Sam Smith Park: Atlantic Tennis, Tunnel and Peace Sculpture

Sam Smith Park

Play tennis, let the kids loose in the play area and ride the bike and pedestrian tunnel at Sam Smith Park, a Seattle Parks and Recreation park in the Atlantic neighborhood named for the first Black member of the Seattle City Council. Pause at Gerard Tsutakawa's memorial sculpture before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Sam Smith Park is at 1400 Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle, WA 98122. It is in the Atlantic neighborhood, part of the Central Area.

The park honors Sam Smith, a local politician devoted to civil rights and racial justice. He was the first Black member of the Seattle City Council and the second Black member of the Washington State Legislature, serving five terms in each.

Yes. Sam Smith Park has tennis courts, along with a children's play area, exercise equipment and picnic tables.

Urban Peace Circle is a statue by Seattle sculptor Gerard Tsutakawa located in Sam Smith Park. It is dedicated to Seattle's young people who have been killed by gun violence.

Yes. The park includes a bicycle and pedestrian tunnel that connects with the Mount Baker Tunnel.

Tennis courts, a children's play area and a bike and pedestrian tunnel all share the grounds of Sam Smith Park, a city park at 1400 Martin Luther King Jr Way S in the Atlantic neighborhood of Seattle's Central Area. Run by Seattle Parks and Recreation, it pairs everyday recreation with a tribute to a pioneering civil rights leader and a memorial to young people lost to gun violence.

Meet the Man Behind the Name

The park honors Sam Smith, a Seattle politician whose career centered on civil rights and racial justice. He became the first Black member of the Seattle City Council and the second Black member of the Washington State Legislature, serving five terms in each.

The city gave the park his name in September 1998, after nominations from the Washington Black Heritage Society, the Urban League of Greater Seattle and individual residents. Keep that in mind as you wander, because the honor came from the community as much as from City Hall.

Read the full guide

Pause at Urban Peace Circle

Make time for the park's most meaningful stop, Urban Peace Circle, a statue by Seattle sculptor Gerard Tsutakawa. The work is dedicated to Seattle's young people who have been killed by gun violence.

If you came for tennis or the playground, it is easy to walk right past, so slow down and spend a moment here. The sculpture gives the park a quieter, reflective side that sits alongside its spaces for play.

Play, Work Out and Picnic

Sam Smith Park is built for regular neighborhood use, and you can fill an easy hour or two with what it offers:

Tennis courts for a casual game or some practice
A children's play area where younger visitors can burn off energy
Exercise equipment for an outdoor workout
Picnic tables for a lunch break or a rest between activities

Bring the family, your racket or just a sandwich, since the mix makes this a practical stop for a short outdoor break in the Central Area.

Ride or Walk the Tunnel

Here is a feature most city parks cannot match: a bicycle and pedestrian tunnel that connects with the Mount Baker Tunnel. Whether you arrive on foot or on two wheels, the park works as both a destination and a link along your route.

Cycling through? Pull over at the picnic tables or the exercise equipment for a natural pause. Check with Seattle Parks and Recreation for current trail conditions and any closures before heading out.

Keep Exploring Nearby

Sam Smith Park sits in a cluster of green spaces, so you can string several stops together in one outing. The distances below are straight-line estimates.

Blue Dog Pond and the I-90 Lid (Blue Dog Pond) dog park, both less than 0.1 mile away
Jimi Hendrix Park, about 0.2 mile
Bradner Gardens Park, a park with a community garden, about 0.2 mile
Colman School, a local landmark, about 0.2 mile
Mt. Baker Ridge Viewpoint and Benvenuto Viewpoint, each about 0.2 mile

Bring the dog and add time at the nearby off-leash area, or stroll over to Bradner Gardens if you love seeing what is growing. For more ideas, browse our guide to the Atlantic neighborhood or explore every park in Seattle.

Plan Your Visit

Head to 1400 Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle, WA 98122, the park's listed address. For current hours, court information and any maintenance notices, turn to the Seattle Parks and Recreation website, your most reliable source.