Denny Park Play Space and Revitalization

EVENTS: Currently no events are scheduled. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Pamela Kliment, Project Manager 800 Maynard Ave S, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98134 206-684-7556 pamela.kliment@seattle.gov

PlayArea Revisions Select image to enlarge

January 2013
The playground developed in 2008 has some experimental elements, some of which have been extremely successful and some less so. Funding is available to replace some of the less popular existing equipment. We developed the revisions to the play equipment and the plan with new play equipment and new layout.

2008
Parks installed the current playground in 2008.
The Budget:
$105,000 Neighborhood Matching Fund Award for design & construction
$100,000 CRF(Cumulative Reserve Funds-from the City) for construction
$9,000 Community Contribution in cash in-kind donations and labor
$100,000 City Investors LLC
Thank you to all the partners.

The Friends of Denny Park worked with the Berger Partnership, the community, a Project Advisory Team consisting of local stakeholders and Parks to develop a play space and revitalization plan for the park.

Three public meetings were held to discuss the ideas and plans. Two representatives from Cornish invited the consultants/parks/community people to present the plans to a group of students who are using the park as a possible inspiration for artwork.

Additional outreach included workshops held with local children from the Spruce Street School, The Morningside Academy, The Denny Park Apartments, and First Place School. Vendors from Real Change newspaper contributed ideas for the park too.

Three "open houses" at the park were held do talk with current park visitors.

The project was presented, with great acclaim, to the Board of Park Commissioners in February 2007. They were pleased to see this community initiated project moving forward.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Updated project-2013
Replace some equipment with similar play equipment that has been popular in other play areas in Seattle. Colors and styles will be selected to match the existing play area.

Initial Project-2008
The initial project goal was to develop a playspace in Denny Park. In order to integrate the play space properly into the park, it is necessary and exciting to develop a schematic plan for the entire park, not including the administration building, driveway, parking lot and front area.

The project investigated traditional and non-traditional play spaces and looked at ways to make the park safer and more inviting.

After the schematic design was approved, the PAT looked at priorities for the project. After building the play space, safety was considered the most important. Removing large shrubs and adding lighting were considered key.

Other important items were a history plaza, improving the walkways, adding a more complex gathering space in the middle with spaces for events and spaces for sitting quietly, a water feature for the middle, more planting, opening up the restrooms in the back of the building and improving street corners and walk-way transitions.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

IMPORTANT LINKS

• Seattle Parks and Recreation
• Parks Neighborhood Matching Fund Projects
• Seattle Department of Neighborhoods - NMF Overview
• Denny Park