By Johnson, on April 10th, 2011
As we reported earlier, the Northeast District Council (NEDC) met on April 7th and ranked the Neighborhood Street Fund project applications received by this year’s March deadline. In total, 16 applications for projects were submitted within the NEDC area, 3 of which were submitted for Wedgwood:
- NE 77th Street and 25th Ave NE at main entrance to Dahl Playfield, Wedgwood/Ravenna neighborhood, near University Prep. (submitted by Meg Goldman – Friends of Dahl Playfield)
- Pedestrian crossing indicators at NE 80th St and 35th Ave. NE – basic markings visible to cars (submitted by Gretchen Bear – Wedgwood Community Council)
- Design and engineering plan for sidewalk on NE 85th St. between 30th Ave NE and 28th Ave NE; 28th Ave NE between NE 85th St. and NE 83rd St.; and NE 83rd St. between 28th Ave NE and 25th Ave NE. (submitted by Katie Traverse – Wedgwood Community Council)
After the NEDC’s rankings, the top 3 of the Neighborhood Street Fund project’s ranked by the NEDC were as follows:
- Design and engineering plan for sidewalk on NE 85th St. between 30th Ave NE and 28th Ave NE; 28th Ave NE between NE 85th St. and NE 83rd St.; and NE 83rd St. between 28th Ave NE and 25th Ave NE. (submitted by Katie Traverse – Wedgwood Community Council)
- Construction of sidewalks along the west side of Sand Point Way NE, between NE 70th and NE 74th St. (submitted by Bonnie Miller – View Ridge Community Council)
- Pedestrian crossing indicators at NE 80th St and 35th Ave. NE – basic markings visible to cars (submitted by Gretchen Bear – Wedgwood Community Council)
While this is spectacular news for Wedgwood, this doesn’t necessarily mean that these projects will be funded. Last year, the WCC submitted the highest ranking application as well but was ultimately not successful of receiving the funds. Last years application, however, was for design and construction of the sidewalks described above along NE 85th Street, 28th Avenue NE, and NE 83rd Street. We are hopeful that this years approach, which is submitting for the design and engineering in hopes of applying for the construction next year, will ultimately be more successful. There is still other processes before the funded project’s are announced. Here’s a summary of what still has to occur, as described on the City’s Department of Neighborhood’s 2011 Neighborhood Project’s Fund website:
| 3/22/2011 |
DON distributes new 2011 applications and applications prioritized but not funded in 2010 to Neighborhood District Councils. |
| 4/25/2011 |
Neighborhood District Councils review applications and submit their preliminary list of top 3 projects to DON. |
| 6/20/2011 |
DON forwards feasible projects with cost estimates back to Neighborhood District Councils. |
| 7/25/2011 |
Neighborhood District Councils submit prioritized projects to DON. |
| 8/22/2011 |
DON announces funding recommendations to Neighborhood District Councils |
| September |
Mayor’s proposed budget includes funding recommendations. |
| November |
Seattle City Council considers recommendations and adopts 2012 budget. |
| December |
DON announces funding awards |
Thank you to both Katie Travers and Gretchen Bear with the WCC and to Meg Goldman at Friends of Dahl Playfield for preparing such great applications at very important locations throughout Wedgwood! Let’s keep our fingers crossed that our community is ultimately successful.
By Johnson, on June 30th, 2007
Friends of Dahl Playfield and Seattle Parks and Recreation hosted a gathering at the park June 30, 2007 featuring Mayor Greg Nickels, Councilmembers Richard Conlin and Bob Ferguson, and neighbors for the grand re-opening of Dahl Playfield. The community-driven design was 4 years in the making and includes: a new children’s play area, a new half basketball court, ball field improvements, a public art installation and forested wetlands landscaping.
Offering remarks were Mayor Greg Nickels; King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson; City Councilmember Richard Conlin; Betty Jean “B.J.” Brooks, Interim Superintendent and Stella Chao, Director of the Department of Neighborhoods. Musical was provided by Wedgwood Co-op Preschool Students and the Nyamuziwa Marimba Ensemble.
Wedgwood Co-op Preschool Students help Mayor Greg Nickels cut the ribbon.
The crowd enjoyed remarks by public officials and community leaders as well as preschoolers’ songs and marimba music.
Bill Crow presents Friends of Dahl Playfield chairperson Christine Larsen with flowers.
Photos by Gerard van Wesep.
By Johnson, on September 17th, 2006
The following update comes from Christine Larsen, Chair, Friends of Dahl Playfield.
