Parkways Seattle Parks and Recreation

Parkways

Seattle Parks and Recreation news and events

Community invited to learn more about Volunteer Park Amphitheater Replacement

by

Seattle Parks and Recreation and Volunteer Park Trust invite the community to learn more about the Volunteer Park Amphitheater Replacement project on Thursday, January 31, 2019 from 7 to 8 p.m. at Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E. The Seattle Park District Major Projects Challenge Fund provides $900,000 in funding to move the community-initiated Volunteer Park Amphitheater Replacement project forward through the final design phase and construction.

Please join Volunteer Park neighbors and friends at the upcoming meeting. We will re-introduce the design team, provide a design update and review next steps for the amphitheater. In August 2018, Volunteer Park Trust presented the amphitheater design studies to the community and received valuable feedback. The amphitheater design is based on extensive outreach with the community, as well as input from the Friends of Seattle Olmsted Parks and the Landmarks Preservation Board.

Volunteer Park Trust will match the Seattle Park District Major Projects Challenge Fund award. They are currently fundraising. To learn more about the project or to donate, visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/volunteer-park-amphitheater-replacement.

For additional questions please contact David Graves, Strategic Advisor, at 206-684-7048 or David.Graves@seattle.gov.

 

 

 

 

Seattle Parks and Recreation needs community input on Lakeridge Playground Improvement Project

by

Seattle Parks and Recreation(SPR) is kicking off the design phase for the Lakeridge Playground Improvement Project located in southeast Seattle at 10145 Rainier Ave. S. This project will make needed playground and playfield renovations including new play equipment, new field grass turf, irrigation and drainage renovation, court resurfacing, retaining wall study, and access improvements to meet ADA standards.

An important element in delivering a successful project is community involvement and active participation in the design process. SPR project team has designed a community survey to gather initial feedback and encourages neighbors and friends of Lakeridge Playground and playfield to participate.  Please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LakeridgePlaygroundRenovation. Additional input will be gathered at an upcoming public meeting in March.

This project is funded by the Seattle Park District. SPR anticipates design for this project to be complete and put out to public bid by the end of 2019, with construction slated for 2020.

For more information please contact Libby Hudson at 206-256-5988 or Libby.hudson@seattle.gov, or visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/lakeridge-playground-improvements

Seattle Public Utility currently has a project located along the western boundary of the park and across Rainier Ave. S. This adjacent project will improve stormwater management and restore habitat along Taylor Creek. To learn more visit http://www.seattle.gov/util/environmentconservation/projects/taylorcreek/

Seattle Parks and Recreation begins renovation of Cal Anderson Comfort Station

by

Seattle Parks and Recreation is renovating the Cal Anderson Park Comfort Station. Forma Construction Company mobilized at the park on January 8, 2019 and anticipates completing the renovation in late spring. Although the comfort station will be closed during the project, portable toilets are in place for park visitors.

This project is the result of an All-Gender Restroom/Changing Room Study completed in 2016. The study evaluated best practices used by other jurisdictions and schools to address the need for safer restroom and changing room facilities for the transgender and gender non-conforming community. The project will retain the existing exterior architectural character of the building while changing the gendered, multiple-stall restrooms into four separate, direct-entry toilet rooms.

This project also includes a new sewer line for the water feature that will improve its long-term maintenance.

For more information on this project contact Kelly Goold at kelly.goold@seattle.gov or 206-684-0586.  For project updates please visit https://www.seattle.gov/parks/find/parks/cal-anderson-park

 

$10 million Freeway Park improvement project: Seattle Parks and Recreation seeks design team

by

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to select a design team for improvements to Freeway Park. As part of its public benefit package, the Washington State Convention Center Expansion Project will provide $10 million to repair, restore and enhance Freeway Park. From that funding, $9.25 million is dedicated to capital improvements at the park, based on cost estimates. The remaining $750,000 will be spent on activation within Freeway Park. The scope of the capital improvements is based on the Finding Freeway Park concept plan, produced by the Freeway Park Association, which identifies areas of focus for improvements. The Freeway Park Improvement project will start in April 2019 and extend through December 2021. The design phase is expected to be complete, with all necessary permits, approvals and construction bid documents, by June 2020.

