʷud Park & Habitat Area
  (yillaqwud, yil-a-qwud: Name of an old village site on the west bank of the Duwamish River)

Terminal 108 Park

• c̓əqas Park and Habitat Area
  (tsaqahs, ts-a-kahs: Muddy, a word used to describe a beach/shoreline)
• sbəq̓waʔ Park and Habitat Area
  (sbaqwah, s-bah-qwah: Great Blue Heron)
• čəbčəbid Park and Habitat Area
  (chabchabeed, chab-chab-eed: Drybark / Description of location on the east side of the Duwamish River for gathering fir bark for fires)

8th Avenue South Street End Park

• Gear Park and Habitat Area
• t̓ałt̓ałucid Park and Habitat Area
  (tathtathootseed, t-ahth-t-ahth-oots-eed: Where there is something overhead, across the path / A description of logs or branches located above a path or trail)
• De Colores Park and Habitat Area
  (ko-lo-res: Colors)

Terminal 117

• South Park Shores Park and Habitat Area
• Duwamish River People’s Park and Habitat Area
• qiyawa’lapsəb Park and Habitat Area
  (qeeyahwahlapsub, ki-yah-wa-lap-sab: A descriptive word referencing the Duwamish River route to Elliott Bay / eel’s throat)

Turning Basin #3

• Restoration Park and Habitat Area
• Salmon Cove Park and Habitat Area
• t̓at̓łqid Park and Habitat Area
  (tatthkid, t-a-t-th-kid: A descriptive word referencing a short cut when traveling upstream during high tide at the mouth of the Duwamish River)

“There are great opportunities here for our communities to select names that honor the heritage of the Duwamish River and elevate the indigenous history and culture of the region of the land we occupy,” said Rosario-Maria Medina, a community member involved in the naming process.

Community members submitted more than 3,000 responses during the ‘Incredible Parks Want Incredible Names’ nomination phase. After an eligibility check, park name nominations went through multiple rounds of scoring and evaluation by a review committee. 

The shortlisted names announced today represent the diversity of people and their experiences with each park – finalist names range from English, Spanish, and Lushootseed languages. A video of the press conference will be made available on our Incredible Parks page here.

“The Seattle Parks Foundation would like to thank the Port of Seattle and the community members along the Duwamish River who have worked countless hours over the past several months to bring us one step closer to renaming these great public spaces that will provide great use for people to enjoy for generations to come,” said George Lee of the Seattle Parks Foundation.

Choose Your Favorite Park Names Now!

The public has until 11:59 p.m. on September 30 to rank each name nomination on the Incredible Parks scoring page here. After September 30, the review committee will review results and select the final park names. The final park names will be announced on October 27th at the Port’s Commission meeting.