Bhy Kracke Park: Queen Anne’s ‘Other’ Viewpoint

You could easily miss it. 

On a glorious sunny walk along Bigelow Avenue, the towering chestnut trees and scampering squirrels might pull your attention right past the entrance.

But to bypass the ordinary street sign pointing down the southeast side of Queen Anne Hill toward Comstock Place would be a shame. Stop a moment and step off Bigelow at 1304 Bigelow Ave North and head down Comstock Place where you’ll see a small sign for Bhy Kracke Park. It may not enjoy the fame and familiarity of Kerry and Kinnear parks, but to take in the views from its winding paths combines the best that those better-know parks have to offer. Pronounced, “by cracky” the name may sound funny, but the peaceful retreat is a true delight.

About that name: If sounds like an old-fashioned exclamation of enthusiasm, it is.

According to an unsigned 1974 history of Bhy Kracke Park held in the City of Seattle archives, Werner H. Kracke arrived in Seattle in 1930 by way of his native Nebraska, then California, then Buenos Aires. He settled on a steep lot on Queen Anne, living on the upper part of the property. He was an avid gardener and built a retaining wall.

The article noted that “By Cracky” was one of his favorite expressions. “He was a ‘By cracky person!’ said J.A. Michener of the Washington Athletic Club, where Kracke was a member and it became his nickname, though he spelled it ‘Bhy’ or ‘Bye.’”

Kracke worked in Seattle first as a teller for the Marine Central Bank, then as auditor for the National Bank of Commerce, where he remained until he retired in 1957.

He then gravitated back to warmer climes, spending summers in San Diego before moving   to Kaneohe, Hawaii in 1966. He continued to visit Seattle regularly, and decided to dedicate his land to either a park or apartments. He made many sketches of ideas for development. If his property was to be turned into a park, he wanted it to be “a miniature Butchart Gardens.” Kracke intended to donate $20,000 to further improve the site but his plans were cut short when he died aboard ship on his way back to Seattle from Hawaii in 1971.

Ultimately Kracke’s land was sold to the City of Seattle and developed into a park with funds from the 1968 Forward Thrust bond initiative. The park was designed by landscape architect Roy Lehner, and it included many features Kracke had wanted such as winding paths with “surprise” views and the location of the viewpoint in the upper part of the park off Comstock Place. Walkways lead from Comstock down to a children’s play area in the lower level on 5th Avenue North near the intersection with Highland Drive.

Today Bhy Kracke Park is a quiet spot with spectacular vistas of South Lake Union, the city skyline and the Space Needle. It’s a “hidden gem” little known to tourists and therefore lacks Kerry Park’s crowds. The biggest gathering is often on the upper level around midnight on New Year’s Eve for a grand view of the Space Needle fireworks.

If you stop by on a sunny day you might meet Ajax the cat, one of the park’s most frequent and famous visitors. He has been featured in the Seattle Times and is well known in the neighborhood, but he takes his celebrity in stride. Ajax is usually found lounging on the drinking fountain, serenely disregarding the Space Needle and cityscape behind him.

 While you sit and admire the view, if you’re feeling contemplative you might want to listen to “Bhy Kracke Park” by Seattle band The Mellors (https://youtu.be/iOwjquyijBg).

However you choose to enjoy it, there’s no doubt it’s a great park, by cracky!