Hing Hay Park (Photo by Sue Misao)
Hing Hay Park is a focal point and one of the premier gathering spaces in the Chinatown-International District. Hing Hay literally translates to “pleasurable gatherings.” On Saturday, Sept. 5 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., the community is invited to celebrate Hing Hay Park at 423 Maynard Ave. S. before construction begins for the park expansion in the fall.
The celebration marks the upcoming construction of the Hing Hay Park expansion and the closing weekend of the Bruce Lee Year 1 exhibition at the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience (The Wing), which will be open until 8 p.m. that night. The celebration starts with plenty of activities for families to enjoy. The event features displays of the new Hing Hay Park expansion, historic photographs of the park, children’s activities including paper lantern making, coloring, face painting and dragon hand tattoos, table tennis and chess. All will be treated to a Bruce Lee movie entitled “Enter the Dragon “ at dusk (approximately 8:30 p.m.).
The park design is based on the multi-cultural and historic aspects of the Chinatown-International District and moves towards a contemporary setting. It respects the past while building for the future. It will be a gathering place for everyone.
Located at the old post office site on 6th and King, the expanded Hing Hay Park was designed by local SvR Architecture with Turenscape, a world-class architecture firm based in Beijing. They gathered input from the community and gained advice from the Friends of Hing Hay Park. The design features a welcoming gateway on the southwest corner of the park, places for large and small gatherings and attractive terraced landscaping which creates multiple spaces for a various activities. The old and the new are seamlessly blended together into one place.
“I want to thank the community for their participation in planning for this park and ask for your cooperation during construction,” said Jesús Aguirre, Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent. “This park will provide a great community gathering space and contribute to an even healthier neighborhood.”
The planned expansion will double the size of the park. Construction is anticipated to begin in fall with completion in late spring 2016.
Celebration sponsors include Seattle Parks and Recreation, the Friends of Hing Hay Park, Wing Luke Museum, Chong Wa Benevolent Association, the Filipino American Historical Society, and the Seattle Chinatown ID Preservation and Development Authority. (end)