September 17, 2006
Dear Friends of Dahl Playfield,
Many of you are wondering what is happening with the park renovation. Our design is essentially the same, our construction schedule has changed a bit. Here is the latest schedule as revised:
Public Art Fundraising Complete
Thanks to generous donations from the City of Seattle, Paul G Allen Foundation, Starbucks Coffee, U.S. Bancorp Foundation, and individual donors, we were able to meet our fundraising goals toward the commission and installation of John Hoge’s custom stone work entitled “Boulder Wash.” We look forward to celebrating this exciting addition to the park later this year.
Ball Field Renovations
We are currently working with Parks to determine the most effective course of action to complete planned renovations of the ball fields. We hope to have a more detailed construction timeline later this fall.
Children’s Play Area Renovation
The children’s play equipment has been purchased and delivered to a Parks warehouse. We will re-advertise the construction contract in October for a winter build out. Volunteer play equipment installation dates/times will be dependent upon the contractor’s schedule. We will announce those opportunities once construction has actually begun.
By Johnson, on August 4th, 2006
UPDATE: September 28, 2006
The tree was cut down yesterday. Wedgwood resident Rich Ellison of Save Seattle’s Trees took photos.
August 4, 2006
The Seattle Parks Department intends to remove the large willow tree at Dahl Playfield to protect public safety. The tree is a potential hazard to park users who may be under or near the tree when large branches eventually break off. During the rainy season, the base of the tree becomes a small pond large enough to attract ducks.
Friends of Dahl Playfield and other park neighbors acknowledge the hazard, but have also learned that regular maintenance can make the tree viable for another 10-15 years.
Dahl Playfield renovation plans do not call for the removal of the willow tree. However, donations from Temple Beth Am made it possible for Friends of Dahl Playfield to purchase an additional willow to be planted this fall alongside the existing willow tree. If the existing willow must be removed, the City will plant two new trees on site. Professionals will carefully select new trees to match the wet conditions.
Friends of Dahl Playfield urges those with strong feelings about cutting or keeping the tree to call Mark Mead, Parks Department, at 684-4113.
By Johnson, on August 25th, 2005
The Seattle Board of Park Commissioners voted August 25th to approve Dahl Playfield as a site for a skatespot. In local terminology, a “skatespot” means a facility geared toward younger, beginner and intermediate skateboarders as opposed to a larger skateboard park featuring a bowl and other advanced features.
The commissioners’ approval was not unconditional: they explicitly ruled out one of the proposed sites at Dahl, known as the “south site,” where Friends of Dahl Playfield has planned a public art installation. Commissioner Amit Ranade suggested that selecting another proposed site, at the north end of the parking area, would address many of the concerns raised in public comments. Others agreed, but on the recommendation of Parks Superintendent Ken Bounds, the commissioners decided not to limit consideration to that site alone. Bounds noted that his department would be looking more closely at the implications of selecting the north site (for example, on parking). The vote was unanimous, with the chair abstaining as usual.
The commissioners were impressed with the volume and quality of the feedback they received. Commissioner Terry Holme noted how few of the emails were of the “me too” variety, concluding, “this is a wordy neighborhood.” And passionate, added another commissioner.
The Wedgwood Community Council (WCC) helped solicit feedback via the Wedgwood Echo newsletter and an August 16 forum at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church. Over 60 people attended the forum, which began with brief remarks by WCC President Brian Swanson, Christine Larsen of Friends of Dahl Playfield, Teresa Sumearll of Boarders 4 Parks, and Pam Kliment of Seattle Parks and Recreation. Following a question-and-answer session, 28 individuals-including several young skateboarders-offered verbal testimony, and several more provided written comments.
“Comments were thoughtful and passionate,” said Swanson. “I think most people came away with a better appreciation for other points of view on this issue.”
The day after the forum, the WCC forwarded the full text of the written comments to the Parks Board, plus summaries of verbal comments. The council has received over 100 comments in total. Through the August 16 meeting, the WCC had received comments from 51 people in favor of the skatespot at Dahl, 21 against, and 1 somewhere in between. (The total comment tally is higher in part because several people commented more than once.) Most commenters live in Wedgwood or close by, for example, in Bryant. The WCC did not take a pro or con position, but instead summarized trustees’ thoughts and observations for the Parks Board and let the individual comments speak for themselves.
The Wedgwood Community Council thanks all those who participated in the public process and provided feedback to the council and the Parks Board. We look forward to supporting both Friends of Dahl Playfield and Boarders 4 Parks in realizing successful projects at Dahl Playfield.
- David Atcheson, WCC trustee
Links
Boarders 4 Parks
Seattle Parks briefing document (940k PDF)
Seattle Parks and Recreation Skateboard Park Policy
By Johnson, on July 13th, 2005
Dahl Field and Wedgwood School playground are among the 18 projects recommended for large grants from the Neighborhood Matching Fund. See the story in the Seattle PI and Wedgwood School press release (PDF).
|
|
Recent Comments