Parkways Seattle Parks and Recreation

Seattle Parks and Recreation is hosting an open house meeting for Rainier Beach organizations and stakeholders on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 7 p.m. at South Shore K-8 School Rotunda.  South Shore K-8 School is located at 4800 S Henderson St. At this meeting Parks will introduce the opportunity for possible partnerships with Seattle Parks in operating and providing services at Rainier Beach Community Center and Pool.  

This Request for Interest (RFI) process is an opportunity to jumpstart some of the goals and priorities outlined in the Rainier Beach Neighborhood Plan Update that the Department of Neighborhoods and Department of Planning and Development have been working with the community on over the last year. Parks supports the goal of actively engaging Rainier Beach community members and would like to start exploring partnership opportunities with interested community stakeholders for the new community center and pool in Rainier Beach which is scheduled to open in fall 2013.  

The $25 million investment in this new 46,500 square foot facility demands that it be open and accessible for a broad range of community activities. Recognizing the ongoing limitations of the City’s operating budget, it is prudent to look at new ways to help maximize the use of the Rainier Beach Community Center and Pool. Through the RFI process, Parks hopes to identify community partners who can offer programs to the community and make productive use of the facility that will help stretch the City’s resources beyond what tax dollars might be able to provide.

For project information please visit http://seattle.gov/parks/projects/rainier_beach_cc/ or contact Susanne Rockwell, Parks Planner at susanne.rockwell@seattle.gov or 206-684-0902. For interpretation services at the meeting please contact Karen O’Connor 206-684-8020 or Karen.o’connor@seattle.gov.  To learn more about the Neighborhood Plan Update please visit http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/planning/neighborhood_planning/neighborhoodplanupdates/rainierbeach/default.asp.

 

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The grand re-opening celebration for the International Children’s Park is Saturday, March 3, 2012 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at 700 S Lane Street.  A successful community driven project, the new park is inviting with open site lines, gathering spaces, beautiful landscaping and a new play area that offers varied play opportunities and equipment including drums. 

The community is encourage to attend and enjoy performances by the International School of Martial Arts lion dancers and the Morning Star Korean Cultural Center youth performance group.

Landscape architect Karen Kiest worked with the community to re-envision the park and create a beautiful functional design.  Artist Stuart Nakamura designed three new pieces of art for the park and the bronze dragon sculpture created by artist Gerard Tsutakawa was refurbished.

The community initiated project received design funding from the Department of Neighborhoods Matching Fund and moved forward into construction with funding from the Parks and Green Spaces Levy, Historic South Downtown, King County Youth Sports Facility Grant, D.V.and Ida J. McEachern Charitable Trust and various donations from generous community members.  Major sponsors included Cathay Bank, T. Yorozu Gardening Co., Inc, and Domingo Viernes Apartments

Seattle voters passed the Parks and Green Spaces Levy by a 59% vote in November 2008. The $146 million Levy provides improvements to neighborhood play areas and development funding for projects such as improved playfields, reservoir lid parks, community gardens, and safety upgrades at city owned cultural facilities.

For more information  on the project please visit http://seattle.gov/parks/projects/idc/childrens_park.htm or http://friendsoficp.wordpress.com/.   For more information on Levy funded projects in your neighborhood please visit http://seattle.gov/parks/levy/default.htm

 

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 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Landscape Structures Inc., announced a voluntary recall of the Slalom Glider slide.  This slide is located in two Seattle parks.  Landscape Structures Inc. will be working at Ross Playground and Myrtle Reservoir Park on Monday, February 20, 2012 to remove the recalled slide.  

Landscape Structures is requesting consumers to immediately stop children from using the recalled gliders.

 The slide is a playground slide that lacks a transition platform on the top and sides of the chute. The Slalom Glider is a distinctive 6-foot high slide that is curved in shape and made from molded plastic. It includes an arched, tubular steel access ladder. The recalled product comes as a stand-alone slide or as an attachment to other playground equipment.

 Ross Playground is located at 4320 4th Ave. NW  in the Fremont neighborhood and Myrtle Reservoir Park is located at 6900 35th Ave SW in West Seattle.  Seattle Parks and Recreation is working with Landscape Structure Inc. to select and install an appropriate replace play element as soon as possible.

 

 

 

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More than 300 Seattle teens are expected to attend the 12th annual Youth Education, Career, and Resource Fair — from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on February 22, 2012, at the Rainier Community Center, 4600 38^th Ave. S. Workshops begin at 9:30 a.m.

 Young people ages 14-21 will learn about community resources, post-secondary apprenticeships, trade schools and colleges, and career options. Nearly 60 community agencies, educational institutions and employers will host information booths and demonstrations. There will also be workshops on employment skills, leadership development, and college planning for youth to attend. Young people who complete a Fair Passport by taking part in a required number of activities will have the opportunity to earn service-learning hours.

 “The fair is a great way for youth to explore post-secondary options and meet employers,” said Dannette R. Smith, Director of the Seattle Human Services Department. “We also want young people to discover resources that are available to them in the community.”

 Workshop titles include:

• Resume Coaching
• Overcoming Barriers to Education and Employment
• Starting Your Own Social Venture
• Answering Your Questions about College
• Earn While You Learn in Apprenticeships
• Dive Into Aquarium and Ocean Careers
• Jobs in Digital Media

“A good start in life is critical to success as an adult, and too few of our youth have what they need to start on the road to achievement,” said Acting Parks and Recreation Superintendent Christopher Williams. “I hope kids will take advantage of this opportunity.”