The design team will lead the project’s broad public and stakeholder outreach. The design team will report directly to SPR project manager and possibly a steering committee that will assist with project review and community engagement. Background documents, including the Finding Freeway Park concept plan are available on the project website http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/freeway-park-improvements. The full RFQ information package and required submittal contents are available online at: http://consultants.seattle.gov. Deadline for submittals is 4 p.m. PST January 31, 2019.

For more information please contact Strategic Advisor David Graves at 206-684-7048 or David.Graves@seattle.gov or visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/freeway-park-improvements

Pavement Restoration work begins on Lake Washington Blvd. trail

by

Seattle Parks and Recreation contracted with Statewide Parking Lot Services to replace five sections of trail on the lake side of Lake Washington Blvd. Statewide will begin construction the first week of December and anticipates completing the project by mid-December.

This project is funded by the Small Paving Program and plans are in place to continue this work along other sections of Lake Washington Blvd. over the next few years.

For project updates please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/find/parks/lake-washington-boulevard. For more information please contact Sandra Albertsen at 206-684-8938 or Sandra.albertsen@seattle.gov.

 

Community invited to celebrate new greenway connection at Interlaken Park

by

Seattle Parks and Recreation and Seattle Department of Transportation invite the community to a ribbon cutting celebration on Saturday, December 8, 2018 to celebrate a new stair and ramp connection between Interlaken Blvd. and Boyer Ave. E. Please join us at the bottom of the new staircase at Boyer Ave. E and E Howe St. at 9:30 a.m. for ribbon cutting festivities and then proceed to Montlake Community Center.  At Montlake Community Center, 1618 E Calhoun St. we will continue the celebration with music, free bicycle safety checks by Montlake Bicycle Shop, face painting and light refreshments. 

Construction of the new stair and ramp connection between Interlaken Blvd. and Boyer Ave. E at E Howe St. began in July and will open the first week in December. The project features elements requested by the community including a bicycle runnel, guard rails and a switchback that connects to the designated crosswalk to replace the existing trail and stairs.

Seattle Parks and Recreation Greenways Initiative funds projects and programs to connect, enhance and activate links from Neighborhood Greenways to parks by improving access and amenities for pedestrians and bicycles. These Greenway corridors will offer safe and calm residential streets and provide comfortable and attractive places for people of all ages and abilities to walk and ride.

Seattle Parks and Recreation and Seattle Department of Transportation collaborated on the implementation plan for the capital improvement projects with prioritization based on the SDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans.

For more information about the event please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/greenways-initiative or contact Karen O’Connor at karen.o’connor@seattle.gov or 206-233-7929.

 

 

Pavement Restoration work begins on Queen Anne Boulevard sidewalk

by

Seattle Parks and Recreation contracted with Statewide Parking Lot Services to replace four sections of sidewalk on the south side of W. Raye Street. Statewide will begin construction on Tues., Nov. 27 and anticipates completing the project by the end of the week.

This project is funded by Seattle Parks and Recreation Small Paving Program. The Small Paving Program is planning to continue this work along other sections of Queen Anne Boulevard over the next few years.

 For more information please contact Sandra Albertsen at 206-684-8938 or Sandra.albertsen@seattle.gov.

 

Community encouraged to participate in design for new play area at Hubbard Homestead Park

by

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the community to participate in the Hubbard Homestead play area project. Please join us on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 6 p.m. at Northgate Community Center, 10510 5th Ave. NE. This is an opportunity to learn about the play area project and provide input on play equipment options.

Hubbard Homestead Park is located at 11203 5th Ave. NE Seattle, WA 98125. The goal of the project is to develop a play area within the existing Hubbard Homestead Park that will include play elements and access for children of all ages and abilities. Improvements will include fall surfacing, seating, storm water mitigation and limited landscape improvements.

At this meeting we will also review the information on the decommissioning of a playground at Victory Creek Park, 1059 NE Northgate Way, Seattle, WA 98125.

For more information please visit: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/hubbard-homestead-play-area For special meeting accommodations please contact Katie Bang at katie.bang@seattle.gov or 206-684-9286.

