PRESS RELEASE - City of Port Townsend Awarded Grant for Skatepark Mural
Creative District receives $30,000 grant from Washington State Arts Commission.
March 11, 2026 PORT TOWNSEND – The Port Townsend Creative District has won a competitive capital projects grant from the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) to commission a site-specific mural at the Seamus Sims Skatepark in downtown Port Townsend. This project builds on the visibility and momentum of the Creative District as it celebrates its first year under the City’s
management. This permanent painted artwork will be the first public art commissioned by the City since 2014. The project includes the creation of a mural by an artist or artist team, as well as a public engagement component with the park's constituents.
Located at 250 Monroe Street, at the corner of Jefferson Street, the 0.33-acre Seamus Sims Skatepark was built by the City in 2006 after decades of youth advocacy for a sanctioned place to skateboard. In 2024 the park was renamed for Seamus Sims, who spearheaded the effort. In 2025 the City added solar-powered lighting, after a local high school student led a campaign to add lighting for extended use of the park. Community activation and interest in this park is growing, and with its central location on a main downtown artery and free public parking lot, murals created at this site will be seen by locals and visitors, becoming a central visual landmark for the Creative District and community at large.
The City will match ArtsWA's investment of $30,000 in this project with funds from the Municipal Arts Fund, support from staff in Parks and Facilities, and private contributions. The Seamus Sims Skatepark is part of the City of Port Townsend's park system and is maintained by City staff.
A Request for Proposals (RFP) is expected to be released in early April. It will include community engagement components, supported by the City’s Creative District staff, as well as a design vision for approximately 1,700 square feet of painted murals at the park. The site includes long stretches of concrete wall as well as smaller features, benches, and steps to be integrated into the work (it will not include the skateable surfaces in the park). Currently, the park is unpainted, grey concrete, offering a canvas for artwork that reflects the vibrant culture that defines the activity and community who use this resource.
Proposals will be reviewed by a selection panel made up of members of the Port Townsend Arts Commission’s Public Art Committee, members of other relevant City Advisory Boards, community members, a local artist, and City staff. Finalists will present their proposals to the public for feedback as part of the process. The project is expected to begin in late summer 2026 and be completed by early 2027. More details on the selection process and project timeline will be released with the RFP in April.
With the Creative District and Community Services Department, the City is proud to continue to support inclusive, community driven art through this project by building more opportunities for the arts to be seen and appreciated in our built environment.
“By offering a permanent platform for public, community-responsive art, we are making space for further creativity and engagement in the Creative District,” says Katy Goodman, the City’s Arts and Culture Coordinator, “this project helps to demonstrate that Port Townsend is a place that values and recognizes working artists for their craft and contributions to our community.”
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Learn more about the Port Townsend Creative District:http://https://ptcreativedistrict.org/
