PlayLand takes its name and inspiration from the 12-acre amusement park that operated along Seattle's historic Interurban from 1930-1961 and was adjacent to its current site. Using the original Playland's grand attraction – The Dipper, a state-of-the-art roller coaster – the work consists of thirteen "peaks," each with its own unique characteristic and theme and is designed to create a multi-layered experience in which something new is discovered with each viewing.

In addition to the original Playland, the work alludes to the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest and layers of long-forgotten history:  noble forests of Douglas fir and cedar, sprawling rural farmland and a small sawmill operating on the lake in 1913 and responsible for Bitter Lake’s name. PlayLand also points to the neighborhood's future with references to changing seasons and urban development.

PlayLand, part of the Interurban and located adjacent to *FlipBooks, uses salvaged traffic signs and materials exclusively used by Seattle's Department of Transportation, PlayLand celebrates the urban environment and pays homage to the work of our City’s Department of Transportation.

Photography by Jim Tillman

*For the correlating public work, please see PUBLIC ART, FlipBooks