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12th Avenue Square project ready to dig in — Plus: Broadway Hill Park design plans ready

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A conceptual image of 12th Avenue Square Park presented in 2011 (Image: Seattle Parks and Recreation)

A conceptual image of 12th Avenue Square Park presented in 2011 (Image: Seattle Parks and Recreation)

Back in June 2011, CHS posted design meeting plans for a 7,322 square-foot gravel lot on E James Court. It will soon be 12th Avenue Square Park. Now, with funding and a permit in-hand the Department of Parks and Recreations is looking to begin construction by late-spring/early summer and build upon the 564 12th Ave empty lot next to Ba Bar restaurant.

“The acquisition of the space was a community-initiated project from the 2000 Pro Parks Levy Opportunity Fund Project,” said Kerri Stoops of Seattle Parks. The Department of Neighborhoods passed the property to the parks department in 2008 who have acquired a steady flow of funds to get the project rolling that will include a woonerf to run “along James Ct spanning between the 12th Ave Park to the south and the new Seattle University and Seneca group development to the north.”

Meanwhile, a movement to create a Metropolitan Parks District in the city to manage development, operations, and maintenance of Seattle’s parks is making progress as the Seattle Parks Foundation has released its recommendations for the district’s structure:

A Metropolitan Park District would generate revenue dedicated solely to maintaining, operating, and developing a quality parks and recreation system in Seattle. A new MPD is a cornerstone of the plan to sustain Seattle parks because it is the only potential funding source that would be dedicated exclusively to parks. Parks would not have to compete for those funds with other capital priorities such as libraries, fire, transportation, and housing. An MPD would also be easy to implement and could be created by a vote of the people. The funds generated could be integrated into existing budgeting and operating processes, which are governed by city laws and by the parks department’s administrative code.

The district would represent a new taxing authority and the Seattle City Council would serve as its governing board. You can read more about the plan here.

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Following Capitol Hill start, city extending parklet pilot program

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The E Olive Way parklet under construction last summer (Image: CHS)

The E Olive Way parklet under construction last summer (Image: CHS)

There will be at least five more. The Seattle Department of Transportation has put out a call for applicants for five additional parklet trial permits to continue testing the use of street parking spots as public open spaces paid for and supported by local businesses.

Guided by successful programs in other cities, City Hall gave the go ahead to Seattle’s first parklet that opened last summer on E Olive Way in front of Montana. A Belltown parklet on 2nd Ave has also been approved while a Kickstarter to help fund an International District parklet reached its $12,000 goal last month.

The E Olive Way parklet exemplifies planners’ hopes for the projects. Though it is located in a neighborhood where on street parking is considered a premium, local businesses in the area involved in the parklet were willing to trade two parking spots  for a more universally available asset for customers and neighbors. “90% of my customers are pedestrians,” Montana’s Rachel Marshall told assembled media as the parklet was prepared for opening last summer.

The extended pilot program “will allow SDOT to evaluate parklets in diverse neighborhoods and conditions before making recommendations on a permanent program,” according to the announcement. To apply, interested parklet creators must submit “a simple site plan showing the ideas for your parklet, collect at least two letters of support from businesses or residents near the proposed parklet, snap a few photos of the parklet location, and write a paragraph or two explaining why you want to host a parklet.”

Check out the Seattle Pilot Parklet Program web site for more information.

More money for Cal Anderson safety, maintaining new parks on roster of proposals for next levy

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Giant Robot Army, originally
uploaded by prima seadiva.

Thursday night, the committee that will set the course for how money from the next Seattle Parks Levy will be deployed comes to Capitol Hill to hear community feedback on dozens of proposed initiatives including $800,000 for more rangers and staff to help make the central city’s parks safer.

Here’s a note about the meeting from newly re-elected City Council member Sally Bagshaw:

Join Us at the Public Hearing for the Parks Legacy CAC on Thursday, November 7th!

Just a reminder that tomorrow the Department of Parks and Recreation is holding a public hearing at 6 p.m. at Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E.  This hearing is another opportunity for you to weigh in on the parks potential ballot measure for 2014.

Back in May 2013, City Council adopted Resolution 31454 which created the Parks Legacy Citizens Advisory Committee. This group is tasked with, among other things, determining if we should move forward with a ballot measure, the type of funding mechanism, and the investment initiatives.

The group has just released a first draft of 37 prioritized initiatives: this is what a possible levy would buy. The Committee seeks feedback from the community on these initiatives, and on the type of funding mechanisms being considered

For more information, please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/committee.htm.

