Seward Park Environmental and Audubon Center Pro Parks Project
Information
Location: Seward Park - 5900 Lake Wash. Blvd.
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EVENTS:
Grand Opening Day Celebration
April 26, 2008
Activities from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Ribbon Cutting at noon.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Jon Jainga
RDA Building, 3rd Floor
800 Maynard Ave S
Seattle, WA 98134-1336
206-684-7054
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PROJECT STATUS
March 2008
This project renovated the historic 1927 landmark building into
an outdoor education center that is a partnership between the City
of Seattle and National Audubon Society. The new center includes:
Two large class rooms
Labratory
Library
Exhibits
Offices
Welcome Center/Gift Shop
Audubon has completed the process of working through the schematic
design phase of this project with South Seattle communities, organizations
and with Mithun Architects. Construction began May 4, 2007.
Smith Construction Services, Inc. of Snohomish, WA has been award
the construction contract.
Project Completion is scheduled for November 2007.
There is an agreement between the Seattle Parks and Recreation
and the National Audubon Society to renovate the Seward Park Annex
Building and the Hatchery for environmental education programs;
and establishing the conditions under which Audubon may use and
occupy a portion of the named facilities for a period of ten years
with an option to continue use and occupancy for an additional
10 years. The City Council approved the agreement on June 16,
2003.
Please visit to this site for additional information in the future.
| LOCATION |
Seward Park - 5900 Lake Wash. Blvd.
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| BUDGET |
The Pro Parks Levy provides $618,600 project
costs to partially fund renovation of the Building (the
Audubon Center) and the Fish Hatchery for the use as an
Environmental Education Center. Parks will contribute $318,000
to renovate the building.
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| SCHEDULE |
Planning:Completed
Design:Community Driven, Completed
Spring 2006
Construction:5/1/2007
Completion:Novemebr 2007
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Field Guide Completion Celebration, June 2006 |
Environmental education and stewardship are key elements of Seattle
Parks and Recreation's (Parks) mission. While historically Parks
has initiated a host of environmental practices and programs, the
department is enhancing these efforts through the development of
neighborhood based services in parks throughout the city, maximizing
use of its vast inventory of natural settings as outdoor classrooms.
This increased priority is reflected in Parks and Recreation 2000
Plan, in recently adopted Environmental Stewardship policies and
in several initiatives described in the 2000 voter-approved Pro
Parks Levy.
One of these initiatives is the development of an environmental
education center in Seward Park. The park's natural assets afford
a multitude of programming and stewardship opportunities and are
ideally located to further Parks' outreach to communities under
served by environmental organizations. Currently, the Annex Building
in Seward Park is home to Outdoor Opportunities and an interpretive
naturalist program.
To augment these services, Parks proposed in the Pro Parks Levy
the renovation of the Annex Building into a fully operational center.
While the Levy identified $618,600 for renovation of the Annex Building
for the Center and the Hatchery, this amount of funding was not
expected to cover all the costs of renovation, and it did not provide
funds for expanded programming. As expressed in Ordinance 120024,
the City's intention was to leverage the Levy funds through collaborations
with public and private organizations.
To provide both the additional funding for the renovation of the
Annex Building and to expand the environmental stewardship programming,
Parks has partnered with the National Audubon Society (Audubon).
Audubon also views Seward Park as an ideal location to further its
conservation mission and its 1995 Strategic Plan to develop 20 Audubon
Centers around the state.
Because Parks and Audubon share not only a common mission, but also
a commitment to serving diverse communities and a programmatic approach
that uses natural areas as classrooms, this partnership will stimulate
the leveraging of resources, expertise, and outreach services.
Through collaborative and cooperative programming between Parks
and Audubon, the environmental stewardship of Seward Park and the
quality and quantity of educational opportunities will be enhanced.
The total renovation cost of the building is estimated at $1,550,203.
Audubon has proposed raising approximately $932,000, to be added
to the $618,600 from the Levy to complete the design and renovation.
Audubon will also raise funds to cover all the operating costs for
their programs and for their use of the Center facilities.
Parks and Audubon propose to work with South Seattle communities,
organizations, and individuals in developing the renovation project,
programs, use of the park, and other terms and conditions of the
partnership identified in contractual use agreements between the
City and Audubon.
SUMMARY OF Agreement between Audubon and Parks
The following highlights some of the provisions in the agreement.
The long term objective is to jointly fund the renovation of the
Annex Building in Seward Park into an environmental education center
that will house both Parks and Audubon environmental stewardship
programs. Both organizations' programs will:
- Be coordinated;
- Be community responsive, particularly to South Seattle communities;
- Use volunteers in the delivery of services;
- Conduct community outreach with emphasis on diverse and under-served
groups;
- Maximize opportunities for all citizens to be involved in
the planning, delivery and use of services.
Audubon programs will be affordable and accessible to the public
and fees and subject to Parks approval.
Audubon will manage the construction and design of the project with
approval at each stage by Parks. Both Parks and Audubon were members
of the design team.
Audubon has raised approximately $1 million for the renovation of
the building. Parks will contribute of $318,000 to renovate the
building as identified in the Pro Parks Levy. The other $300,000
was used to renovate the hatchery buildings at Seward Park for use
in instruction.
Before the project is implemented, Parks and Audubon will enter
a Use Agreement that details specific terms and conditions, including
how the building will be used by Audubon; rental payments, maintenance
obligations, insurance, licenses, taxes, and other requirements;
and program services, operations, reporting, approvals, design and
construction and fundraising. The term of the Use Agreement will
be ten years with the possibility of two five-year extensions.
Project Design
Public meetings regarding the design were conducted in 2004 and
2005. Mithun Architects were chosen to design the center. The building
has been listed on the historical register and must comply with
rules for historic preservation. The outside of the building will
look the same and the two large interior rooms will also remain.
Other parts of the building will be converted into offices and laboratory
and study space.
Audubon Center Contact Information
Gail Gatton, Seward Audubon and Environmental Learning Center Director
Audubon Washington
1411 4th Avenue, Suite 920
Seattle, WA 98101-2204
206-652-2444
ggatton@audubon.org
IMPORTANT LINKS
Updated 5/25/2007 10:01
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