 

 

Seattle Parks and Recreation, University of Washington Botanic Gardens and the Arboretum Foundation host meeting for Environmental Education Center Pre-Design Study

by

The Washington Park Arboretum partners invite the community to learn about the Environmental Education Center Pre-Design Study at an Open House on Wednesday, December 5, 2018 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the Graham Visitors Center, 2300 Arboretum Drive E. Please join us to learn about the proposed project for the Washington Park Arboretum and provide input on three concept designs.

This new facility will allow the current youth and adult education programs to provide more robust educational experiences and meet the growing demands of the current programs. The desired goal as stated in the Arboretum Master Plan is to serve 20,000 children and adults annually from diverse communities across the region. In early 2018, Seattle Parks and Recreation, University of Washington Botanic Gardens and the Arboretum Foundation contracted with Mithun to complete a pre-design study for the proposed Environmental Education Center.

For more information please visit: https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/washington-park-arboretum-environmental-education-center-predesign-study. For special meeting accommodations please contact Susanne Rockwell at Susanne.rockwell@seattle.gov or 206-684-7133.

 

2018 Seattle Park District Major Projects Challenge Fund awards $6 million to Seattle Parks and Recreation facilities throughout the city

by

The Seattle Park District Major Projects Challenge Fund (MPCF) initiative leverages Seattle Park District funding with grants and community-raised matching funds to significantly expand the life and usability of a park facility providing greater opportunities for more people to make use of Seattle Parks and Recreation’s community facilities and parks.

The second round of community-initiated awards provide between $50,000 and $2.925 million, to three feasibility and design studies and three construction projects.

The MPCF awards were based on screening criteria that included equitable prioritization scoring matrix and came from the recommendation from the Seattle Park District Oversight Committee and confirmed by Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Interim Superintendent Christopher Williams after a screening process of the 14 applications received. The MPCF allows for projects/studies to be accomplished throughout the city. Recognizing that all communities are not equally able to provide matching funds, the initiative allows for a portion of funding to be allocated to assist communities and organizations that lack resources for a match.

“We know that the best ideas come from the community, not the top down,” said Mayor Jenny Durkan. “The Major Projects Challenge Fund is one way we can lift up the community’s vision and invest in Seattle’s parks in innovative ways. I look forward to seeing the projects awarded today become new, vibrant cornerstones of our communities and neighborhoods.”

Two of the 2018 awards build on previous MPCF awards and provide the needed funding to implement the community-initiated improvements to renovate, expand or upgrade parks or park facilitates. All projects will be completed with funding from a combination of City and community-generated funds.

Construction project:

  • South Park Community Center Playfield Improvements: The South Park Green Space Steering Committee initiated project will receive $2 million for design and construction improvements at the South Park Community Center, 738 S Sullivan Street, Seattle, WA 98108. This funding contributes to the implementation of the sitewide design completed with extensive community input and funding from the 2016/2017 MPCF. The total project costs for the sitewide design are estimated at approximate $10 million. SPR is working with the Seattle Academy of Arts and Science on additional funding for field redevelopment. Additionally, SPR is working with the South Park Green Space Steering Committee on grant(s) and additional fund raising.  The proposed improvements include:
    • Athletic Field – A synthetic turf field centrally located on the site, designed to accommodate a full-size soccer field and softball field with field lighting and fencing at varying heights
    • Sport Court – Two multi-use sport courts sized for professional basketball and pickleball
    • Two Playgrounds & Spray Park– Located on the east edge of the site (away from the highway) one playground for 2-5 years old and the other for 5-12 years old. Each includes resilient surfacing for fall protection, a play structure and age-appropriate swing set with a small plaza for families to sit while viewing the playgrounds and athletic field. The spray park will provide all ages seasonal water play
    • Air quality buffer – A thickened vegetated edge comprised of evergreen and deciduous plants that will function, root and branches, as a living filter to ameliorate elevated levels of air particulate matter and noise from SR-99;
    • Walking loop and adult fitness zone – Along the perimeter of the park, a half-mile walking loop that varies in width from 6 ft. to 10 ft. along its course to allow for two people to walk side-by-side with pedestrian-scale lighting with fitness equipment that will be determined through further outreach
    • A placeholder for a future off-leash dog area
  • Green Lake Small Craft Center Redevelopment A pre-design/feasibility study for the Green Lake Small Craft Center, 5900 West Green Lake Way N, Seattle, WA 98103, was funded through the MPCF in 2016/2017. The 2018 MPCF awards $2.92 million for the design, permitting and construction/redevelopment of the Small Craft Center. The Green Lake Rowing Advisory Council, the Friends of Green Lake Crew and the Seattle Canoe and Kayak Club submitted this new application for funding and estimates the total project cost at $6 million to $6.5 million. The match is a mixture of private fund raising, foundation donations and state grants. Two public meetings have been held for this project. To stay up to date on the progress of the Green Lake Small Craft Center visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/green-lake-small-craft-center-redevelopment
  • Volunteer Park Amphitheater The Volunteer Park Trust initiate project will receive $900,000 in funding from the MPCF for the design, permitting and construction/replacement of the current failing amphitheater in Volunteer Park, 1247 15th Avenue E, Seattle, WA 98112, with a modern structure that meets community needs for a versatile outdoor performance space; enhances the historic Olmsted landscape; improves the quality of space for daily park users; broadens performance diversity; provides full ADA compliance; improves acoustics, noise control, safety, and access; and reduces net maintenance and operating costs for the facility. Total construction costs for this project are estimated at $2.7 million. The proposed match totals $1,050,000 through a combination of private fund raising and grant(s). Additional City dollars have been identified for the restroom improvements but are not part of the match.

