Madison Park underwent a vast change in the late ‘40s. The once thriving restaurants that served hearty meals for those working on the war effort started to shut down or move. Many university students and office workers took advantage of the cheap rents due to the vacancies of these folks who moved, trying to find work elsewhere. 

Fifteen years ago, I became a member of the Mad P P-patch, the community garden at 30th and East Mercer, just downhill from City People’s Garden Store. The Mad P is one of 88 community gardens in this city, and we are here, in part, because of you: it was PCC who helped start the City of Seattle’s P-Patch program back in 1973.

Growing up in Madison Park was truly extraordinary. There were more neighborhoods in Seattle back in the ‘40s and ‘50s, but only Madison Park has stood the test of time.