Jimi Hendrix Park finally opens in his hometown

Seattle

JIMI Hendrix's looping signature greets visitors at the park bearing his name, here in his hometown. The eye-catching purple script is among many personal touches that pay homage to the musician in Jimi Hendrix Park, which was formally christened in 2006 but did not open until last Saturday, after a decade of permit delays and financial woes.

The one ha park honours the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist within walking distance of his childhood home in the Central District, one of this city's historically black neighbourhoods that is now rapidly gentrifying. Its opening came on the 50th anniversary of the Monterey Pop Festival, a breakout event for Hendrix, who set his guitar ablaze there.