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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Seattle Parks Seeks Names for Four Parks
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
11/16/2006 12:58:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Paula Hoff, 206-615-0368 paula.hoff@seattle.gov
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Seattle Parks Seeks Names for Four Parks
Seattle Parks and Recreation invites the public to submit potential names for
parks in the West Seattle, South Park, Ballard and Delridge neighborhoods. Suggestions
for names are due to the Park Naming Committee by Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007.
Here are descriptions of the parks to be named (some of the park names used
below are working titles):
Junction Plaza: A new park is being developed on a vacant site (0.15
acres) located in the West Seattle Junction at the corner of SW Alaska St. and
42nd Ave. SW. Junction residents nominated this property for acquisition through
the Pro Parks Levy Opportunity Fund. In July 2002, the City Council approved
$200,000 in Opportunity Fund funding to acquire this site. Together with $100,000
from the Neighborhood Matching Fund and a $100,000 community match, Parks purchased
the parcel in 2005. Parks held two public meetings and developed a design for
a plaza and landscaping. There will be decorative paving, seating, lighting,
a kiosk and landscaping. The Junction Association will assist with raising additional
funds for construction. For more information, please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/proparks/projects/JunctionPlazaDev.htm
Marra Farm: Located in the South Park neighborhood at 9026 4th Ave.
S, this 8.72-acre property was transferred from King County to Seattle Parks
and Recreation in December 2004. The west half of the site was historically
operated as Marra Farm, a traditional truck farm that supplied fresh produce
to Seattle farmers' markets in the mid-20th century. Parks staff have worked
with the community and Marra Farm Coalition to produce a long-range development
plan for the site. The proposed plan calls for continued farming and gardening
on the western half of the site and a potential learning center and pavilion,
children's play area, and parking on the eastern portion of the site. The plan
also includes paths, gathering areas, and options for a surface water detention
facility that addresses neighborhood and site drainage needs. For more information,
please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/proparks/projects/marrafarm.htm
Ballard Park Site: This park site is located on the southwest corner
of 17th Ave. NW and NW 63rd St. The park consists of two land parcels; one of
which was purchased with funding from the Pro Parks Levy Opportunity Funds in
2003. Parks staff are negotiating purchase of the second parcel; this property
has a house that has sat empty for more than 10 years. The Friends of Ballard
Corners Park (the community's working name for the park) received a matching
grant from the Department of Neighborhoods in November 2005 to hire a landscape
architect to help create a park plan. The plan includes open lawn, a small play
area, small seating area, a gateway that is reminiscent of the corner store
that once existed at the site, and a rain garden through the planting strip.
Funding for construction will be from the Pro Parks Levy Opportunity Fund, community
fundraising, and matching funds. For more information, please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/proparks/projects/BallardPocket.htm
Delridge Parks: This site is located between Delridge Way SW and 26th
Ave. SW, north of SW Brandon St. The design develops Brandon Mini Park, Puget
Boulevard Commons and Greg Davis Park to create one contiguous open space/park
that includes the following passive and active recreational elements: unscheduled
sports fields, playground, plazas, picnic shelter, tables, benches, renovated
P-patch, a grass court for lawn bowling and croquet type activities, tables,
benches, and wooded areas with native vegetation. Parks held four public meetings
to gain community input on the design. The result will be an open, inviting
space that meets the needs of both passive and active users. Park development
funds came from the 2000 Pro Parks Levy. For more information, please visit
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/proparks/projects/pugetblvd.htm
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,
Neighborhoods and Education 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 Parks Superintendent
Ken Bounds, who makes the final decision.
Please submit suggestions for park names in writing by Wednesday, Jan. 10,
2007, and include an explanation of how your suggestion matches the naming
criteria. Send to Seattle Parks and Recreation, Park Naming Committee, 100 Dexter
Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109, or by e-mail to paula.hoff@seattle.gov.
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Seattle Parks and Recreation
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