Feasibility studies and designs:

  • Cascade Playground Field Improvement Feasibility Study Cascade Playground community stakeholders application will be awarded $60,000 for a feasibility and design study in improve Cascade Playground Field located at 333 Pontius Avenue N, Seattle, WA 98109. The study must be completed prior improvements and will inform:
    • Infiltration survey and design for play field excavation and underdrain placement, with potential for rainwater catchment cisterns and irrigation facility improvements
    • Removal of conventional turf and replacement with pollinator friendly, drought tolerant species which decrease mowing and irrigation requirements for SPR maintenance
    • Removal of declining sidewalk infrastructure and replacement with permeable pavement OR paved infrastructure to feed rainwater catchment facilities
    • Compliment or expand the existing green stormwater infrastructure at Cascade People’s Center with the installation of additional cisterns and educational resources to maximize storm water retention and re-use on site
    • Public safety improvements of public restroom facilities to maximize sight lines and ecological utility (i.e. reclaimed water, passive lighting, green roof, greywater)
    • Introduction of overhead lighting to all areas of the playfield
    • Design consistent entrances throughout the park, with an emphasis on activating current sites of illegal behavior, to be integrated with interpretive signage and artistic elements to maximize educational opportunity and inclusive community outreach (including multi-lingual and non-literate individuals)
  • Sail Sand Point Feasibility Study  Sail Sand Point, 7861 62nd Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98115 in Magnuson Park, is awarded $80,000 to cover a feasibility study for the proposed renovations of the Boathouse, Building 31, a complete structural survey of the existing building, pricing estimates and timelines for all components of the renovations, as well as the start of a capital campaign to ensure Sail Sand Point can raise the funds necessary for bringing the renovation to completion. At the time of the renovation Sail Sand Point will seek to improve the boathouse beyond its original purpose while maintaining the historic value of the building so that it may serve more people in the future. Those improvements will include easier access, more classroom space and additional lockers allowing for increased public use and expansion of our existing programming.
  • Seward Park Clay Studio Feasibility Study Since the 1960s, Seward Park Clay Studio has been the co-tenant in the historic bathhouse, a SPR facility, in Seward Park, 5900 Lake Washington Boulevard S, Seattle, WA 98118. The MPCF provides $50,000 for planning and design work for a future rebuild of the Clay Studio, Changing Rooms, Lifeguard and Comfort Station.

“These projects represent SPR’s core values supporting healthy people, environments, and strong communities. I want to thank the Seattle Park District Oversight Committee for dedicating their time to reviewing all the proposals and recommending these projects for a funding match,” said Christopher Williams, Seattle Parks and Recreation Interim Superintendent. “These partnerships are an important investment in our park system that enable us to expand our facilities to reach even more communities.”

For additional information, please contact David Graves at david.graves@seattle.gov or 206-684-7048 or visit http://www.seattle.gov/seattle-park-district/projects/building-for-the-future.