Original Sand Point Park Renamed Magnuson Park 40 Years Ago

History Link published this information on Magnuson Park naming and history:


Seattle's Sand Point Park is renamed Warren G. Magnuson Park and officially opened on May 29, 1977

                                   

Warren Magnuson at the twilight of his 48 year career
(courtesy UW Special Collections)

On May 29, 1977, Sand Point Park is renamed Warren G. Magnuson Park and officially opened before cheering supporters and glum picketers. Senator Magnuson (1905-1989) tells the crowd that a $700,000 federal grant to build new facilities won approval the previous Friday.

In addition to Senator Magnuson, Mayor Wes Uhlman (b. 1935) and City Councilwoman Jeanette Williams (1914-2008) were guests of honor. Both had both worked to create the park and to close down the existing airport at the site.   

Picketers criticized the closing of the airport and the location of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Western headquarters nearby. It was also considered unusual to name a park for a living person.   

The Navy had declared the land at Sand Point surplus. Part of the land (100 acres) became the Western headquarters of NOAA. Another 195.6 acres land became Warren G. Magnuson Park.

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