Madison Park Home and Garden Tour needs new recruits

After a successful revival of the Madison Park Home and Garden Tour last year, organizers are looking for a new crop of neighbors wanting to participate.

“The feedback from the tour last year was fantastic, both from the tour-goers and from the homeowners and sponsors,” says John Madrid, managing broker at Realogics Sotheby's International Realty, which brought back the home and garden tour in summer 2017 through a partnership with the McGilvra Elementary PTA. 

The Madison Park Garden Club had put on a home and garden tour since the 1980s, which ended years ago. Realogics worked with the PTA to bring it back as a fundraising opportunity for McGilvra Elementary.

Madrid said the 2017 inaugural tour raised $10,000 for the Madison Park school. He and his wife even put their former mid-century modern home on the map.

“You have to eat your own dog food,” he said. “You can’t recruit someone to do a home tour if you won’t do it yourself.”

But now organizers are looking for 8-10 new participants willing to open up their homes and/or gardens for this year’s tour, which will take place Sunday, June 3. Sign-ups will start in May, and people interested in featuring their home and/or garden can contact Madrid at john@live206.com or 206-498-1880 for more information.

Most of last year’s participating homes and gardens were in the Madison Park area, but organizers did add the historic Ellsworth Storey Home in the Denny-Blaine neighborhood. Ellsworth Storey was a famous Seattle architect, and both of his former residences are on the National Register of Historic Places and designated Seattle landmarks.

“The Madison Park Home & Garden Tour went great last year! We started off at McGilvra's own school garden for our children, and a number of parents volunteered and attended the event,” writes Elizabeth Fleming with the McGilvra PTA. “We're really grateful to our sponsors at Sotheby's Realogics who have been able to support us through this event.

“Last year's funds went into our overall budget, which bridge the gap between what our students need and what the district is able to provide. This includes reading and math specialists, art and other school events and amenities. For example, the PTA was able to bring a magic show in for the kids, as well as the school garden.”

Tickets for the Madison Park Home and Garden Tour will be $30 this year, and can be purchased starting in early May at madisonparkhometour.com.