Parkways Seattle Parks and Recreation

Early Events 

The Great Pumpkin Party, Laurelhurst CommunityCenter, 4554 NE 41^stSt., Friday, October 16, 6 to 8 p.m. Watch theclassic tale “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” on the big screen atLaurelhurst. Decorate a mini-pumpkin and make Halloween crafts. Kids can dressin costume and bring a pillow or blanket to sit on. To reserve yourmini-pumpkin, please call ahead to 206-684-7529. 

Pumpkin Painting, Ravenna-Eckstein CommunityCenter, 6535 Ravenna Ave. NE, Friday, October 16, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Pick a pumpkinand paint it up! Create autumn arts&crafts to take home. Please call aheadto reserve a pumpkin and let us know how many are in your party. 206-684-7534.Ages: All. Cost: $5 per person. 

Free Teen Swim, Ballard Pool, 1471 NW 67^th St., Friday, October 16, 7 to 8 p.m. Enjoy a free teen swim, and don’t forget your school I.D.! Ages: Teens. Cost: Free. 

Teens Only! 

Teen Flashlight Pumpkin Hunt, Bitter Lake CommunityCenter, 13035 Linden Ave. N, Friday, October 30, 7:30 p.m. Kick off a Halloweento remember! Hunt for wicked prizes on the wooded, lakeside grounds. There willbe a Best Dressed prize at the end of the hunt, and hot apple cider. Dresswarmly and bring a flashlight and goodie bag. Cost: Free. 

Middle School Halloween Scavenger Hunt, Ballard Community Center,6020 28^thAve. NW, Saturday, October 31, noon to 2 p.m. Rumor has itthat Archie McPhee has been searching Ballard, and he needs your help to savethe famous rubber chicken. Bring your friends, put on your walking shoes andSherlock Holmes hat, and help solve the biggest mystery in Ballard. Meet atBallard CC to start your hike through Ballard village to find clues and win aprize. Please dress for the weather! Cost: Free. 

West Seattle 

Fall Carnival, AlkiCommunity Center, 5817 SW Stevens St., Friday, October 30, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.This fun event features 20 carnival games, prizes, candy, refreshments, andcostume contests. Rain or shine, it provides everyone an opportunity to dress upin costumes, meet neighbors, and have fun together in the gym. Ages: All. Cost:25 to 50 cents per game ticket. 

Halloween Carnival, DelridgeCommunity Center, 4501 Delridge Way SW, Thursday, October 29, 6 to 8 p.m. Joinus for an evening of family-oriented Halloween fun! Ages: 1 and older. Cost: Free. 

Halloween Carnival, HiawathaCommunity Center, 2700 California Ave. SW, Friday, October 30, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.Wear your scariest costumer, play games, win prizes, and have spooky fun! Lightrefreshments will be available, and game tickets cost 25 and 50 cents. Ages:All. Cost: Free. 

Freaky Fall Festival, HighPoint Community Center, 6920 34^thAve. SW, Friday, October 30, 6 to 8p.m. Everyone in the family is invited to join in on an evening of fun! Kidswill enjoy a variety of “frightfully fun” skill-challenging games andactivities. This event provides thrills without being too scary for children,from walking toddlers up to age 11. If you’re able, we would appreciate thedonation of one non-perishable food item for the West Seattle Food Bank. Ages:All. Cost: Free. 

Halloween Carnival, SouthPark Community Center, 8319 8^thAve. S, Friday, October 30, 6 to 8p.m. Come join the staff and volunteers for games, face painting, treats, andprizes. NOTE: We need volunteers, so please call 206-684-7451 if you’reinterested. Costumes are encouraged but optional. Ages: 2 and older. Cost: Free. 

Magic Pumpkin Carnival, SouthwestCommunity Center, 2801 SW Thistle St., Friday, October 30, 6:30 to 8 p.m. TheMagic Pumpkin Carnival will feature magic, games, candy, and prizes. Come jointhe fun! Ages: 3-11. Cost: Free. 

Toddler Pumpkinalooza, HighPoint Community Center, 6920 34^thAve. SW, Thursday, October 29, 10a.m. to noon. Come dressed in your best costume for pumpkin painting, carnival games, and more. Children will receive a bag of age-appropriate goodies as theyleave. Ages: up to 5 (but not in kindergarten). Cost: $5. 