The list of 37 is below — you’ll note a few items dedicated to park safety including $250,00 for the Parks concierge program we reported on related to crime in Cal Anderson and another $550,000 initiative to fund two additional Park Rangers and two park-funded Animal Control Officers.

You can also provide feedback via email to ParksLegacy@seattle.gov.

subcommittee_preliminary_prioritization.pdf

Construction project will improve Cal Anderson’s E Pine entry — and hopefully won’t hurt an old tree

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IMG_20131104_114402_208Now that most of the election malarkey is wrapped up, we can turn CHS’s attention to coverage that really matters. A Seattle Parks work crew was busy this week preparing the area around Cal Anderson’s southern stairway entry to the Bobby Morris playfield in a project to widen the access point, add a small retaining wall and, Parks hopes, help save a big old tree. Continue reading →

City readies final plan to ‘pedestrianize’ John Street near Capitol Hill’s Summit Slope Park

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Screen Shot 2013-10-22 at 4.28.24 PMPowered by a parks levy grant, the plan to “pedestrianize” John Street between Olive and Summit adjacent the 2011-built Summit Slope Park is moving into its final planning phase. Wednesday night, city planners will discuss the preferred alternative for the project and its potential changes for the street’s use in a meeting at the Capitol Hill library branch. Details on the final planning meeting and a look at the design alternatives that have been considered are below.

8445445100_87e14e9345Earlier this week, the city opened the first stretch of a new Broadway bikeway that will accompany the First Hill Streetcar route and has transformed the eastern side of Broadway beyond the traditional auto-focused street and parking layout. In September, Seattle’s first parklet trading street parking for public mini-park space debuted on E Olive Way.

UPDATE: Scott Shinn of the Seattle group Parents for Skateparks is hoping to draw attention to an issue in the design alternatives that he says could make the hard-won Summit Slope Park’s skate dot feature useless for skateboarders.

Continue reading →

19th and Madison park gets a name — Welcome to Cayton Corner

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cayton_susie_revelsHonoring a writer, newspaper editor and leader in Seattle’s black community, the planned public green space for the lot at 19th and Madison will be named Cayton Corner Park.

Susie Revels Cayton, daughter to the first U.S. Senator of African descent, arrived in Seattle in 1896:

Susie Revels Cayton soon became a leader in Seattle’s black community. She was named associate editor of The Seattle Republican and, later, contributing editor of Cayton’s Weekly. She was an active member of cultural and social organizations designed to improve the conditions of African Americans, including the “Sunday Forum,” a group of black Seattleites that met on a regular basis. Along with three other black women, Susie Cayton founded the Dorcus Charity Club in response to an urgent plea to help a set of abandoned twins. The club continued its charitable work for years.

Following a naming process this summer, the community group working to help plan the new park announced the decision earlier this week. If you’d like to get involved, their next meeting is October 8th, 6:30 PM at the Hearing, Speech & Deafness Center adjacent to the park space.

Residents celebrated at the space now known as Cayton Corner on Seattle's Night Out in August (Image: CHS)

Residents celebrated at the space now known as Cayton Corner on Seattle’s Night Out in August (Image: CHS)

CHS Pics | Seattle’s first parklet under construction on Capitol Hill

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IMG_2051It replaces only a handful of parking spaces and will take all of three days to assemble but the start of construction on Seattle’s first parklet still brought out a media crowd Monday on E Olive Way.

Montana co-owner Rachel Marshall held court with the TV cameras — and one neighborhood blogger — trying her best to be diplomatic with the sometimes confused TV crews. “90% of my customers are pedestrians,” she said when asked, again, about the loss of parking in front of her neighborhood bar.

Continue reading →

The Capitol Hill duckbill valve has (apparently) arrived — Water returns to Volunteer Park Reservoir

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IMG_20130904_144259_874The 22-million gallon Volunteer Park Reservoir is, once again, holding water following a longer-than-expected dry spell caused by a parts delay as Seattle Public Utilities officials begin a two-year trial to determine if the landmark-protected resource can be decommissioned and fully transitioned into its next life as a historically-respectful water feature. CHS wrote about the 22-million gallon opportunity here earlier this year.

Thanks to Chris for the photos of the refilling reservoir. With the storm deluge expected in the next 24 hours, expect to see an extra gallon or two in Volunteer Park.

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National community gardening conference — including a Capitol Hill tour — comes to Seattle

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Seattle Central rooftop flower - (SGS)

A hidden Capitol Hill garden on Seattle Central’s rooftop — not on the tour! (SGS)

The annual meeting of the American Community Gardening Association comes to Seattle this August and at least one component will be of interest to Capitol Hill residents with hardcore green thumbs.

