“It’s just evolved,” says Ken Stringer, standing in awe of the mural that now colors the side of the building housing Jose’s Famous Salsa on Washington Street. “We didn’t have a plan.”

Formerly an apartment complex, then an empty space, then home to the Sequim Farmers Market, this rectangle in the heart of Sequim’s downtown is getting a makeover.

“Whimsy Park” is expected to be, among other things, a playground, art gallery, a movie-in-the-park venue (in the summer), music venue, and — more to the point, Stringer says — a place for Sequim residents and visitors to gather.

“An anchor for social activity in the city,” Stringer says.

The idea started after the City of Sequim hosted a workshop by Peter Kageyama, author of “For the Love of Cities: The Love Affair Between People and Their Places,” on May 9. Stringer and others with the CommunityPlus group began mulling the concept of exploring that emotional connection between Sequim and its citizens.

One of Kageyama’s ideas about “pop-up” parks stuck.

“We thought about, ‘How about a temporary park?’” Stringer says.

The group started up a conversation with developer Bill Littlejohn, who owns the lot just east of Jose’s at 126 E. Washington St.

“It’s a good idea,” Littlejohn said of the park. “It’s not feasible to right now to develop that property, so it’s nice he (Springer) has decided to spruce it up.”

From May through October, the site was home to the Sequim Farmers Market. But that group is headed to a new home at the Sequim Civic Center plaza next summer, market manager Lisa Bridge says.

(The exception is a couple of major event weekends — i.e. the Sequim Irrigation Festival — when the plaza is booked; farmers market folks will be back at “Whimsy Park.”)

On Oct. 22, Sequim High School art teacher Jake Reichner and some of his advanced placement class students were busy splashing color on the east-facing wall of Jose’s, a mural that kicked off the park’s beginning.

“They’re doing amazing work,” Stringer said. “Good for the college resume, too.”

Once the mural is done, Stringer says, they’ll start some landscaping — adding a berm and fencing at the north and extending east toward the parking lot of the adjacent business, The Rusting Rooster.

Other park plans include a small playground and a movie screening area (bring-your-own-chair style) and possibly a space for some live music.

“I’d like to see a bandstand go in,” Stringer says.