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Big news from just across the Ship Canal: the Fremont Troll is getting a sibling.

In an announcement that took many by surprise, the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture revealed preliminary plans for a new sister Troll sculpture, this one to be installed not in Fremont, but right here in Wallingford, essentially making us the Troll’s official next‑door family.

According to the City, the project is part of a broader effort to “expand the regional troll narrative,” ensuring that Fremont’s iconic 1990 sculpture, beloved, photographed, and climbed on by millions, doesn’t have to shoulder the symbolic weight of Seattle’s entire troll identity alone.

A Family Expansion Years in the Making

Though the Fremont Troll remains the undisputed monarch of under‑bridge public art, recent interest in large-scale troll installations across the PNW (including the six PNW-based Thomas Dambo wooden trolls, the closest of which resides in Ballard) has apparently inspired the City to consider a “more interconnected troll ecosystem.”

City planners emphasize that the Fremont Troll will still be the “emotional anchor” of Seattle’s troll universe, with the new Wallingford Troll intended as a friendly, complementary presence rather than a rival.

As one spokesperson put it: “Think of it less like a franchise and more like adding a second kid to the family. Fremont stays the eldest.”

The Chosen Home: 

The proposed location is under the Ship Canal Bridge NE 40th St (north side)—a site chosen for its structural suitability and “strong under-bridge energy,” according to internal planning notes.

The area already features the right blend of shade, concrete, and mildly mysterious debris—prime habitat for a young troll finding her identity.

Meet the Wallingford Troll

If the Fremont Troll embodies brooding mischief, her Wallingford sister is expected to showcase a gentler personality. Early concept sketches show:

• Mossy bangs or tufted hair
• A well-fed raccoon companion curled nearby
• Softly glowing gemstone‑like eyes to help illuminate the underpass at dusk
  

  Concept image #1

  

  Concept image #2

  

  Concept image #3

She is described as “youthful but not a baby,” with designers adopting a “cozy woodland tween” aesthetic.

Community Input: You Get a Say

Two public forums will be held to gather neighborhood opinions on the final design (dates yet to be announced):

Residents will be invited to vote on:

• Hairstyle (Moss‑Swept, Fern Forward, or Northwest Bedhead)
• Expression (gentle grin, inquisitive smirk, or mild judgment: a Seattle family trait)
• Name choices: Trollella Swift, Wally Aurora, Becky with the Good Moss, Trollene DeGeneres, or Mossy Mosserson (which risks making her sound like a backup bassist for Fleet Foxes).

Organizers stress that no option is final.

What About Traffic?

SDOT assures the public that the sculpture will not impede pedestrian or bike movement under the bridge. Cyclists on the Burke‑Gilman may experience the unmistakable vibe of being evaluated by someone who comes from a family where one sibling already holds up a VW Beetle.

Projected Timeline

If approved, construction could begin in late summer, followed by a fall “Welcome to the Neighborhood” celebration, featuring live music and community art projects.

More to come when public forum dates are released.