Wednesday afternoon, Central District News reported on yet another dispatch of East Precinct officers to the attractive nuisance that is the fenced-off, almost-completed park at Summit and John.
3:38PM Summit & E. John Trespassing Skateboarders doing there thing in a park that has not yet opened
We have a note from one of the infractors in a Summit/John park trespassing incident, below. But we also have some good news for skateboarding neighbor Nick. Your impatient wait for the opening of the park and its oh so tempting skatedot feature is about to end.
Seattle Parks officials say the contractor should be taking down the construction fences this week — ostensibly opening the park to public use. Hurray. The only possible delay: The work crew needs to put new fencing in place around the grassy areas of the park that are not yet ready for human, canine or Hillcat activity. That grass, or really the lack of it, is also the reason the city is putting off a big grand opening event until spring. “ Right now, even thought the site is complete, it looks like a lot of dirt without the grass and P-patches filled in,” a Parks official wrote in an e-mail sent to community group Unpaving Paradise that has been working with the city to create the park. Starbucks is reportedly going to help with the opening celebration. They’ll re-open their Olive Way location across the street from the park after a full overhaul in mid-October but it sounds like plans to ‘pedestrianize’ John Street between the Starbucks parking lot and the park haven’t gone anywhere.
Parks also says the decision process to determine a name for the park after last year’s false start isn’t going to be tackled until January. In the meantime, if you have additional thoughts on what the park should — or should not — be named, e-mail [email protected].
A parks official also told CHS that they have been encouraging nearby residents to call police if they see people inside the site. A few residents have dutifully responded. We know of at least two dispatches in the last week to clear the site of overeager boarders. One of them wrote to us about the situation:
Dear Capitol Hill Seattle –
If you can filter this sentiment to the appropriate audience it would be appreciated.
I do not hold/speak to the greater opinion of the Skateboard culture/population in Seattle but simply want to present a situation that should be documented.
This last Sunday afternoon (430-530 HR) A friend and I were skateboarding on the purpose built ledge (that could use some refinements) in side the fenced in “new” Public Park at Summit and John.
It is currently surrounded by chainlink fence save for one 6ft opening on the Summit sidewalk side.
An opportunist’s dream – a tempting taunt to a perfect setup.
Judgement should be made on those courageous enough to enter.
Gardeners, pedestrians etc…
Plenty of passersby saw the 2 of us skating.
This is a call-out to the dog walking dude who called the cops on us.
I use every restraint when the 100’s of drunk asses wake me up in the middle of the night passing by my apt.
And I used the same restraint with the police officer who kicked us out because he cannot read between the lines.
He came to kick us out at the attention of that disgruntled dog walking, talking, tattling… I’m not even going to waste my time on derogatory ish the dumbass.
They saw the fence – we saw the opening to enjoyment.
Any effort for you to editorialize this sentiment will be appreciated.
Just putting it out there.
It may sound petty… it is tho right?
I’d like to see the discussion/comments.
Thanks for your time
Nick
While the questions posed are about to be rendered mostly moot, it sounds like Parks has inadvertently helped to create a flashpoint over the park’s skatedot feature. Skaters habituated to breaking rules. Residents already habituated to calling the police. CHS habituated to writing about it. It’s up to you, Capitol Hill, to break the cycle. The fences are coming down. The skatedot and the park and the P-patches are open — even if the grass is not. Let’s start over and enjoy it.
A free wall would go along great with this park. Barely costs any money. Just enough to construct a short concrete wall. Would also go a long way in reducing tagging in the area.
There’s an excellent free wall at the Redmond skatepark.
http://baldmanwatching.com/2010/05/25/if-it-aint-about-money
“Skateboarders doing there thing in a park that has not yet opened “
“Their” thing.
That’s all. Thanks.
It might be that some neighbors aren’t actually aware that the “bench” is purpose built for skateboarders. I myself wasn’t quite aware until I looked at the plans again. Perhaps just painting a “Please Skate” sign or something on it would be useful.
When I was a young skater there were a bunch of hand built skate features in the bushes near a low-traffic side street in my ‘hood. Any skater who knew about them could just kind of haul them out when they wanted to use them. The little street became a de facto clubhouse for a huge group of kids in the area and I learned a lot from my elder skaters. We even had a reasonable relationship with the neighbors who lived around there, and they kept an eye on us and made sure nothing too stupid went on.
I don’t want to condone any illegal activities here, but John St. could be prime place for a DIY skate park. The slope could make for some fun constructions.
The new park is looking great & I can’t wait till it opens……..but when there is a fence around a property with signs posted stating “Do Not Enter” then it is obviously not ready for public use. If you enter the area expect that the cops will show up because you are trespassing and quit putting the blame on some “dog walking dude”.
I am having a hard time seeing the details on the map… I heard a rumor there would be a fenced in area for the pups of the hill. Anyone know? Or anyone able to read that map better than I can?
You took your chances. You got kicked out. Quit being a crybaby. Skate on and get over it.
It will be a nice park. I live down the street. Will have to walk through it from time to time (when it opens).
@joshmahar
i don’t think it’s a question of neighbors not knowing about the skate “bench”. the issue is that the park isn’t yet open and a couple of skaters decided that didn’t matter and they’d go into the fenced off area anyway.
@nick
just because there’s a 6′ gap in a fence doesn’t mean what’s on the other side is free for you to enjoy.
The article says that the plans to ‘pedestrianize’ John Street haven’t gone anywhere. Fortunately this isn’t true. Just this week we heard that we are likely to get $200K for the project. If you want to see this project go forward you can show up at 7:00 on October 25 at Miller Community Center for the final public hearing.
Why does anyone feel compelled to call the police to report a victimless crime? Why do we have such a hard time minding our own business? How were “Nick’s” actions affecting the “dog walking dude”?
Although “Nick” is obviously in violation of the municipal rules, the real culprit is the “dude” who is in clear violation of the social rules of MINDING YOUR OWN FUCKING BUSINESS.
Why does anyone feel compelled to commit a crime? What ever happened to the social rule of just being a good citizen.
Hmm… Probably because it harms absolutely no one, so there is no moral or ethical dilemma when the so-called criminal chooses to disobey the presence of The Fence. I would imagine you probably wait at crosswalks for The Hand to tell you when To Cross as well. Oh well. This is useless “dialogue” regardless. Good day.
It takes no imagination to see how much of an idiot you are. You just need to keep commenting.
‘Social rules’ need to exist in a a society, and should and must be enforced by society at large. Reproachful stares, disapproving looks, and yes – even openly commenting on(!) rude/disrespectful/antisocial behavior are how these rules are taught and propagated. Want to live outside of society and it’s rules? Go live under a bridge or off the grid in the woods. In a city that is becoming more densely populated, it does not work for everyone to ‘mind their own f*cking business.’ We have to respect each other and the laws that exist to make the area livable for everyone. No harm in speaking up when you see someone disobeying them, or in calling the police when necessary. Just because it may be a ‘victimless crime’ doesn’t mean it’s OK to commit it.
sheeesh.
when did Capitol Hill get so uptight?