TheNature of Halloween, CampLong, 5200 35^thAve. SW, Saturday, October 24, 10 a.m. – 6:30p.m. Halloweenis filled with spine tingling stories of night hunters, decomposers, bones, andteeth! Have fun as we look at some of the animals that we celebrate atHalloween. Put your fears to rest, but not your fascination! Learn about andmeet some of your favorite Halloween creatures! Please registerby 10/23. Ages: All. Cost: $6 per session. Please refer to Activity#45557.

10- 11 a.m.Special Needs Youth!

11:30a.m. – 12:30 p.m.Tailored to Tots! (Bring a big person too.)

1:30-2:30p.m. Calling all Seniors!

3:30-4:30p.m. Special Needs Adults!

5:30-6:30p.m. Family Fun! 

Northwest Seattle

 Halloween Carnival, Ballard Community Center, 6020 28^thAve. NW and Halloween Carnival, Loyal HeightsCommunity Center, 2101 NW 77^thSt., both on Friday, October 30, 6 to8 p.m. Join us for a frightfest of activities, games, and challenges, includingareas for tots. There will be complimentary refreshments, and high schoolstudents can earn service learning hours at these events. Ages: 10 and younger.Cost: $3 per person or $10 per family.

Pumpkin Bash, BitterLake Annex, 13040 Greenwood Ave. N, Saturday, October 24, 6 to 8 p.m. Bring theentire family for an evening of ghoulish fun! Enjoy carnival games, Halloweenentertainment, face painting, candy and prizes, two large jump toys, and theever-popular cake walk. There’s a special room just for preschoolers! Pleasebring a can of food for the local food bank, and don’t forget to wear yourcostume! Ages: 2 to 10. Cost: 25 cents per ticket for games andfood. 

Flashlight Pumpkin Hunt,GreenLake Community Center, 7201 E Green Lake Dr. N, Friday, October 30, 7 to 8 p.m.Rain or shine, come hunt for toys, coins, and candy outside near the Green LakeCommunity Center! Arrive by 6:45 p.m. at the gym. Bring your own bag to collectgoodies, and a flashlight to light your hunt. Please dress for the weather –come in costume and bring a friend! Kids will be separated into age-similargroups. Ages: 4-11. Cost: Free. 

Nature’s Halloween in the Forest, CarkeekPark Environmental Learning Center, 950 NW Carkeek Park Rd., Saturday, October31, 6 – 8 p.m.Undercover of night, discover Halloween symbols in their natural settings. Bones,bats, owls, and slithering things will delight. Bring a flashlight if you haveone. We provide treats. Ages: 2 and older. Cost: $8 per adult, $6 per child.Please refer to activity #45604. 

4^thAnnual Pumpkin Swim, MadisonPool, 13401 Meridian Ave. N, Friday, October 30, 7 to 8 p.m.Joinus for this fun family event where we will swim with pumpkins, play games, andraffle prizes! Ages: All. Cost: Free. 

Central Seattle 

Witches and Wizards Wickedly Wonderful Brewery, GarfieldCommunity Center, 2323 E Cherry St., Friday, October 30, 5:30 to 8: 30 p.m. Seethe witches and wizards cast terrifying, terrific spells to guarantee a goodtime. Come to see our haunted tunnel, play games, enjoy refreshments, and joinin other Halloween fun. Please wear a costume–witches and wizards areencouraged. We will offer discounts and raffle prizes for those who register forGarfield CC classes during the event! Ages: 12 and younger. Cost: Free. 

Glow in the Dark Spookfest, InternationalDistrict/Chinatown Community Center, 718 8^thAve. S., Friday, October30, 5;30 to 7:30 p.m. Bring your little goblin to our fun and festive party! Ourfamily-friendly costume extravaganza will have fun, safe trick-or-treating alongwith interactive games. Beware . . . the lights will be turned out for aghoulishly good glow-in-the-dark good time! The event will be filled with chillsand thrills. Just show up in your costume and share the fun. Ages: All. Cost: Free. 

Fall Carnival,YeslerCommunity Center, 917 E Yesler Way, Friday, October 30, 6 to 8 p.m. Come on downto Yesler Community Center and have a fun night of carnival games, arts andcrafts, candy, ghosts, and goblins! Wear your costume and get a special prize!Ages: All. Cost: $1 per person. 

Hallowed Eve Festival, MillerCommunity Center, 330 19^thAve. E, Thursday, October 29, 5 to 7 p.m.Join us for the Miller Hallowed Eve Festival. WE have activities for toddlersand older kids, from face painting and carnival games to the haunted house. Ifyou dare, try the Miller Brew from our cauldron! Ages: toddlers to 12. Cost: Free. 

