Columbia Park Improvements
Pro Parks Project Information
4721 Rainier Ave S
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PROJECT STATUS
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EVENTS:
There are no events planned at this time.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Lynn Sullivan
800 Maynard Ave S. 3rd Floor
Seattle, WA 98134
(206) 733-9105
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Thank you Seattle. The Pro Parks Levy project at Columbia Park
is complete and the park is open for use!
Funding for the Columbia Parks Improvements came from the 2000 Pro
Parks Levy.
Some of the improvements include:
- Pathways installed to create better access into the site from
all corners
- Main pathway realigned to create a meandering walk that evokes
the stream that used to run through the site
- Small blue tinted solar lights installed to further provide
a subtle visual reference to the stream
- Automatic irrigation installed
- Lawn re-graded and re-seeded thereby enhancing the aesthetic
and functional use of the park
In October 2005, Parks hosted the final of three public meetings.
The final design originated from discussions between community members
and Parks staff during those meetings. The meeting minutes can be
viewed by scrolling down this page.
| LOCATION |
4721 Rainier Ave S
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| BUDGET |
The Pro Parks Levy provides $350,000 project
costs of planning, design and construction.
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| SCHEDULE |
Planning: Spring 2005
Design: Summer - Fall 2005
Construction: 2006
Completion: 2006
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION |
Design Philosophy
The project embraces the “town square” or “village green” feel to
the existing park and will make minor improvements to improve access,
enhance maintenance, and add reference to a stream that historically
ran through the site. The improvements will be subtle. They will
add character to the park while remaining secondary to the outdoor
room created by the buildings that ring the space. The improvements
will increase the ability of the park to accommodate small, spontaneous
gatherings and the occasional event. Its main function will remain
as a passive space for quiet contemplation and public thoroughfare.
Improvements:
- Rainbow Sign – A park identifying “rainbow sign” was
installed as part of this project
- Irrigation – The original irrigation was controlled
by manual valve requiring park employees to return again and
again to turn on and off the different irrigation zones. This
project added automatic controls per Parks standards.
- Drainage – The northern end of the park is a bowl,
creating an area that was wet much of the year. There were also
numerous holes in the lawn and uneven turf. The project improved
the drainage and smoothed the grades
- Paths – The pathways were realigned to create better
access into the site; from major landmarks (the library, cultural
center, bus stop, and Orca school); and to create a meandering
walk that evokes the stream that used to run through the site
- Lighting – Small blue tinted, solar lights were set
in the path to create a subtle visual reference to the stream.
The lights appear as tiles during the day
- Landscaping – A limited amount of grading at the south
end of the park provided more level areas suitable for small
gatherings, picnics and lounging
- Seating – Bench pads were added along the new sidewalk.
Benches will be added as funding becomes available
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
Parks held three public meetings to discuss improvements to this
park.
The first meeting was held on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 at the Columbia
City Farmer's Market. This Open House style meeting was designed
to introduce the community to the project.
The second meeting was held on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2005 at the Columbia
City Library. At that meeting, the community was invited to review
initial proposals for improving Columbia Park. The proposals originated
from discussions with community members and Parks staff.
The third meeting was held in October 2005 and included a presentation
of the final design drawings.
Seattle Parks and Recreation has prepared a Public Involvement
Summary to recap the public involvement process. Read
more (PDF)
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IMPORTANT LINKS |
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< A-Z Projects List <
Acquisition <
Development < Project Map
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| Updated 09/26/2007 03:59
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