Parkways Seattle Parks and Recreation

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the Fremont community to review and provide input on design options for the B. F. Day Playground Play Area Renovation project on Thursday, December 5, 2019 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.at B. F. Day School in the cafeteria, 3921 Linden Ave. N. This meeting is an opportunity to learn about the project and provide input on play equipment.

The community is encouraged to participate in the meeting and in an onlinesurvey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BFDayPlaygroundRenovation) for the project that will open on Dec. 2, 2019.

The play area renovation project will replace the play equipment and improve the adjacent picnic area, including replacing the drinking fountain and making accessibility improvements in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and national safety standards.  Thank you to everyone who participated in the first meeting and survey.

Funding for this park project is provided by the Seattle Park District. Approved by voters in 2014, the Seattle Park District provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding to tackle the $267-million major maintenance backlog for Seattle Parks and Recreation as well as other facilities including the Aquarium and Zoo. In addition, it provides funding to improve and rehabilitate community centers, preserve the urban forest, perform day-to-day maintenance of parks and facilities, provide more recreation opportunities for people from underserved communities, provide programs for people of all ages and abilities, and acquire and develop new park land.

For more information about the project please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/b-f-day-playground-play-area-renovation. For questions about the project or if you need an interpreter or accommodations please contact Colin Campbell, colin.campbell@seattle.gov or 206-256-5604.

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) awarded the construction contract to Terra Dynamics, Inc. for the Christie Park expansion project. They will begin demolition work of the existing park features by Friday, November 22, 2019. This park expansion project provides more open space for the University District by doubling the size of the existing Christie Park located at 4257 9^th Ave. NE.

The new design addresses safety and accessibility, and promotes park activities. Many of the existing park elements will be demolished, opening sight lines and improving visibility. The new park will feature an open lawn, plantings, trees, a multi-use plaza with donated art, a loop trail, and a fitness area. The “Explorer Voyage” art piece by Paul Sorey, donated by Friends of Christie Park, celebrates the community’s connection to the Taiwanese Community, James Christie, and University of Washington.

SPR anticipates celebrating the completion of the park expansion with the community in late spring 2020.

Funding for this park project is provided by the Seattle Park District. Approved by Seattle voters in 2014, the Seattle Park District provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding for Seattle Parks and Recreation including maintenance of parklands and facilities, operation of community centers and recreation programs, and development of new neighborhood parks on previously acquired sites.

Thank you to the U-District Partnership and the Friends of Christie Park for their support of this project and assistance during the public process.

For more information about the project please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/christie-park-addition or contact Katie Bang at katie.bang@seattle.gov or 206-684-9286.

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the community to participate in the design for the new plaza and park in South Park on Saturday, November 16, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the site, 8456 Dallas Ave. S. Please join us to learn about the project and provide your input to the design team. Community involvement is essential in developing this new park and plaza, and we need to hear from you. Light refreshments and children’s activities will be provided.

In 2014, as part of a community-initiated acquisition, SPR purchased the .83-acre site at 8456 Dallas Ave. S, just west of the South Park Bridge to provide the community more open space. SPR is ready to move this new park and plaza project forward and we are excited to work with the South Park neighborhood to develop a design for the community gathering space.

Following input at this November meeting, we will develop site options. These options will be presented at a second community meeting in early 2020. A preferred community-informed design will be presented at a third and final community meeting in the spring of 2020.

This project was made possible by the voter-approved Seattle Park District, which provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding for SPR, including maintenance of parklands and facilities, operation of community centers and recreation programs, and development of new neighborhood parks on previously acquired sites.

Our City partners, Seattle Office of Housing, Seattle Public Utilities, the Office of Planning and Community Development, will be present at the event.

For more information about the project please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/south-park-plaza-landbanked-site-park-development.

For additional questions or if you need an interpreter or accommodations please contact Ed Pottharst at ed.pottharst@seattle.gov or 206-386-4232.

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) and Freeway Park Association invite the community to participate in the Freeway Park Improvement project. Please visit the website www.seattle.gov/parks/restorefreewaypark to review project information and take a short survey. Your feedback is important and will be incorporated into the design for the future repairing, restoring and enhancing of Freeway Park. The survey closes November 27 at 5 p.m.

SPR and the Freeway Park Association would like to thank everyone who attended the Open House in October and we encourage those who missed the event to watch it on the Seattle Channel (http://seattlechannel.org/videos?videoid=x108063). The program features the presentation of the project by Walker Macy followed by a lively moderated panel discussion with Randy Gregg, Portland Parks Foundation Executive Director; Alison Hirsch, USC School of Architecture Director of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism; Kenneth Helphand, University of Oregon Professor Emeritus in Landscape Architecture; Charles A. Birnbaum, President + CEO of The Cultural Landscape Foundation, and Iain Robertson, Associate Professor and Adjunct Faculty, University of Washington, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences.

Designed by Lawrence Halprin and constructed in 1976, Freeway Park (700 Seneca St.) was the first park to ever be built over an interstate highway. The park is a respite from the city’s urban environment and is a result of community activism, forward-thinking, and Seattle’s civic process.

