Pop-up Park in Downtown Seattle Inspires Quiet Reflection on National Parks in and Around this Bustling City
WASHINGTON – In celebration of the National Park Service’s 102nd birthday on August 25, the National Park Foundation is hosting “PARKTRACKS,” a Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque pop-up park within downtown Seattle’s Westlake Park, where you can step into a unique space that provides a temporary respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. Creating an innovative audio experience, visitors will be able to tune out the hectic sounds of the city and tune in to the relaxing sounds of America’s national parks.
Highlighting the diversity of places and stories that the National Park Service preserves in the Seattle area and around the country, the space will also feature directional poles indicating how close national parks and NPS programs are to the Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque pop-up. iPad kiosks within the activation will also feature interactive slideshows highlighting area parks, along with some specific educational information.
“Immerse yourself in the bird calls, the crashing waves, the whistling wind, and the unique sounds of our shared heritage,” said Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation. “This experience is part of the National Park Foundation’s efforts to bring parks to people and inspire more communities to get out and explore the incredible network of national parks in their own backyard and across the country.”
“Seattle has strong connections with the outdoors,” said Charles Beall, Seattle Area National Park Sites Superintendent. “This experience in Westlake Park will use the sights and sounds of our area’s well-known national parks to inspire reflection upon these national treasures and promote discovery of the lesser-known national parks and NPS community programs in and around Seattle that make our city great.”
Virtually transporting listeners to national parks, the audio experience uses innovative audio technology and headphones to feature sounds captured by the National Park Service’s Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division at national parks across the country.
This experience is one of many great examples of the countless ways to #FindYourPark. Launched in 2015, Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque inspires people from all backgrounds to connect with, celebrate and support America’s national parks and community-based programs. Find Your Park invites people to discover and share their own unique connections to the country’s natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history. The National Park Foundation’s Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque premier partners include American Express, Budweiser, HanesBrands, L.L.Bean, Nature Valley, Subaru, and Union Pacific Railroad. Additional support comes from Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque national partner The Coca-Cola Company.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
Celebrating 50 years, the National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and ENGAGE the next generation of park stewards. In 2016, commemorating the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary, the Foundation launched The Centennial Campaign for America’s National Parks, a comprehensive fundraising campaign to strengthen and enhance the future of these national treasures for the next hundred years. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.com.