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[instrumental music]

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One of my favorite objects in the
Archives is this 1973 footage

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recorded by the Seattle Engineering Department

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documenting the City's
Operation Triangle initiative.

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Public green space has been a topic
that the Emerald City

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has routinely revisited over the years.

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Trees and greenery
are aesthetically pleasing

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and aid in combating air pollution
and climate change.

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As public attitudes towards
the environment shifted in the late

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1960s, open space planning and
investment gained momentum.

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Americans started placing a
higher value on recreation

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and healthy living conditions.

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During the 1970s, most open space
acquisition in King County was funded

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by Forward Thrust, a public works
bond package approved by voters in 1968.

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These funds supported public space
projects such as the new Seattle Aquarium,

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construction of new recreational facilities,

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and improvements
to scenic drives and parks.

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Operation Triangle was one such improvement

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to rejuvenate Seattle streets scene.

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The City's “crazy quilt street grid”
includes hundreds of street triangles,

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selections of which were “landscaped
into islands of green space.”

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“It is a long range Urban Beautification
Program, jointly financed by the City

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and private sources,

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coordinating the efforts of private individuals,

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businessmen, community groups,
garden clubs, City of Seattle departments

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and skilled professionals
in improving scores of street

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triangles in Seattle through
low maintenance landscaping.”

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The concept was originally proposed
and drafted by the Women's

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Division of Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

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According to Operation Triangle
Chairman Kathleen V. Nelson, 

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“In 1965, concerned Seattle Chamber
of Commerce volunteers and city officials

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sat down to devise a program
to bring the professional

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and public planting amateur
into a working partnership.

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Operation Triangle, coordinated by
the Chamber's Seattle Beautification

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Committee in cooperation with
City Engineering, emerged.” 

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Operation Triangle mini-parks won various
awards for their design and innovation.

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The film footage features
a variety of Operation

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Triangle locations before, during
and following landscaping efforts.

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Of particular note is the triangle
park at the intersection of 

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Fourth Avenue, Olive Street and Stewart Street,

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the centerpiece of which is a 35-foot sequoia tree.

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The tree was relocated to the park

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from City property at Aurora
Avenue and Broad Street.

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At the time it was 30-feet
tall and giving 4-1 survival odds

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because of the anticipated
replanting shock.

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The tree’s root ball was originally pruned

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and prepared to be moved out of the
way for the proposed Bay Freeway.

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However, the proposal
was rejected by voters

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in 1972, rendering the tree
temporarily displaced.

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The site planners believed a mature
tree would fit best with the high walls

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of surrounding architecture.

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The triangle park was named
in honor of John M. Jewett, 

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a longtime Seattle businessman,
founding member of the SeaFair Commodores,

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and first Seattle Chamber of Commerce
president, who passed away in 1971.

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Work on the John M. Jewett Memorial Triangle began
in November 1972 and was completed in March 1973.

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Mayor Wes Uhlman, City officials, SeaFair
Commodores, Jewett’s family, and Seattle

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Chamber of Commerce members, participated
in ceremonies for the ground-breaking,

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tree replanting and memorial
site dedication in 1973.

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To learn more about Operation Triangle,
Forward Thrust or view additional archival

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footage from the Engineering department,
please visit seattle.gov/cityarchives.

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[instrumental music]