Viretta Park
Viretta Park | |
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![]() Viretta Park in 2007 | |
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Type | Urban Park |
Location | Seattle,Washington |
Coordinates | 47°37′08″N122°16′55″W/ 47.61889°N 122.28194°W |
Area | 1.8 acres (7,300 m2) |
Operated by | Seattle Parks and Recreation |
Viretta Parkis a 1.8-acre (7,300 m2)parkin theDenny-Blaineneighborhood ofSeattle,Washington,located at the foot of E. John Street at 39th Avenue E. and stretching down toLake Washington Boulevard.It was named by Charles L. Denny after his wife, Viretta Chambers Denny. It is located to the south of the former home ofKurt Cobain,where hewas found dead.Nirvanafans gather at the park on the anniversary of Cobain's death (April 5), and to a lesser extent on his birthday (February 20), to pay tribute to him.
Kurt Cobain Memorial[edit]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Viretta_Park_bench_01.jpg/220px-Viretta_Park_bench_01.jpg)
The park's wooden benches, serving as the de facto memorial to Kurt Cobain in Seattle, are covered withgraffitimessages to therockicon. There has been much speculation over the years on whether the name of the park should be changed to "Kurt's Park", due to the late rock icon's large fan base.[citation needed]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/Kurt_Cobain_Bench_Viretta_Park.jpg/300px-Kurt_Cobain_Bench_Viretta_Park.jpg)
Howard Schultz controversy[edit]
The first version of the group Friends of Viretta Park was formed by area neighbors during a dispute with former neighbor andStarbucksCEOHoward Schultz,who formerly lived to the South. Schultz later moved to a new residence.
Viretta Park Repair[edit]
In 2010 a group known as Viretta Park Repair was formed; according to its website its purpose was "to repair and restore Seattle's Viretta Park and... create a memorial for Nirvana's singer/songwriter Kurt Cobain who died next door to the park". Its first work party was scheduled to take place on Kurt Cobain's 44th birthday on February 20, 2011. Volunteers came from all over the Western United States and Southwestern Canada. The next series of scheduled work parties, scheduled for March 13, 2011 and April 5, 2011, were shut down bySeattle Parks and RecreationSuperintendent Christopher Williams after a neighbor complained about memorial events - and a sculpture - that did not exist, but which were actually scheduled forAberdeen, Washington.
Acting Parks Chief Christopher Williams sided with the neighbors in blocking any attempt to have any memorial to Kurt Cobain in the park, despite recent additions toJimi Hendrix Parkin Seattle and a memorial sculpture inAberdeen, Washingtonwhich had the approval of Aberdeen's Mayor.
Since then Viretta Park Repair has been given the green light to hold additional work parties. A second work party was held on June 4, 2011 where volunteers removed invasive holly and blackberry bushes, laid burlap and covered the area with bark mulch.
See also[edit]
- Kurt Cobain Memorial Park,in Aberdeen, Washington
Further reading[edit]
Howard Schultz Controversy[edit]
- The Neighbors and Friends of Viretta Park, an unincorporated voluntary association
- The Seattle TimesLetters: Viretta Park -- Parks Staff Deserves PraiseApril 4, 1994
- Seattle Post-IntelligencerVIRETTA PARK NEIGHBORS CITE MORE ENCROACHMENT PUBLIC BACK YARD,By Mark Higgins, March 14, 1996.
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer:Letters To The Editor, Viretta Pak -- Site Was Used As A Play AreaApril 10, 1996
- The Seattle Times:Viretta Driveway OK But Decoration Must GoBy Daryl Strickland May 21, 1994
Viretta Park Repair[edit]
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer:Nirvana fans plan to do Seattle park work SundayPosted by Casey McNerthney on February 15, 2011
- KING-TVNirvana fans plan to restore park close to Cobain's former homePosted on February 18, 2011
- The OregonianKurt Cobain fans restoring park near Seattle homePublished: Friday, February 18, 2011
- Nirvana fans plan to restore park close to Cobain's former home[dead link]updated 2/18/2011
- MYNorthwestKurt Cobain fans restoring park near Seattle homeUpdated Feb 18, 2011
- Kurt Cobain fans restoring park near Seattle home
- The Seattle TimesMemorial for Kurt Cobain sought; park neighbors opposedBy Nicole Brodeur, Seattle Times staff columnist, Originally published Monday, February 21, 2011
- Seattle WeeklyNirvana Fans Hosting a Reunion/Workparty at Viretta Park on Sunday, What Would Have Been Kurt Cobain's 44th BirthdayBy Chris Kornelis, Feb. 18 2011