48th and Charlestown Landbanked Site Park Development

Updated: December 1, 2022

Project Update

In the summer of 2020, the City of Seattle turned its focus to essential functions to address the pandemic and economic crisis, which required a significant reprioritization of resources. After careful analysis of equity considerations, health and safety concerns, and alignment with essential functions, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) suspended many capital projects including the 48th and Charlestown Landbanked Site Park Development project. As promised at the time, SPR worked to restore funding in future budget cycles for suspended projects. In September 2022, the Seattle City Council, acting in their role as Seattle Park District Board, passed a new six-year funding plan for the 2023-2028 Park District cycle which includes funding for this project and many more. SPR staff are now reprioritizing projects in this six-year funding plan using several criteria, including equity, and creating a plan for implementation. We anticipate having a plan in the second quarter of 2023 that will guide our Park District capital work over the next six years. We will update the schedule below when we have the workplan completed.

Seattle Parks and Recreation and Osborn Consulting worked with the community on the design for the new park, which will provide a "neighborhood green" for the people of all ages to meet, eat, play, and celebrate. The design includes an oval lawn surrounded by a loop path with arching seat walls, imaginative and active play for young children, picnic areas, and a small stage. Native and drought-tolerant plants will express the natural history of this area, and trees will frame the park and provide shade.

Thank you to everyone who attended the July 9 open house to learn about this park development and provide input! Meeting notes and the preferred design that was displayed are attached below in the Community Participation section.

Thanks also to everyone who came and participated in the design discussion on April 30. We appreciate all your input on the three design concepts. For those of you who were unable to attend please see concepts and meeting notes below. And thank you to those who participated in Public Meeting #1 on February 24, 2019. The input received informed the overall design for the park.

Location

4801 SW Charlestown St. Seattle, WA 98116

Budget

The Seattle Park District provides $1,273,388.00 for planning, design and construction of this site into a park.

The site was purchased in 2014 using King County Conservation Futures funding. This funding requires that use is restricted to low impact, passive recreation and impervious surfacing shall be limited to 15% or less.

Project Description

Seattle Parks and Recreation purchased this .33 acres in 2014 to provide the community access to open space within identified gaps across the city. The Seattle Park District funds the development of this parcel into a park. Seattle Parks and Recreation will work with the community to develop a design for the park. This parcel will not be accessible during construction.

Community Participation

Please participate in the public process as we work together to design your new park space.

Public Meeting/Open House 2/24/2019

Public Meeting April 30, 2019

Public Meeting/Input Opportunity 7/9/2019