Halloween Carnival, MagnoliaCommunity Center, 2550 34^thAve. W, Friday, October 30 at 6 p.m. Joinus for a family-friendly evening of games, prizes, goodies, pumpkin decorating,and more! Don’t forget to wear your costume so you can enter our costumecontest. Ages: 0 to 4. Cost: Free. 

Fall Carnival, QueenAnne Community Center, 1901 1^stAve. W, Friday, October 30, 6 to 8 p.m. Bring your kids to a safe place to trick or treat. Our carnival will havegames, face painting, and lots of goodies. Ages: All. Cost: Free. 

Fruitsof the Fall, DiscoveryPark, 3801 W Government Way, Saturday, October 24, 1 to 3 p.m.Explorethe intriguing, colorful, slimy world of fleshy fungi. Children must beaccompanied by an adult. Ages: 8 and older. Cost: Free. Location: Classroom #1. 

Halloween Swamp Swim, MedgarEvers Pool, 500 23^rdAve., Friday, October 30, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Bringthe whole family to our free Halloween Swim. We promise family fun for allages—see you there! Ages: All. Cost: Free. 

Queen Anne Pool Halloween Swim,Queen Anne Pool, 19201^stAve. W, Friday, October 23, 7 to 8 p.m. Join us for a spookynight at the pool! All you need is a swimsuit and a towel, and we’ll take careof the rest. There will be prizes and treats, so all you goblins and ghostswimmers, come out to the pool for a night of excitement! Ages: All. Cost: Free. Swim FREE.

Northeast Seattle

Twins and Triplets Halloween Party,Northgate CommunityCenter, 10510 5^thAve. NE, Friday, October 30, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Calling all twins and tripletsfor a special Halloween party all your own. Come in costume for a specialtoddler play time. We’ll have plenty of bikes, scooters, balls, and inflatabletoys for each child to enjoy, and each one will receive a special treat. Ages:1-6. Cost: $5. Please refer to activity #45790.

Spooky Tot Sprint 1- or 2-mile Fun Run, Magnuson Community Center, 7110 61^stAve. NE, Saturday, October 24, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Check-inbegins at 9 a.m. for this fun run, between the boat ramp and the swimming beach.Please register by October 20; forms are available at the community center.There will be a t-shirt, award, and refreshments for each participant. Costumesare welcome! Ages: 3-5 and 6-12. Cost: $15 perparticipant. 

Halloween Makeup Headquarters, Magnuson Community Center,7110 61^stAve. NE, Saturday, October 31, 2:30to 4:30 p.m. Kids . . . get your faces painted by the theatre experts! SeattleMusical Theatre/Civic Light Opera and GreenStage folks will be on hand to paintfaces for the biggest dress-up day of the year. Please call 206-684-7026 to makean appointment. Ages: 2-12. Cost: Free, we acceptdonations. 

Haunted Bounce and Ghostly Swim, Meadowbrook CommunityCenter and Pool, 10517 35^thAve. NE, Friday, October 30, 6:30 to 8:30p.m. Join us for the Haunted Bounce from 6:30 to 7:30, then swim from 7:30 to 8:30. These events are kid-tested and parent-approved; there’s no candy and allfun, and prizes are included. Ages: All. Cost: $2.75 per youth, $4 per adult. 

Freaky Fall Festival,Ravenna-Eckstein CommunityCenter, 6535 Ravenna Ave. NE, Friday, October 30, 6 to 8 p.m. It’s that spookytime of year again! Join us for our annual Freaky Fall Festival full of fun,treats, and even some tricks. Wear your costume and enjoy carnival-style games,crafts, and more. Meet your neighbors, let your kids loose in the gym, and havefun! Ages: All. Cost: $3 per person or $10 per family. 

Southeast Seattle 

Toddler Trick or Treat, JeffersonCommunity Center, 3801 Beacon Ave. S, Thursday, October 29, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.Calling all princesses, witches, wizards, and goblins! We’re having a fun trickor treating day at Jefferson! Come play some games, enjoy tasty treats, anddress up! Ages: 1-5. Cost: $2 per child. 

Halloween Howl and Carnival, Jefferson CommunityCenter, 3801 Beacon Ave. S, Friday, October 30, 6 to 8 p.m. Bring your kids to asafe place to celebrate October festivities! We’ll have a carnival with games,goodies, prizes, a haunted house, and more. Costumes are optional butencouraged! Ages: All. Cost: 25 cents per game.

