We are focused on working with the Madison Park Community with the goal of creating a neighborhood vision to keep what we love about Madison Park, alter what doesn't work, bring back some of the charming features of yesterday and make sure we maintain the neighborhood and business district we desire in the face of increasing city density.

Boardwalk concession stand

We are all about what the community desires, so we ask a lot of questions. The questions we put forth are meant to stimulate the collective imaginations of our talented community.

Here are some of the questions we have been asking, and will continue to ask until we have the beginnings of a neighborhood vision that has everyone excited, comfortable and truly proud.

If you could turn back time... What would you change? How far back would you go? 40 years? 60 years? 100? What would you focus on? Parks? Lighting? Parking and Traffic? Ambiance? Everything collectively or nothing at all, or maybe something in between?

How about our main business district? If you could, if money were no object, what would you like to see? Underground wiring? Larger trees? Perhaps you'd enjoy having more outdoor dining or hanging flower baskets? Maybe less is more, like newspaper boxes for instance?

Did you know that the street of 43rd between the park and the beach was vacated in 1961 to the Parks Department for park purposes and has officially been park property ever since? How could we use it differently if we wanted to? Cobbles? Grass? Paths? Play area? Waterfront street car or a Farmer's Market? Or, do we want to keep it like it is or something between?

Madison Park Theater

Did you know that the 'end of Madison' where the ferry once took passengers seeking real estate in Kirkland isn't really Madison? More than half of that street end is really called Waterway #4. The other half was deeded from the county to the city in 1951 'for park purposes'. It isn't really even a street, according to all the records we have been able to locate, it's still supposed to be used for 'park purposes'. Should we do something with it in accordance with the intended use?

If we did as a community decide that we'd like a more park like use for the street end would we want better access to the water? A floating dock that would allow for summer boaters to frequent our restaurants and shops? Or, should we keep it like it is?

And finally, what we're called, 'The Park'-'Madison Park'! What about an award winning park or two!? Should we plant more trees or should we have a more open grassy place or both? How about water features or sculptures? If we plant more trees and shrubs what should they be? Should we have paths to meander along, a boardwalk of some kind that connects the parks? What about more music in the park, or art in the park? Should we have some small pavilions to make events more feasible? Or... do we leave it alone?

How about the tennis courts and the surrounding fence? Do we grow trees around it? Roses upon it? Should we make it a sport court with more variety? Or... do we just leave it and clean it up?

Woodland Rose Garden, c.1932

We invite everyone to ask these questions and more, allowing us to collectively shape the future of our community. This is our community, our beaches and our parks, let's make them incredible once again by borrowing a page, here and there from our interesting, colorful and beautiful history and weaving those inspirations into a neighborhood plan that maintains and keeps our community beautiful.

Take a look inside Historic Madison Park and be a part of making history by contributing your time, talent and vision.