Friends of Discovery Park on Fort Lawton’s Future
In August 2019, KIRO Newsradio’s Dori Monson spoke with Phillip Vogelzang, President of Friends of Discovery Park, about the future of Discovery Park and the ongoing debate over redevelopment at the former Fort Lawton Army Reserve Center.
The conversation came at a time when Seattle was considering plans to redevelop portions of the former military property for affordable and supportive housing. The proposal raised a fundamental question for Discovery Park advocates: how should the remaining Fort Lawton lands be used while preserving the open, natural character of the park?
The Fort Lawton Debate
For Friends of Discovery Park, the issue was part of a much longer history of protecting the park as an urban refuge. The organization’s position was that Fort Lawton’s remaining open lands presented an opportunity to strengthen Discovery Park’s natural landscape rather than introduce additional development into or immediately adjacent to the park.
The debate also highlighted the competing needs facing a rapidly growing city. Supporters of the redevelopment emphasized Seattle’s need for affordable housing, while opponents argued that permanently protecting open space and wildlife habitat is also a critical public need—and that once natural open space is developed, it cannot easily be replaced.
Vogelzang’s interview provides a snapshot of that debate and FoDP’s perspective at the time. For additional context, read Fort Lawton Redevelopment Testimony, which includes Vogelzang’s testimony before the Seattle City Council several months earlier.
Read the Interview
Read the full article on KIRO Newsradio: Discovery Park advocacy group says arts campus would ruin park’s tranquility
Stay Involved
The future of Discovery Park depends on continued community engagement and thoughtful stewardship. Learn more about Friends of Discovery Park’s advocacy work and the issues affecting the park’s future.
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