Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 8, Issue 1, January 2004
Copyright 2003 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article below in your research. Be sure to cite the Seattle Sun as your source.
Seattle Sun news briefs
Vandals strike two parks
Incidents of vandalism have been reported in two North End parks.
In Cowen Park, several trees have been "spiked," by driving nails or other sharp objects into them. Spiking is a tactic sometimes used to block tree cutting (the spikes are a hazard to people and equipment when cutting the tree), and the incident could be related to the ongoing process of removing hazard trees from the park.
In Peace Park, which is located at the north end of the University Bridge, the bronze sculpture "Sakado and the Thousand Cranes" has been severely damaged with a saw.
Parks officials are asking anyone with information about either act of vandalism to call the Seattle Police Department at 625-5011. The SPD report number for the Peace Park incident is 03-561391.
Pinehurst Playfield project update
A ground-breaking ceremony for a new playground at Pinehurst Playfield was held on Nov. 23. Construction on the new playground will begin on Jan. 12, with the first phase to be done by the Seattle Conservation Corps. The first phase will include new site entry stairs and retaining walls for the north stairway, central stairway and south retaining wall; site curbing and a new enclosure for the portable restroom, and new concrete paving. Throughout the construction, access to the park and baseball field will remain open, although access to the playground and basketball court will be intermittent or not at all. The playfield is located between NE 120th and NE 123rd Street on 14th Avenue NE. For more information, call Friends of Pinehurst Playfield at 440-8076.
Fremont Fair to continue
The Fremont Fair will go on, the Fremont Public Association announced on Dec. 5. After this year's fair did not bring in as much money, the FPA considered ending the 30-year-old Summer Solstice weekend tradition.
The event will be maintained by initiating several cost-efficiency measures, while focusing greater attention on the core purpose of the fair: supporting FPA's efforts to assist homeless families and the working poor throughout King County.
The announcement followed several community meetings to discuss the festival's future. "With the dedication of FPA staff and leaders, along with Seattle community members committed to continuing this beloved event, I'm happy to report we have achieved our goal," says Barb Smith, FPA board chair. "The fair will go on."
The FPA will appoint a committee of community members and FPA employees to provide advice and oversight and to assess the festival's success in meeting fund-raising and cost-efficiency objectives.
In 2003, the donations generated more than $28,000 for shelter and housing for homeless and low-income families.
Ballard park meeting, Jan. 13
Conceptual alternatives for the proposed new Ballard Civic Center Park will be presented at a public meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Ballard Segway Building (former Safeway store) at 5701 22nd Ave. NW.
The upcoming event is a follow-up to an Oct. 28 meeting on the project that drew more than 150 people. The park is to be constructed in 2005 on the 1.3-acre Segway Building site. The project will be funded with $2.47 million from the 2000 Pro Parks Levy.
Three schematic drawings will be presented at the meeting. At least one will include the Ballard Bowl, a concrete skateboard bowl currently located on a portion of the site.
Once a final schematic drawing has been chosen, that proposal will be reviewed by the public at a March 9 meeting.
For details, call 684-7033.
Library breaks ground
Construction on the new Greenwood Library began on Dec. 8. The new 15,000-square-foot structure at 8016 Greenwood Ave. N will replace the former 7,094-square-foot library branch on the same site. The project is expected to take about 11 months, with the new library opening in late 2004.
The new, $7.1 million structure will include a meeting room, upgraded computer work stations, additional parking, and a large homework program area for children and teenagers. The new branch will have an improved collection of about 66,700 books and other materials.
The contractor for the library project is the W.G. Clark Construction Co. The architect is Buffalo Design. The branch will include artwork by Fernanda D'Agostino and Valerie Otani.
The project is part of the $196.4 million 1998 Libraries For All bond measure.
Neighborhood parks need names
The Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation is seeking name suggestions for new parks in the Green Lake and Whittier Heights neighborhoods.
The Green Lake neighborhood property is a one-third acre parcel on the northwest corner of Linden Avenue North and North 67th Street. A former orchard, the park will include a P-Patch community garden, paths, benches, plantings, and a stairway entrance.
The Whittier Heights property is a former Seattle City Light substation at the corner of 6th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 76th Street. The park will include a large lawn area, paths, and children's play area.
Name suggestions are screened by a three-member committee which considers these criteria: a park's geographical location, historical/cultural significance, and natural or geological features. A park may be named for a person who made a significant contribution to Seattle parks and recreation who has been deceased for at least three years. The committee makes a formal recommendation to Parks Superintendent Ken Bounds, who makes the final decision.
Submit park name suggestions, including an explanation of how your suggestion matches the naming criteria, in writing by Friday, Jan. 30. Send suggestions to: Seattle Parks and Recreation, Park Naming Committee, 100 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109, or by e-mail to paula.hoff@seattle.gov.
Metro adds low-floor buses to fleet
King County Metro Transit is adding 100 new low-floor buses to its 1,300 bus fleet.
The new buses don't have stairs, which make them easier and quicker to board, especially for seniors and people with disabilities. Wheelchair access, using a simply fold-out ramp, is also expedited.
The new low-floor buses also are the first in Metro's fleet to feature air conditioning.
Metro officials say they will use the new low-floor buses on the 20 routes which have historically had the most wheelchair boardings.
For information about the low-floor buses, visit Metro's Web site: http://transit.metrokc.gov/am/vehicles/low-floor.html.