October

Harvest Festival, RainierCommunity Center, 4600 38^thAve. S, Saturday, October 31, Noon to 4p.m. Kids and families will get a special Halloween kick out of this fun-filledafternoon! Ages: All. Cost: Free. 

Harvest Carnival and Costume Party,Rainier Beach CommunityCenter, 8825 Rainier Ave. S, Thursday, October 29, 6 to 7 p.m. Come and join usfor our annual Harvest event. Celebrate fall with games, prizes, face painting,refreshments, and more. Adults and kids are welcome to wear their favoritecostumes. Ages: 0-10. Cost: free. 

Freaky Fall Festival and Haunted Hall,Van Asselt CommunityCenter, 2820 S Myrtle St., Friday, October 30, 6 to 8 p.m. Families, friends,and neighbors: enjoy a safe evening of games, goodies, goblins, and ghosts. Comedressed in costume with your goodie bag or basket (optional). Ages: All. Cost:Free. 

Fall Harvest Swim,RainierBeach Pool, 8825 Rainier Ave. S, Friday, October 30, 7 to 8 p.m. The swim isFREE, the theme is Fall Harvest, the atmosphere is FUN! Join us for ourcelebration of fall and community! There will be games prizes, and mostimportant, you! Ages: All. Cost: Free.

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Fathers, children, ‘tweens, teens, and anyone who serves as a male role model for a child are invited to a free presentation on “Father Connection: Building a Community of Fathers and Role Models” from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Southwest Community Center, 2801 SW Thistle St. 

Father Connection is based on the book by Josh McDowell, The Father Connection: How You Can Make the Difference in Your Child’s Self-Esteem and Sense of Purpose.” 

The event welcomes teen fathers, young adult fathers, uncles, grandfathers, mentors, and role models, and seeks to connect kids and fathers with resources that can help strengthen their relationships. These relationships can then lead to increased self-esteem and strong life skills that can help the youth make good choices and succeed as mature adults. 

McDowell’s book refers to the task of being a father as “the most important job in the world,” and offers advice on subjects that include being a dad in tough times, the father as friend and refuge, the father who disciplines, and the father and respect. 

The event is free, and will feature food and activities! Evento Gratis!! Comida, Activdades! Free transportation is available; call for more details! Transport disponible hame por detalles!

For more information or to reserve a spot for you and your youth, please call Jeron Gates at 206-255-4051. 

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Seattle Parks and Recreation will host a public meeting to discuss the improvements at Genesee Playfield #1 on Thursday, October 22, 2009 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the Rainier Community Center, 4600 38^th Ave S.  The community is encouraged to participate and learn about the field improvements. 

The field renovation project, 4316 S Genesee St., includes replacement of the existing all weather sand/silt fields with synthetic turf to provide adult soccer and possibly football and Ultimate Frisbee.  The Parks and Green Spaces Levy provides $2.1 million for project funding.  Construction is scheduled to start in spring 2010 with completion by fall. 

Seattle voters passed the Parks and Green Spaces Levy by an impressive 59% vote in November 2008. The new $146 million Levy provides acquisition funding for new neighborhood parks and green spaces and development funding for projects such as improved playfields, reservoir lid parks, renovated playgrounds, community gardens, and safety upgrades at city owned cultural facilities. 

Recognizing the importance of creating vibrant and engaging green spaces for Seattle as it grows, Seattle Parks and Recreation moved quickly into action and by November 2009, just one year after the passage of the levy, will have added 2.53 acres to the park system, brought eight new development Levy projects to completion, will have four projects in construction, and will have 21 projects in the planning and design phase. 

For more information on this project, please visit www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/genesee_playfield or contact Parks Project Manager Ted Holden at (206) 684-7021 or ted.holden@seattle.gov 

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Seattle Parks and Recreation will hold two public meetings with the community to discuss improvements at Delridge Playfield. The first meeting will be on Monday, October 19, 2009; the second meeting will be on Monday, November 23, 2009. Both meetings will be from 7:30 – 9 p.m. at Delridge Community Center located at 4501 Delridge Way SW. 

The field renovation includes replacing the existing all-weather sand/silt fields with synthetic turf to provide adult soccer and Ultimate Frisbee. It will also improve ADA accessibility and replace the existing field lights with more energy efficient, neighbor friendly lighting. 

