School Break Camps

By valarie, on February 24th, 2013

Registration is open for School Break Camps including Friday, March 15 (no school for students on a teacher professional development day) and Spring Break from April 15 to 19. At Magnuson Nature Programs, campers will explore nearby park areas to investigate how the trees and flowers are springing to life.  Campers will see Magnuson’s forest, wetland, garden, and grassland areas and learn the science of the seasons.

At the Washington Park Arboretum, Spring Break Camp will explore some of the Arboretum’s 230 acres, go on hikes and adventures, play games, create art and learn about the uses of native plants.  The schedule for nature-based summer camps is ready for registration, too – think ahead to summer!

Leave a comment   Community Centers, Community Events, Magnuson Park, Nature/Urban Resources   ,  

Back-to-School Night with Caspar Babypants

By valarie, on September 3rd, 2012

On Friday evening, September 7 there will be a free concert with Caspar Babypants, 6 to 8 PM at the Northgate Community Center.  The back-to-school night will have Bouncy Houses and other activities for children, along with the concert.  The Northgate Community Center is at 10510 5th Ave NE across the street from the Macy’s side of the Northgate Mall.  Suggested driving directions from Wedgwood:  Go west (toward the freeway) on NE 75th Street until the road curves and becomes Banner Way.  At the four-way flashing stop light, turn right onto 5th Ave NE.  Continue north on 5th Ave NE to NE 105th Street where there is a stoplight.  The community center building is on your right but has limited parking.  Be prepared to turn left at the light into the Northgate Mall parking lot (near Macy’s.)

Leave a comment   Community Centers, Community Events

Extreme Makeover: Thornton Creek Addition

By Johnson, on August 2nd, 2012

Existing Linear Stream Channel and Culvert below 35th Ave NE (Photo from SPU)

SPU Seeking Community Input on the Thornton Creek Confluence Project
COMMUNITY MEETING: Thursday, August 2nd, 7:30-8:30PM at Meadowbrook Community Center
PUBLIC Q&A: Saturday, August 4th, 10AN-12PM at Confluence Project Site (approx. 10720 35th Ave. NE)

Thornton Creek is 1 of 4 salmon bearing streams with the City limits.  The stream and its watershed have been highly modified over the years as the residential and urban environment encroaches upon it.  One location where this is most visible is known as “the Confluence,” where 2 of Thornton Creek’s main tributaries converge just before entering Meadowbrook Pond.  Here, the South Tributary flows within an linear stream channel through an undersized culvert below 35th Ave NE and joins the North Tributary, which also flows within linear stream channel, before entering Meadowbrook Pond and ultimately Lake Washington.

Continue reading Extreme Makeover: Thornton Creek Addition

Leave a comment   City Services, Community Centers, Community Events, Sustainability   , , , ,  

Ravenna-Bryant Community Association’s Meeting – April 3rd at Ravenna-Eckstein

By Johnson, on April 1st, 2012

Our Ravenna-Bryant friends and neighbors to the south/west are hosting their Spring community meeting on April 3rd at 7PM at the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center (6535 Ravenna Avenue NE). They’ve had a busy year and have lots to share.  Not only that, they’ve got a pretty amazing line up of speakers, some of whom will be speaking to relevant items for Wedgwood and the ongoing corridor/neighborhood planning for 35th Ave NE.  According to the RBCA President’s letter to the neighborhood, their featured guests include:

  • Jim Diers, former (and founding) director of the Department of Neighborhoods: Jim will present stories about the power of communities working together.  He’s known around the world for his work — check out his website at neighborpower.org.
  • Seattle City Council Member Sally Bagshaw, Chair of the Parks and Neighborhoods Committee: Councilmember Bagshaw will speak about the bourgeoning Greenway movement (more HERE and HERE), and answer your questions about the City’s relationship with neighborhoods.
  • Tom Donnelly, from the RBCA Land Use Committee, will discuss efforts to develop and review planning ideas for our own neighborhood, and hopefully get you thinking about ways that you can get involved.

This is an open community meeting and everyone is welcome.  See you there!

Leave a comment   City Council, Community Centers, Community Events, Greenways   , , , ,  

Good News for Community Centers in 2012

By Keeley, on December 19th, 2011

The Seattle Parks and Recreation Department has found a way to keep all of the City’s community centers open next year, even as city budgets grow ever-tighter.

According to KOMO News, “Parks and Rec says operating budgets will be reduced while still providing key programs. Starting in January, the city’s community centers will be grouped into five geographic areas, each including five centers. This will allow Parks and Rec to manage and provide ‘coordinated’ programs among the centers.”

That means our surrounding northeast Seattle community centers will be grouped as follows:

Northeast Tier Community Centers
• Meadowbrook
• Northgate
• Ravenna-Eckstein
• Laurelhurst
• Magnuson

You can find more information about the groupings, new hours and other plans on the Parks and Rec website.

Leave a comment   City Services, Community Centers, News, Parks   , , , ,  

Public Meetings on Budgeting for NE Seattle Community Centers are this Week

By Johnson, on November 7th, 2011

Our friends at the Ravenna Blog have reminded us that there are important public meetings occurring this week on the operations and services provided at our NE Seattle community centers and others across the City.  These public meetings are very important in defining what services the community centers will provide and how they’ll accomplish this.

Northgate Community Center (10510 5th Ave NE), Tuesday, November 8 at 7 PM

Meadowbrook Community Center (10517 35th Ave NE), Wednesday, November 9 at 7 PM

Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center (6535 Ravenna Ave NE), Wednesday, November 9 at 7 PM

According to the City’s PRESS RELEASE, the purpose of these meetings is to…

hear from communities about what activities and hours they would like to see at their nearest community center, consistent with the proposal in the Mayor’s proposed 2012 budget that would set up geographical groups of community centers whose staff would work together to provide services to that geographic area of the city.

More information on the Community Center Operations Analysis can be found HERE.

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