Running from August 8 to 11, the conference hosted at the University of Washington will cover workshops from environmental justice to city livestock. A keynote speaker will open the event on Friday followed with a lunch, as well as workshops. This will run you $75, – a good chunk of gardening supplies – but all tours cost $40 if you’re looking to save some cash – also, include lunch and transportation. Most will be on Saturday.

The tours will take you from “Historic Farm and Innovative Spaces” to peddling along on a bicycle. One tour will take you on a scavenger hunt for plants winding through Capitol Hill to downtown:

Walking Scavenger Hunt

This interactive tour will lead participants on a journey through Seattle’s urban community gardens to the iconic Pike Place Market.

We will provide clues for a scavenger hunt that will help you to learn more about amazing community gardening connections to the larger social and physical landscape.

This tour will be conducted on foot and public transportation, so please keep that in mind when signing up.

Tour limited to 20 people.

Bus from University of Washington to Capitol Hill neighborhood
Thomas Street Gardens (1010 E Thomas)
Broadway Hill Townships Federal Ave. E & E Republican
Howell Collective (1514 E Howell St)
Unpaving Paradise (200 Summit Ave. E)
Cascade (310 Minor Ave. N)
Belltown and Growing Vine (Elliott Ave. and Vine St.)
Pike Place Market (1st Ave. & Pike St.)
Bus back to University District

Registration can be completed online for attendees. Part of a City of Seattle release outlines the three day conference of plant lovers:

• Friday – Keynote speaker, lunch, and workshops from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. for $75
• Friday night – Gala Dinner and Silent Auction for $85
• Saturday – Workshops from 8 a.m. to 12 noon for $40
• Saturday and Sunday – Workshops, tours, and closing panel from 8 a.m. – 12 noon for $80.
Workshops are conducted by experts in urban agriculture, community gardening, and associated topics. Topic sessions include:
• Horticulture, permaculture, and city livestock
• Garden/farm to table to compost to garden/farm
• Health, prevention and therapy
• Cultural, social, and environmental justice
To learn more about each day’s activities, view the conference schedule and register here for the a la carte sessions. The conference will be held at University of Washington’s Gould Hall (3949 15th Ave NE).
The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods P-Patch Community Gardening Program is a host of the ACGA Conference. For more information on the workshops and tours, contact Sandy Pernitz at sandy.pernitz@seattle.gov.

 

CHS Pics | Shakespeare in Volunteer Park one day, Dvorak the next

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The Seattle Shakespeare Company filled Volunteer Park’s amphitheater lawn with drama as the Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival took its annual bow on Capitol Hill this weekend. The not-for-profit organizers say the 2013 event drew more than 4,000 to Capitol Hill.

We've posted more pictures from the festival on the CHS Facebook page

We’ve posted more pictures from the festival on the CHS Facebook page

The park’s artful turn continues this week as the Seattle Chamber Music Society brings Dvořák in America to the amphitheater Wednesday night:

Chamber Music in the Park — Free
As part of our Summer Festival, we offer an outdoor concert at Volunteer Park featuring Festival artists. Come enjoy a beautiful Seattle summer evening with thrilling music and fun activities for the whole family. This popular event is perfect for music lovers of all ages!

The concert during the 2013 Summer Festival, Dvořák in America, features two pieces by the Czech composer. We will hear his String Quartet No. 12, Op. 96 and String Quintet, Op. 96. Both works are given the title “American”; they were written while Dvořák was living in the United States. While in the US, Dvořák spent most of his time in New York City, but in the summer of 1893, being homesick, he visited a Czech-speaking group in Spillville, Iowa. During his stay there he composed these two works.

Dvořák in America takes place on Wednesday, July 17 and begins at 7 pm. There will be a number of fun musical activities for the whole family before the concert.

15 names suggested for new E Madison park — Survey asks you to pick top 3

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1011706_536280529766328_1715712458_nThe call for names for a new park at 19th and Madison created a flurry of creativity. Now the community group working to make the park a reality is trying to winnow the list of candidates down to a Top 3. Here are the 15 suggested names for the greenspace that made the cut.

You can weigh in on your top 3 here.

