Deadline for submitting names has been extended to May 1, 2020
Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the public to submit potential names for parks in the Lake City and Chinatown-International District neighborhoods. Suggestions for names are due to the Park Naming Committee by Friday, May 1, 2020.
We are seeking names for the following parks, characterized here by their working names:
Lake City Neighborhood
- Lake City Landbank Site: SPR purchased property located at 12510 33rd Ave. NE in 2010 with funding from the 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy to provide additional open space for the Lake City community. SPR demolished the building on the property and worked with the community on the design for the park. The new park will offer a multi-generational appeal with a wide range of activities and green space in this urban neighborhood. The park will include a half-basketball court, climbing structures, ADA pathway, picnic areas, open lawn, and bike racks. The park will include public art sculptural work by artist Elizabeth Gahan funded by the 1% For The Arts program. Construction is anticipated to start in March 2020 and we anticipate the park will be open by late summer.
- NE 130th Street End: This tiny beach is accessible by foot or by bike and is most easily reached by the Burke-Gilman Trail. The site had been a public small street-end beach property used by the community as a public park and an access point to Lake Washington since the early 1900’s. In 2013, it became clear that the land was not, in fact, publicly owned. Neighboring community members rallied the City to help restore public access to this waterfront property. In 2015, the City Council authorized the acquisition. The City initiated a condemnation process in 2016, and a settlement was reached. SPR finalized the purchase of this property in May 2019. The little park totals 13,736 sq. ft, mostly water, with a small shoreline area of 3,653 sq. ft.
Chinatown-International District Neighborhood
- Little Saigon: SPR purchased this .27-acre site in 2013 to provide the community access to open space within this high density urban area. This park site is located between Jackson and King streets adjacent to the Little Saigon street car stop. SPR has been working diligently throughout the park design process with the community and with the Little Saigon Park Committee comprised of local business owners and community members, SCIDPA, and Friends of Little Saigon. Through this work, the community has identified key elements within the park which include a plaza overlook, a multi-functional accessible ramp at the Jackson entrance, a play area, a program and event lawn at the King St. side, and amphitheater seating stairs with an event plaza. Plantings will have bold textures and bright color to reflect pan-Asian design.
About the Parks Naming Committee and how to submit suggestions
The Parks Naming Committee is comprised of one representative designated by the Board of Park Commissioners; one by the Chair of the City Council Civic Development, Public Assets and Native Communities Committee; and one by the Parks Superintendent. Criteria the committee considers in naming parks include: geographical location, historical or cultural significance, and natural or geological features. The Park Naming Policy, clarifying the criteria applied when naming a park, can be found at: https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/policies-and-plans/planning-and-policy-document-library
The Parks Naming Committee will consider all suggestions and make a recommendation to Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jesús Aguirre, who will make the final decision.
Please submit suggestions for park names in writing by Friday, May 1, 2020 and include an explanation of how your suggestion matches the naming criteria. Send to Seattle Parks and Recreation, Parks Naming Committee, 100 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109, or by e-mail to paula.hoff@seattle.gov.