Seattle's South Lake Union is gearing up for a celebration this Saturday, May 11, as the community marks the opening of a new play structure at Urban Triangle Park, located at 2100 Westlake Ave. Between noon and 2 p.m., families and residents are invited to attend the ribbon cutting for the newly installed climbing and exploring haven, announced by Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR).

AP Diaz, SPR Superintendent, commented on the upcoming event, “May 11 will be a great day in the South Lake Union neighborhood with this ribbon cutting and the South Lake Union Saturday Market. This new play structure offers a place for families to visit and play and is a commitment to providing more spaces and places to recreate in Downtown Seattle in conformance with the Mayor’s Downtown Activation Plan,” according to a statement obtained by Seattle's Parkways blog. The Superintendent's remarks indicate an alliance with citywide initiatives to invigorate the downtown area.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell also weighed in on the new playground's significance. “Downtown is the heart of Seattle, and we are excited to offer new opportunities and amenities for youth, families, and visitors to enjoy our city’s center,” Mayor Harrell told Seattle's Parkways blog. He emphasized the project's fit within the broader "One Seattle" vision, which aims to forge downtown Seattle into a hub of communal vibrancy and activity.

The new play structure is not just an arena for children to expend their energies but a tribute to the local heritage, aesthetically resonating with "spite mounds"; historical neighborhood structures standing in silent testament to the protest against Denny Hill Regrade in the early 20th century. Since its opening in 2019, Urban Triangle Park has offered an array of features, including an integrated cafe, designed for seamless interaction with the park's amenities, according to information from the Seattle Parks and Recreation webpage.

Additionally, Urban Triangle Park boasts an artistic feature that combines public engagement with literary and cultural references. 'Escape Destinations,' a public art installation by Janet Zweig and commissioned using SPR's 1% for Art funds, scrolls through the names of fictional locations drawn from various forms of media, providing the park with a dynamically changing name.