  1. Acute Triangle Park: For geometric reasons, a play on words for “A Cute Triangle.”
  2. Big Leaf Park: Honoring the preservation of the outstanding maple tree on the property.
  3. Cayton Corner Park: Susie Revels was the daughter of Hiram Revels, the first black person elected to the U.S. Senate. She moved to Seattle and in 1896 married Horace Cayton, editor of the Republican Weekly. Together they published the newspaper and had the 2nd highest circulation in Seattle while appealing to both black and white readers. Both graduated from college and promoted education. They were active in the African American community and local politics.
  4. Chas Bo Park: Chas Bo’s Milk Palace and Produce Emporium, a milk and vegetable stand was located on this corner from 1977 until 1980.
  5. Fratelli’s Cows Park: Fratelli’s Ice Cream headquarters and distribution center were directly north of the park. It’s noted for the cow mural hand painted by one of the owners, which represented cows in different artistic styles that served as a landmark for about twenty years. Fratelli means brother in Italian.
  6. Gdynia Park: Seattle’s Polish sister city. The Polish Cultural Center has been in the neighborhood since 1920.
  7. Helen Keller Park: Born in Alabama, she lost her sight, speech and hearing at 19 months old. Through the help of Ann Sullivan she transformed from a disruptive child to a highly educated and respected individual. She gave lectures in Seattle in 1914, 1921, 1938 and visited the city briefly while returning from her world tour in 1948.
  8. Longlight Park: The traffic light at this corner is just about the longest in Seattle, or at least it was in the ’90s. People used to get out of their cars (north & southbound) to press the “walk” request button to get it to change faster.
  9. MadCap Park: Madison Capitol Hill combined.
  10. Manuel Lopes Park: Historians consider him to be the first African American in Seattle. Of Portuguese-African descent he worked on whaling ships. In Seattle, he worked as a cook for Dexter Horton, a well-known banker, and was listed in his household in 1860. He also worked as a barber.
  11. Mini Grand Central Park: A tiny park with big ideas. Also refers to a busy place.
  12. Nexus Park: It’s at the nexus of several neighborhoods and changing history.
  13. Octavia Butler: Californian African American science fiction writer, who earned the Nebula Award, Hugo Award and MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant. She earned these awards while living in California, she moved to Lake Forest Park in October 1999 and died there five years later in February 2006. She was elected to the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2010.
  14. Rising Sun Park: The Rising Sun Fruit, Vegetable and Milk stand stood on this corner from 1981 until 2004. The corner is on the east side of Second or Renton Hill so gets the sunrises.
  15. William Renton Park: Captain Renton owned the property in the 1880’s and earned a living through his lumber, coal and shipping operations in the area. He was blind at the time of his death. He employed Native Americans and African Americans at his mill. In 1860, he employed 3 African Americans at a time when only 56 lived in the territory. On early maps of Seattle, this area was known as Renton or Renton Hill.

Fratelli Cows Park? Name the new park at 19th and Madison

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The community project to develop a park at 19th and Madison has their preliminary landscape design completed. Now the park isBeforeAndAfter19thandMadison waiting on two things: funding, and a name.

The city is currently soliciting suggestions for the park’s name — community members with ideas can email paula.hoff@seattle.gov or fill out the survey here.

The final design sketches include a plan to replace the concrete wall on Madison Street with a terraced amphitheater and a slide. The design features a large concrete path which will run through the middle of the park.

“A lot of people use it as a cut through, which we were cognizant of for our design,” said park steering committee member Tomilyn Rupert.

Because grass has high maintenance costs, there will be no grass field at the new park. Instead, the steering committee has formed a partnership with nonprofit Seattle Works to maintain the park’s plantings.

The city has final say on the park’s name, but they will likely listen to community input. The committee hopes to assemble a list of several names to present to the city group in charge of the decisions. Suggestions so far include:

  • Diverse City Park
  • Cascade View Park
  • Chestnut Park/Mystique Park (in reference to the historical street names of the corner where the park stands)
  • Nexus Park (“We’re at the convergence of Capitol Hill and the Central District,” Rupert said).

Once a name is selected, the next step for the 19th and Madison Park will be making the design a reality by bringing in volunteers and securing grant funding. Getting the community involved in the park’s development will be crucial, Rupert said.

“There’s a wide range of opportunities and time commitments available,” said committee member Stephanie Henning.

The park stands in the shadows of the Hearing, Speech and Deafness Center building and across the street from the Lawrence Lofts building that replaced the old Fratelli Brothers site.

Henning said the park will host a community party at this year’s Capitol Hill Night Out, including lawn games and possibly a barbeque.

Community members looking to get involved with the park’s development can attend the monthly general meeting on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 6:30 on the 2nd floor of the Hearing, Speech and Deafness Center or email the organizers at parkat19thandmadison (at) gmail.com.

plan

The planned design for the park at 19th and Madison will include a terraced stone or concrete amphitheater and will retain the maple tree on the 19th Avenue sidewalk.