Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 7, Issue 5, May 2003

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Gas Works plan questioned

Designers working on redevelopment of the northwest corner of Gas Works Park got an earful last month from Wallingford residents demanding that the improved portion include an off-leash area for dogs. The meeting was the third held by the Parks Department to gather public comments on their design for the $625,000 development of the long-neglected corner of the park.Current plans do not include an off-leash area in the park's "containment area" a grassy plain along Northlake Way ringed by a high concrete wall. Project manager Tim Motzer said despite public support for the idea, the department and the project's designers at Seattle's Berger Partnership, "were not comfortable" with building an off-leash area there. The department's plan does include a smaller off-leash area next to Gas Works, but there is currently no funding for its construction. During the meeting, about half of the 50 neighbors present favoring creating a larger off-leash area in the containment site. About five people expressed strong support for Parks' current plan. For details, call Motzer at 233-3949.