In 1903, John Charles Olmsted recommended that the city develop a parkway from the northwest corner of Queen Anne Hill, running across the hill to Howe Street and Taylor Avenue, then around to Highland or Prospect streets, continuing along Galer to the park proposed at the water tower (now Observatory Courts) on top of the hill. He advocated for parkland extending down the hill from the boulevard to protect views. This boulevard was not realized, but neighborhood residents lobbied the city for the development of a boulevard around the crown of the hill, which was established. It follows a number of streets, which are marked with brown park boulevard signs:
Traveling north from the corner of Prospect Street and Bigelow Avenue north, the boulevard follows Bigelow Avenue North for several blocks, crosses Boston Street and continues to Wheeler Street, then it takes a softly rounded turn to the left, heads west for a couple of blocks until it comes to Nob Hill Avenue North and heads briefly in a southwest direction until it comes upon McGraw Street and heads west, crossing a deep ravine.
At McGraw Place it turns northwest until it intercepts Smith Street and heads west, crosses Queen Anne Avenue and continues onto West Smith Street for a block until that road intercepts West McGraw Place and it heads southwest again for a block or two where it intercepts West McGraw Street and heads west.
Right after you cross 3rd Avenue West, it takes a soft right-hand turn and heads northwest on West McGraw Place until that road becomes 5th Avenue West for several blocks. At West Raye Street it heads west (next to Mt. Pleasant Cemetery) until it intercepts 8th Avenue West and heads north along the cemetery’s west boundary, until at West Fulton Street it takes a softly rounded corner and heads west a couple of blocks. At 10th Avenue West it heads south for several blocks. At Wheeler Street it turns left, heading east, for about three blocks until it comes back to 8th Avenue West, following around a softly rounded corner and heading south again for a block until West McGraw Street.
Turning left, it heads east for another block to 7th Avenue West and another softly rounded corner. Several blocks to the south (between West Crockett and West Howe) the roadway is held up by a section of the city landmarked 1913 Queen Anne Walls, designed by W.R.B. Wilcox (who also designed the Arboretum Aqueduct). Continuing south to West Blaine the boulevard turns west to 8th Avenue West, which is also bordered by four blocks of the brick-detailed concrete Queen Anne Wall by Wilcox. The wall ends at Marshall Viewpoint, part of the Olmsted plan with its view across Elliott Bay and Puget Sound. The boulevard next curves east and terminates on West Highland Drive.