Although the event is open to all youth, many attendees are past or current participants in several programs serving low-income youth run by the Seattle Human Services Department (Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and Upward Bound) and Seattle Parks and Recreation. These programs provide job training, academic support, counseling and leadership training.

 The event is sponsored by the Seattle Human Services Department, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Metrocenter YMCA and the Center for Career Alternatives. For more information about programs serving low-income teens, visit: http://www.seattle.gov/humanservices/youth/ 

www.seattle.gov/parks/teens/default.htm

Seattle Parks and Recreation invites the community to celebrate Black History Month at a Youth Talent Showcase.  The Showcase event is Saturday, February 18, 2012 from 2 – 5 p.m. at Garfield Community Center located at 2323 E. Cherry St.  The entertaining afternoon will feature performances highlighting community youth singing, dancing, hip-hop, and poetry talents.

Garfield Teen Life Center, Yesler Community Center and Garfield Community Center collaborated on this 2^nd annual Black History Month event.

For more information contact please contact Nikitta Vinson at Nikitta.vinson@seattle.gov or 206-684-4788.

Construction work to renovate the Montlake Playfield football/soccer field will resume on Tuesday, February 21, 2012. Ohno Construction will begin preparing the field for the turf installation and anticipates construction will last through the end of May 2012.

Parks brought in the materials at the end of 2011 and weather conditions are now conducive to construction.

The installation of the reclaimed artificial turf from the Husky stadium will solve long-term problems with soggy, swampy ground and provide a great space that will be available year-round for community use. This new surface will mean less daily and annual maintenance and will make the field safe, playable, and available much more often for community events.

The project provides a challenge for construction equipment as it is a one-way, dead-end street. Ohno Construction, whose generous donation made this project possible, is committed to working with the neighbors and with Parks and Recreation staff to make this project a success.

Parks held two public meetings at the Montlake Community Center on October 10 and 13, 2011 to describe the proposed improvements to park neighbors and users. There is no proposal for lighted fields in the project.

Despite repeated filling over the years, the playfield has been only intermittently playable because of uneven pressures on the viscous peat below that causes upheavals in the playfield area and shore lands. Field conditions have continued to deteriorate and have required seasonal renovation projects every year, including reseeding of the entire field, removal of existing turf, and importing thousands of pounds of sand and sod.

For more information please visit http://seattle.gov/parks/projects/montlake/playfield_upgrade.htm or contact Linda Hubert at linda.hubert@seattle.gov or 206- 386-1959.

Seattle Parks and Recreation invites the community to a public meeting to discuss current operating issues at the Volunteer Park Conservatory on Wednesday March 7 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Montlake Community Center, 1618 E. Calhoun St.

“The City faces funding shortfalls for 2013 – 2014, and Parks is examining many of our programs and facilities operations,” says Christopher Williams, Parks Acting Superintendent. “We are seeking ideas from the public on ways to reduce operating costs and increase revenue at the Conservatory, which is a city-wide community resource. We will use this input as we move forward and generate a business plan.”   

Parks hired a botanical gardens expert, consultant Rick Daley of EMD Consulting Group, to assist in the development of a financially sustainable business plan for the Conservatory, and this is the public’s opportunity to meet him. Parks and Mr. Daley want to hear ideas from the community. How can we can cut expenses and generate more revenue? Are there alternative uses for the building that should be considered? Should it be operated by a non-profit or other private entity?

Please bring your ideas for the future of the Volunteer Park Conservatory. Whether you are hearing about this for the first time or are already actively involved, we encourage you to come to the meeting and participate in the process.

For further information please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkspaces/VolunteerPark/Conservatory.htmor contact Kathleen Conner, Seattle Parks Senior Planner at Kathleen.conner@seattle.gov or 206-615-1299.

 

Seattle Parks and Recreation is postponing the opening of the Seattle Japanese Garden in the Washington Park Arboretum to Friday, February 17, 2012 to allow for the completion of the remediation work following a water main break on 26^th Ave. E. Parks staff is working hard to finish the cleanup work and open to the public this Friday at 10 a.m.

The water main break led to significant flooding in the parking lot and along pathways of the Garden. In addition, a substantial amount of mud and debris deposited in the natural pond, home to a few dozen Koi, is being cleared and damaged paths are being re-graded.

First Viewing of the Garden event is scheduled for Sunday, March 4, 2012 and will feature a Shinto blessing and a calligraphy workshop.

For more information on the Garden please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkspaces/japanesegarden.htm or call the Japanese Garden at 206-684-4725.

Seattle Parks has possession of the propeller that was stolen earlier this week from the University District. After discovering the stolen propeller at the Northwest Corporate Park in Kent, a security guard contacted the Kent Police Department. 

The 70” diameter, 1,260 lb stainless steel propeller is being donated to Parks by the University District Community Council and Philip Thiel, naval architect and Professor Emeritus of Architecture and Urban Design and Planning at the University of Washington. It was recently stolen from his backyard.

Seattle Parks is moving forward with installation plans for the propeller at North Passage Point Park located at 600 NE Northlake Way, Seattle WA 98105.

 

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