We still aren’t thrilled with the name but the public green space and garden — not to mention the tables and barbecues — are a welcome addition to 16th and Howell. Despite the drizzle, the sprinklers have been working overtime to have Seven Hills Park ready for its big opening celebration Thursday beginning at 6 PM. It’s going to be an interesting space with a sculpture that should also make for good climbing and jumping, kids, a new-model p-patch that could help change the way the city allocates community garden space and a neighboring development project with eye-popping design and re-use and price tags to match.

The Howell Collective, by the way, has already been busy at the site.

The more than $450,000 budget for the .40 acre Seven Hills Park project included basic park elements such as grading, the lawn, a pathway, the plaza and steps but there was not funding to construct a trellis that was originally part of the design or to install picnic tables, barbecues, benches, bike racks and the sculpture. The Friends of Capitol Hill Park group formed to help raise additional funds to make some of those amenities possible. The family of Shannon Harps also donated money to help pay for the park’s picnic tables.

The city purchased the lots where the park has been built for $1.4 million in 2007, according to City Council records. In 2007, Seattle Parks also acquired the land at Summit and John where another park is nearing completion.

NEIGHBORHOOD CELEBRATES OPENING FOR FOR SEVEN HILLS PARK

The Capitol Hill neighborhood is invited to join Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ Howell Collective P-Patch for an opening celebration at the new Seven Hills Park.

The community potluck is Thursday, September 9, 2010, beginning at 6 p.m. at 1514 E. Howell. Both the acquisition and development of Seven Hills Park were funded by the Pro Parks Levy. What was once a parking lot is now a new community park.

This new neighborhood gathering space features an open lawn bordered by the Howell Collective garden to the north and a crushed rock plaza and pathway lined with trees to the south. Other elements include barbeques, picnic tables, benches, and an art element.

The art element, “Seven Hills of Seattle,” designed by Mithun Landscape Architects, includes a grouping of seven boulders for creative play and seating that represents the seven hills of Seattle, called out in an effort by early 20th century civic boosters to liken Seattle to Rome.

Howell Collective is the newest addition to Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ P-Patch Community Gardening program. At the Howell Collective, gardeners will not have individual plots, but, like at every P-Patch community garden, they collectively design, plant, maintain, and harvest together. For more information, please see Howellcollective.wordpress.com or www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/ppatch/.

The lawn is fenced to protect the newly planted turf. It will be open to the public in the early spring when the grass has become fully established.

Approved by Seattle voters in 2000, the $198.2 million Pro Parks Levy funded more than 100 projects throughout the city over eight years.  Projects include improvements to athletic fields, playgrounds, trails and community centers and parks. Funding also increases green spaces, support Zoo programs and enhance park maintenance.

For more information, please contact the Parks Project Manager at [email protected] or (206) 233-7936.  For information on Howell Collective visit howellcollective.wordpress.com.