The Parks and Green Spaces Levy provides $3.2 million for project funding.  Construction is scheduled to start in spring 2010 with completion by fall. 

Seattle voters passed the Parks and Green Spaces Levy by an impressive 59% vote in November 2008. The new $146 million levy provides acquisition funding for new neighborhood parks and green spaces and development funding for projects such as improved playfields, reservoir lid parks, renovated playgrounds, community gardens, and safety upgrades at city owned cultural facilities. 

Recognizing the importance of creating vibrant and engaging green spaces for Seattle as it grows, Seattle Parks and Recreation moved quickly, and by November 2009, just one year after the passage of the Levy, will have added 2.53 acres to the park system and brought eight new development Levy projects to completion, will have four projects in construction, and will have 21 projects in the planning and design phase. 

For more information on this project, please visit www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/delridge_playfield or contact Parks Project Manager Ted Holden at (206) 684-7021 or ted.holden@seattle.gov 

# # #

Though Seattle voters overwhelmingly approved the Parks and Green Spaces Levy less than a year ago, Parks and Recreation has successfully bid, designed, started construction on, or completed seven projects, and has begun the planning and design process for nine more. 

These projects improve five play areas, two ballfields, a boulevard, and the Magnuson Park trail, and include start of work on the Hubbard Homestead Park at Northgate, Jefferson Park, Chinook Beach, and Bell Street Park Boulevard projects. 

“I couldn’t be more pleased that we’ve been able to get this Levy off the ground in such a hurry,” said Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tim Gallagher. “Normally we would not be this far along in a six-year Levy, but Mayor Nickels’ Jobs Forward Initiative and great staff work have translated into great progress and an estimated 95 jobs. Of the 59 named projects in the Levy, we’re under way on more than half of them.” 

Completed projects

• The Magnuson Park Trail along NE 65^th, which involves construction of a multi-use trail to the Lake Shore Promenade, will ease congestion and provide a safe and scenic route to Lake Washington waterfront.  http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/magnuson/entry_65.htm

 

• Ballfield #2 at Woodland Park, a project that involves replacing the all-weather sand/silt surface with synthetic turf, will soon open for soccer and lacrosse play: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/lower_woodland/playfields.htm

Projects that will be complete by mid-November 2009

• Five play area projects that provide for replacement of play equipment, access improvements, and compliance with play area safety standards:
  • Atlantic City Playground:

http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/atlantic_street/playground.htm

• Bayview Playground: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/bayview/playground.htm
• Bhy Kracke Playground: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/bhy_kracke/playground.htm
• Brighton Playground: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/brighton/playground.htm
• John C. Little, Jr. Play Area: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/john_little/park.htm
• Ballfield #7 at Woodland Park, another project that involves replacement of all-weather sand/silt surface with synthetic turf and new, energy-efficient and neighbor-friendly lights, will soon open for soccer and lacrosse play: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/lower_woodland/playfields.htm /. There will be a celebration during the second week in November. 

Projects under construction

• Children’s Playgarden at Colman Playground project, which will result in the creation of a playgarden, basketball courts, a renovated shelterhouse, a family play plaza, a treehouse, a marsh, and a rock scramble, all available and inviting for kids of all ages and abilities.
• The Chinook Beach restoration project, which will help reach the goals of the regional Salmon Recovery Plan, is under way: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/chinook_beach/
• Hubbard Homestead Park in the Northgate Urban Center is a project involving the conversion of a 3.73-acre park and ride facility to a new urban park. It will provide open space in this growing neighborhood, and amenities for low, medium, and high intensity uses, including spaces for contemplation and recreation. The project broke ground last month and will be ready for public use in the summer of 2010: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/hubbard_homestead/

• The Queen Anne Boulevard project, which will provide new sidewalks, improved planting strips, irrigation, and landscaping in three segments of the Boulevard, is underway:  http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/queen_anne_blvd/default.htm  