SPR has $10 million in funding from the Washington State Convention Center Expansion Project as part of the public benefit package associated with the Convention Center expansion. The funding will repair, restore and enhance Freeway Park. Of the $10 million, $750,000 is for activation within the park and $9,250,000 is dedicated to capital improvements which includes actual construction (approximately $6 million), as well as design and project management, permitting, sales tax and contingencies. The initial scope of the capital improvements is based on the Finding Freeway Park concept plan, produced by the Freeway Park Association, and identifies infrastructure upgrades, lighting, wayfinding and possibly a new restroom. The design phase is expected to be complete with all necessary permits/approvals and construction bid documents by June 2021.

For additional questions about the project please contact David Graves, Seattle Parks and Recreation, at 206-684-7048 or David.Graves@seattle.gov  or visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/freeway-park-improvements.

In 2019, Freeway Park Association celebrated 25 years as community stewards of Freeway Park. To learn about all they do and to get involved please visit https://www.freewayparkassociation.org/.

After completing needed improvements, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) will re-open Amy Yee Tennis Center (2000 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S) on Saturday, November 9, 2019. Indoor Court Reservations may be made starting November 7 by calling 206-684-4764.

To celebrate the improvements and re-opening, SPR is offering a FREE Grand Re-Opening Tennis Clinic on November 9, from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. and Open Match Play on November 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The community is encouraged to attend the free tennis activities.

The majority of improvements are complete; however, the new main lobby entrance doors and windows will be installed on Monday, November 25 and Tuesday, November 26, requiring the facility to be closed until 5 p.m. both days. The facility will be open and reservable for tennis from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on both those days.

Facility improvements include installation of a new fire alarm system, accessibility improvements that meet the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), a new raingarden/stormwater facility to treat parking lot runoff, and remodeled fully accessible toilet and locker rooms. Additional work completed includes exterior painting as well as parking and entrance plaza accessibility improvements. Upgrades were also made to the parking lot lighting, and steps were taken to address the foundation leak at the east wall and insulation was added to all exterior building walls. A future major maintenance project will replace the roof of the facility.

This project was made possible by the voter-approved Seattle Park District, which provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding for SPR, including maintenance of parklands and facilities, operation of community centers and recreation programs, and development of new neighborhood parks on previously acquired sites. The building wall insulation was funded in part by the Seattle Office of Sustainability and the Environment, Municipal Energy Efficiency Project Program.

For more information please visit www.seattle.gov/parks/find/centers/amy-yee-tennis-center. For questions about Amy Yee Tennis Center court reservations and lessons please visit www.seattle.gov/parks/find/centers/amy-yee-tennis-center or contact Matt Look at Matthew.look@seattle.gov.

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the community to participate in the final design process for the Madrona Park beach play area renovation project. Please join us on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 from 7 to 8 p.m. at Spectrum Dance Studio, 800 Lake Washington Blvd., to review the preferred design.

This project provides a unique opportunity to restore the lakeside beach play features and to improve access to the park. Thank you to everyone who participated in the online survey and joined us at the meeting in August; your input was incorporated into the preferred design. Madrona Park is located at 853 Lake Washington Blvd.

For more information about the project please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/madrona-park-beach-play-area-renovation.

For additional questions or if you need an interpreter or accommodations please contact Libby Hudson at libby.hudson@seattle.gov or 206-256-5988.

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is seeking a professional services team to design a new Green Lake Community Center and Pool. The existing community center and pool is located on the east shore of Green Lake in Seattle, Washington. The center is one of twenty-six community centers in the city. It is one of several public amenities located within Green Lake Park and is open to the public year-round for program related and drop-in recreational use. To select the design team, SPR is issuing a Request for Qualifications on October 14, 2019. The full RFQ information package and associated documents can be viewed and downloaded at the City’s Consultant Connection site: http://consultants.seattle.gov/category/bids-proposals/. The Deadline for submittals is 5:00 p.m. PST on SeattleNovember 8, 2019.

The first phase of the project will be to undertake an assessment of the existing site and to also consider other potential site locations around Green Lake. To address site options, several questions need to be addressed, including: Where is the best location to construct a new community center; i.e., should it be constructed in its current location or is there another site or sites where a community center could better serve the community? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each location, including constructability, access to the community center and relationship to other amenities around the lake? Should the community center and pool continue to be located in one building or should the community center and pool be located in separate buildings in separate locations? And finally, what are the strengths and weaknesses of one vs. two buildings?

The first deliverable will be an options analysis based on the site assessments(s). This analysis will include several interactions with the public and ultimately a recommendation to SPR Senior Management and the public as to the best location for the new community center and whether or not the community center and pool should be co-located as they are today. From there, the full community center and pool design and public outreach process will begin.

For more information please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/do-business-with-us/current-opportunities. For additional questions please contact David Graves, Strategic Advisor, at 206-684-7048 or David.Graves@seattle.gov.

