Walt Hundley Playfield

About

Seattle Parks and Recreation acquired the Walt Hundley Playfield at High Point, from the Seattle Housing Authority in 1977. Developed in 1980, the 11-acre playfield consists of two baseball fields, a lighted turf soccer field and a play area. The play area, located just south of the High Point Community Center, was renovated in 2019. It includes new swings, slides, and several climbable structures, as well as a new seating area.

The playfield name honors Walter R. Hundley, who was the first African-American superintendent for Seattle Parks and Recreation - a position he held from 1977 to 1988. Mr. Hundley was instrumental in acquiring the High Point site for the community center and playfield. The park was named during his tenure to reflect the proximity to the High Point Public Housing Development. Mr. Hundley was dedicated to parks, recreational facilities, green belts and open spaces. A graduate of Yale University, he came to Seattle as a minister, but later decided on a career in public service. He was a highly visible member of the Civil Rights movement in Seattle, and was the former administrator of the Central Area Motivation Project. He was director of the Model Cities Program and Director of the City of Seattle's Office of Management and Budget. Mr. Hundley died in 2002 after a long battle with kidney disease.