Projects in the planning and design phase

• The Bell Street Park Boulevard project, an innovative creation of new open space in Belltown, will turn four blocks of Bell Street between First and Fifth Avenues into a boulevard with swales, natural landscaping, and open community space, and adds 1.55 acres of new park space: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/bell_street/boulevard_park.htm  
• The Camp Long project, which involves renovation of the lodge built by the Works Progress Administration and dedicated in 1941, will help the building maintain its stature as a unique community gathering space that welcomes and encourages environmental education and recreation. It is in the planning and design phase: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/camp_long/ 
• The Delridge Playfield project, which will include new synthetic turf and energy-efficient, neighbor-friendly lights, drainage, and access for people with disabilities, will be ready for Ultimate Frisbee, baseball, and softball in the fall of 2010: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/delridge_playfield/  
• The Genesee Playfield project includes new synthetic turf and access for people with disabilities; it will be ready for Ultimate Frisbee, soccer, and possibly football in the fall of 2010: http://inwebdev/parksfm/projects/happenings/proparks/Pro_Parks_Info.asp?ID=409  
• At Jefferson Park work to implement the adopted Site Plan, begun with funding from the 2000 Pro Parks Levy, continues with Phase One, developed in partnership with the community: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/jefferson/park.htm  
• Renovations to the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, a historic landmark, will bring the building up to current seismic standards; it is in the planning and design phase: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/langston_hughes/ 
• The Seward Park Playground project will result in a unique play area to serve local families and visitors alike because of its naturalistic character. The vision is that the play area will appeal to very young children and teens alike, and will include features that provide a great place to explore and interact with nature. It is in the planning and design phase: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/seward/playground.htm 

 Planning and design has begun on these projects; watch for their web pages here soon: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/levy/development.htm

• • 9^th Ave. NW
  • Beacon Hill Playground
  • Fairmont Playground
  • Georgetown Playfield Spray Park Conversion
  • Golden Gardens Playground
  • Highland Park Spray Park Conversion
  • Lawton Park Playground
  • Matthews Beach Playground
  • Northacres Park Playground and Spray Park Conversion
  • Ross Playfield Playground
  • Sandel Playground
  • Washington Park Arboretum
  • West Seattle Reservoir
  • Maple Leaf Reservoir

 Park land acquisition projects

• Parks has acquired .66 acre to add to the Me Kwa Mooks Natural Area.
• Parks has added .12 acre to the Duwamish Head Greenbelt near the West Seattle Bridge.
• Parks will close on a .25-acre land purchase at Thornton Creek.
• Appraisals are under way for properties Parks hopes to acquire in Lake City, Capitol Hill, and First Hill.      

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URBAN WATERFRONTS 27, an annual international conference on waterfront planning, development and culture, will take place in Seattle, WA at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront from October 22-24, 2009. 

Representatives from 27 states, eight Canadian provinces, New Zealand, Australia, China and South Korea will converge in Seattle for three days to confront the challenges of waterfronts world-wide. The nonprofit Waterfront Center annually brings together a dynamic group of experts focused on waterfronts to exchange ideas. Seattle will host this year’s event. 

Two notable headliners will be featured at the Waterfront Center’s 27^th annual international conference here October 22 to 24, 2009, to be held at the Seattle Waterfront Marriott. 

Renowned aerial photographer Alex MacLean of Boston will open the session on Friday, October 23, showing images from his latest book, OVER: The American Landscape at the Tipping Point, a beautiful but disturbing portrait of America. The book is said to “compel us to reconsider our basic assumptions about how we live, work and play…” 

Closing Urban Waterfronts 27 on Saturday, October 24, will be Jane Jacobsen of Vancouver, WA and Johnpaul Jones of Jones & Jones Architects and Landscape Architects, Seattle, discussing the dynamic Confluence Project, a bold endeavor that involves seven

installations along a 450-mile stretch of the Columbia River. Working with the artist Maya Lin, best known for her design of the Vietnam Memorial on the Mall in Washington D.C., a group of artists and architects is collaborating with Northwest Native American tribes to select seven historic river sites for interpretation. Ms. Jacobsen is executive director of the project; Johnpaul Jones, who worked on the American Indian Museum in Washington, is the architect of the Vancouver Land Bridge, a dramatic feature of one of three completed installations. 

Bringing speakers from around the world, the conference will have multiple sessions running concurrently on Friday and Saturday. Session topics include:

• Waterfront Brownfields
• Watershed Management Promises and Pitfalls
• Waterfront Access – The Everlasting Issue
• The Role of the Arts in Waterfronts
• The Greening of Waterfronts
• Sustainable Solutions
• Outmoded Industrial Facilities: What’s Being Done
• Natural Hazards: Different Ways of Coping with examples from South Korea and FEMA
• Ports in the 21st Century – Technology Changes
• The Challenge of Multi-jurisdictional Collaborations
• Alternative Transportation From Bikes to Water Transportation.    

