Ballard Commons Park
About
Ballard Commons Park features a skate bowl, water feature, engaging public art, relaxing seating areas and lawns and ADA accessible walkways. The park forms part of a new municipal center in Ballard, with a Seattle Public Library branch and Neighborhood Service Center.
Current Project
Ballard Commons Park Play Area Project
Construction for the play area project began in late August 2023 and SPR has been working closely with the contractor, A-1 Landscaping and Construction. The east portion of the park along 22nd Ave. NW has been closed during construction.
We are expecting a month’s delay on the reopening of the park due to the longer-than-usual lead time on play equipment. We are working with the community and partners to hold a community celebration and park ribbon cutting as soon as construction is complete in April.
The Ballard Alliance worked with the Ballard community to envision a new play area within the existing park. The vision is to provide a new opportunity for year-round, active play for young children and their families. By creating a new play space, we anticipate creating a refreshed park environment that increases the use and enjoyment of this beautiful urban park. The project will include nautical-themed play equipment, safety surfacing, seat walls, new park trees, and corresponding utility updates.
Ballard Alliance secured grant funding from the Seattle Office of Economic Development to begin a community engagement process and hire a landscape architecture firm, The West Studio, to assist in community outreach and conceptual design development. Additionally, a volunteer steering committee comprised of local Ballard residents and business owners was assembled to actively participate and promote the community outreach efforts. The West Studio consolidated the community outreach efforts and provided conceptual design recommendations to inform the design development process and ultimately the realization of a new play area within the park. Seattle Parks and Recreation has been working with the design consultant, MIG who finalized the construction drawings and permitting requirements.
Budget
$1,000,000 was allocated for this project from the REET I Capital Fund in 2022. This allocation will cover the design, permitting, project management, and construction. The awarded construction contract amount is $884,000.
Schedule
Planning and Conceptual Design: October - December 2017
Construction Drawings and Permitting: January 2018 - February 2023
[was put on hold for COVID]
Construction: August 2023 - April 2024
Completion: Spring 2024
For more information about the playground, please contact Sai Fang, Seattle Parks and Recreation project manager, at sai.fang@seattle.gov