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the community to participate in the design for the new play area at Hiawatha Playfield. Please join the design team at the Hiawatha Community Center Halloween Carnival on Friday, October 25, 2019 from 6 to 8 p.m. to learn about the proposal to demolish and rebuild the play area at Hiawatha Playfield. Additionally, the community is asked to participate in a quick survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HiawathaPlayArea ) to help inform the design. Community involvement is essential in developing this new play area and we hope to hear from you.

The goal of this project is to transfer the location of the play area from the north end of the park to the grass area just south of the wading pool. The project includes new play equipment and restoration of the old play area site. The new location will improve visibility and access for all. Hiawatha Playfield and Community Center are located at 2800 California Ave. SW.

Following the October meeting, the design team will incorporate community input in site and play equipment options that will be presented at a second meeting in early 2020.

Funding for this park is provided by the Seattle Park District. The Seattle Park District provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding to tackle the $267 million major maintenance backlog for Seattle Parks and Recreation as well as other facilities including the Aquarium and Zoo. The Seattle Park District helps improve and rehabilitate community centers, preserves the urban forest, performs day-to-day maintenance of parks and facilities, provides more recreation opportunities for people from underserved communities, supports programs for people of all ages and abilities, and acquires and develops new park land.

For more information, please visit https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/hiawatha-play-area-relocation.

For questions about the project or if you need an interpreter or accommodations, please contact Ed Pottharst at Ed.pottharst@seattle.gov or 206-386-4232.

Thank you to the Hiawatha Community Center and the Associated Recreation Council (ARC) for their partnership with the community engagement for this project.

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) and Freeway Park Association invite the community to an Open House and Panel Discussion on Monday, October 28 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Please join us at Town Hall Seattle in the Forum Room, 1119 8^th Ave., Seattle 98101. This is an opportunity for the community to learn more about the history of Freeway Park and the proposed project improvements, and to share your ideas for repairing, restoring and enhancing Freeway Park. The audience will be invited to ask questions of the panel and provide feedback on the initial design ideas.

“Freeway Park is an internationally recognized masterwork of landscape architecture and one of Seattle Parks and Recreation’s treasured parks,” said Jesús Aguirre, Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent. “This park is the first of its kind in the world and demonstrates how innovation can bring together urban infrastructure and green open space to serve community.”

Designed by Lawrence Halprin and constructed in 1976, Freeway Park was the first to ever be built over an interstate highway. The park is a respite from the city’s urban environment and is a result of community activism, forward-thinking, and Seattle’s civic process.

The first half-hour of the event will be an Open House followed by a moderated panel discussion starting at 7 p.m. with Randy Gregg, Portland Parks Foundation Executive Director; Alison Hirsch, USC School of Architecture Director of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism; Kenneth Helphand, University of Oregon Professor Emeritus in Landscape Architecture; Charles A. Birnbaum, President + CEO of The Cultural Landscape Foundation, and other panelists.

SPR has $10 million in funding from the Washington State Convention Center Expansion Project as part of the public benefit package associated with the Convention Center expansion. The funding will repair, restore and enhance Freeway Park. The majority of the funding ($9,250,000) is dedicated to capital improvements at the park and the remainder ($750,000) is focused on activation within Freeway Park.

The initial scope of the capital improvements is based on the Finding Freeway Park concept plan, produced by the Freeway Park Association, and identifies infrastructure upgrades, lighting, wayfinding and possibly a new restroom. The design phase is expected to be complete with all necessary permits/approvals and construction bid documents by June 2021.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the project kick-off event on September 2019.  To view the presentation from that event and to learn more about the project please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/freeway-park-improvements.

For additional questions or to request special meeting accommodations please contact David Graves, Seattle Parks and Recreation, at 206-684-7048 or David.Graves@seattle.gov  or visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/freeway-park-improvements.

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the community to participate in the design for the Maple Wood Playfield and Play Area renovation project. Please join SPR staff at the first Open House on Saturday, October 19, 2019 from 10 a.m. to noon at the park, 4801 Corson Ave. S. Community input is essential for this project. We are hosting a mini pumpkin patch and all are encouraged to attend and paint their dream playscape on a pumpkin. There will be light refreshments and other fun activities.

This first Open House will be an opportunity to learn about the project and provide input on considerations for the overall design. Additionally, the community is invited to provide input through this short survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MapleWoodSurvey.

Maple Wood Playfield is located at 4801 Corson Ave. S. on the corner of Corson Ave. S and S Angeline St, just north of Maple Elementary School. The project will improve both the field and the play area. SPR will be hosting a second meeting in December to present design options and a final, third meeting in February 2020 to present the preferred design.

This park project is made possible by the voter-approved Seattle Park District, which provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding for SPR, including maintenance of parklands and facilities, operation of community centers and recreation programs, and development of new neighborhood parks on previously acquired sites.

For more information please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/maple-wood-playfield-renovation-projects or contact Libby Hudson at Libby.hudson@seattle.gov or 206-256-5988.