Sessions of special interest to the Northwest include presentations by the new King County Ferry District, Mark Carey from FEMA, and the ending Charrette on a Seattle Site, a discussion of what lies ahead for the Seattle Central Waterfront. Details for the sessions are available on the Waterfront Center website: http://www.waterfrontcenter.org/. 

Preceding the conference is an optional full-day workshop and boat tour of the Seattle waterfront. In one of the most extensive waterfront tours ever offered, experts from the City of Seattle, Port of Seattle, and the historical and architectural communities will provide a glimpse of changes along Seattle’s waterfront from the central waterfront, up the Duwamish, through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, and into Lake Union. 

On the Saturday afternoon, four additional waterfront tours are offered: a bus tour of Magnuson Park as it evolves into a diverse, destination urban park; a walking tour of Seattle’s waterfront; an in-depth tour of Lake Union, including the new Lake Union Park, and a water tour from Kirkland to Bellevue and Renton exploring the wide range of parks and developments along the east side of Lake Washington. 

On Friday evening, Mike Burke, attorney for the Port of Kansas City, MO and 2009 jury chairman, will make the first announcement of the 2009 “Excellence on the Waterfront” award-winning projects, plans, citizen efforts, and student work. 

For information, please call THE WATERFRONT CENTER at 202-337-0356, or visit the web site at www.waterfrontcenter.org. 

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Southwest Pool, 2801 SW Thistle St., will remain closed at least through Tuesday, October 28. Parks and Recreation regrets that all swim programs are canceled through that date. Current lesson participants will receive a credit on their accounts for the canceled classes. 

During a maintenance closure to comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (http://www.poolsafety.gov/), which calls for new drain covers, Parks plumbers discovered a break in a pipe under the pool deck. A contractor used a robotic camera to pinpoint the location of the leak, and is attempting to fix the leak without excavating the pool deck. 

The contractor plans a unique fix for the leak that involves a “sleeve” lining the pipe that bonds to the pipe’s interior and seals the break. As soon as the customized sleeve arrives (it needs to be custom made because of 90-degree angles and changes in the diameter of the pipe), the contractor will begin installation. 

After allowing time for the sleeve to inflate, cure, and bond to the interior of the pipe, Parks staff will undertake the Virginia Graeme Baker drain replacement work, pressure wash the pool, fill it, and heat it. Barring any other unanticipated problems, the pool will reopen on Wednesday, October 28. 

To check for the latest updates, call the pool at (206) 684-7440, visit the webpage page at http://www.seattle.gov/parks/aquatics/Pools/southwest/schedule.htm

Seattle Parks and Recreation invites the public to submit potential names for parks in the Capitol Hill and Lake City neighborhoods. Suggestions for names are due to the Park Naming Committee by Monday, November 16, 2009. 

The following parks, characterized here by their working names, are undergoing the naming process: 

Capitol Hill Park Acquisition: This .39 acre property, located at the northeast corner of E Howell St. and 16^th Ave. E, was purchased in 2007 with Pro Parks Levy funds. 

Parks held several public meetings to solicit ideas on the program and design for the park. The approved plan consists of an open lawn in the middle of the site that is bordered by a collective garden to the north and a crushed rock plaza and a pathway lined with trees to the south. Other elements include a garden walk, steps, a plaza and benches, barbeque, picnic table, and an art element.  The art element includes a grouping of seven boulders for creative play and seating.  It is intended to represent the “Seven Hills of Seattle.” 

Construction on the site is scheduled to begin in November 2009 and to be completed by spring 2010.  For more information, please visit http://seattle.gov/parks/proparks/projects/CapitolHillDevelopment.htm

John and Summit: This project, located on the NE corner of E John St. and Summit Ave. E, will provide a new neighborhood park on the western slope of Capitol Hill.  Funding for the acquisition comes from the Pro Parks Levy and a matching grant from King County Conservation Futures Tax revenues. This .22 acre property was purchased in 2007. 

The Pro Parks Levy funding supports a construction budget of $140,909 and the P-Patch program has provided $150,000 toward construction. The site incorporates P-patches in the overall design.  Construction on the site is projected to begin next spring.

For more information, please visit http://seattle.gov/parks/proparks/projects/JohnSummitParkDevelopment.htm 

Lake City Playground: Parks acquired this site from the School District in 1987. It had been the playground for Lake City elementary school; when the School District declared the site surplus to its needs, the playground was established as a separate land parcel. It is located at 12312 – 26^th Ave. NE.  

The Park Naming Committee is comprised of one representative designated by the Board of Park Commissioners, one by the Chair of the City Council Parks and Seattle Center 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. A park may be named for a person no longer living (deceased a minimum of three years) who made a significant contribution to parks and/or recreation. The Park Naming Committee will consider all suggestions and make a recommendation to the Superintendent, who makes the final decision. 

Please submit suggestions for park names in writing by November 16, 2009, and include an explanation of how your suggestion matches the naming criteria. Send suggestions to Seattle Parks and Recreation, Park Naming Committee, 100 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109, or by e-mail to paula.hoff@seattle.gov. In keeping with Seattle’s “Paper Cuts” program, Parks encourages electronic submissions.

Come enjoy the fleeting Technicolor of autumn at the Japanese Garden and Washington Park Arboretum on Sunday, October 18, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. for the annual fall Maple Viewing. More than 150 maples show off their fall colors. 

The garden will have a diversity of activities and entertainment during the event including, traditional and contemporary music by Marcia Takamura and James Jennings, a performance by the Evergreen Glee Club, and a demonstration of “wet on wet painting” by Frances Dunlap and Mari Nakamura.  The Puget Sound Bonsai Association will have a bonsai display.  

The garden will host educational outreach staff from a number of local gardening organizations, including the University of Washington Botanical gardens, Plant Amnesty, Master Gardeners and Master Composters and Soil Builders. Arboretum Foundation Unit -86 Garden Docents and volunteers will provide public tours, crafts and storytelling.  

The event will conclude with a lecture on the broader collection of maples in the UW Botanical Gardens by Horticulturalist David Zuckerman, in the Tateuchi Community Room at 3 p.m. 

Entertainment is contingent on weather; seating for the lecture is limited. 

This event is hosted by the Seattle Japanese Garden Advisory Council, Washington Park Arboretum Foundation Unit-86, UW Botanical Gardens, Urasenke Foundation Seattle Branch and the Puget Sound Bonsai Association.

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

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Join in a community celebration for the dedication of Ballard Corners Park on October 10, 2009 at 11 a.m. The park is located along 17th Ave. NW between NW 62^nd and 63rd Sts. This community celebration marks the completion of Ballard Corners Park. 

Veraci Pizza will be setting up a portable wood-fired oven and serving free pizza. Park Designer John Barker will press apples from the trees on site to make apple cider. Featured speakers will include Seattle Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher, State Representative Mary Lou Dickerson, State Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Director Stella Chao, and King County Councilmember Larry Phillips, all of whom helped create the park.  

“I am thrilled to see completion of Ballard Corners Park,” said David Folweiler, co-chair of the Friends of Ballard Corners Park. “It is wonderful to have this gem of a park in Ballard and see the dreams of neighbors turned into reality.” 

Groundswell NW will join this event to celebrate 20 years of creating open and green space in Ballard and Crown Hill. Groundswell NW first identified this site for a park and began the development process.  

Funding from the Pro Parks Levy was used to acquire the park property. The Friends of Ballard Corners Park received three Neighborhood Matching Fund Awards and hired Barker Landscape Architects to design the park. With input from three com­munity meetings and the guidance of the steering committee Barker Design created the concept plan. 

The park was built in three phases. For the first phase, $150,000 in Pro Parks Levy funding was allocated to project. WS Contractors were hired to build the open lawn, small play area, seatwall, and “skate spot.” 

Phase 2 included the rain gardens, right-of way plantings, new curving sidewalks, and the “living room” art installation.  Dariotis Construction was awarded the contract .The “living room,” consisting of concrete sofa, chair and side table, was created by Nathan Arnold, concrete artist and mason.  The neighborhood held a series of work parties and did the plantings for the park in 2008-9. 

Phase 3, which will be completed shortly, consists of an entry reminiscent of the corner store that once existed at the site. This work is being done by Barker Landscape Architects and Nathan Arnold. It will have interpretive panels on the countertops describing the history of the site and corner stores in Ballard. There will also be custom made stainless steel swiveling stools at the counters creating more seating and a place for neighbors to meet. 

The Friends of Ballard Corners’ fundraising efforts successfully reached out to neighbors and local businesses for matches for the Department of Neighborhoods Matching Fund awards, which were critical to getting the project off the ground, Home Depot, Safeco Foundation, King County Waterworks Grant, and the Washington State Department of Commerce also contributed. The Friends appreciate the help that Councilmember Larry Phillips, Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, and Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson provide in securing funding for the park.