Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 8, Issue 5, May 2004
Copyright 2004 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
Artist picked for libraries
The Seattle Public Library board of trustees has selected Seattle multi-media artist Dennis Evans to create artwork for five historic branch libraries, all built between 1910 and 1921 with funds donated by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The libraries include three in North Seattle: Fremont, Green Lake and University. Evans is primarily a painter who works in oil on wax encaustic with mixed media. Encaustic workers use paint consisting of pigment mixed with beeswax that is fixed with heat after application. Much of Evans' work explores the history of information and the origin and history of the book. His artwork is included in many major museum and public corporation collections, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Fremont Library to close May 22
The Fremont Library will close its doors at the end of the day on May 22 to allow for a $749,267 renovation project.
The library, built in 1921, is a designated Seattle Landmark structure and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The building will receive updated ventilation and electrical systems, a new boiler, and a wheelchair-accessible restroom on the lower level. The library's collections will be updated and a former storage area will be converted into public space. The designer for the project is Hoshide Williams Architects.
Staff will be added at the three nearest branch libraries (Green Lake, University and Wallingford) to help meet the service needs of Fremont area residents.
The renovated library is expected to reopen in early 2005.
Bridge project open house
An open house for the Fremont Bridge Approach Replacement Project will be held on Wednesday, May 12, from 5-8 p.m., at the B.F. Day Elementary School cafeteria, 3921 Linden Ave. N. Learn about the project design, construction plans and project schedule. Construction is set to begin in mid-2005. The open house will include refreshments. For more information, call project manager Rob Gorman at 233-7205 or e-mail him at robert.gorman@seattle.gov or visit the project Web site at www.seattle.bov/transportation/fremontbridgeapproaches.htm.
City seeking a few good park names
The Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation invites the public to submit potential names for two community buildings at Sand Point/Magnuson Park.
Building 47 was the former recreation center for Naval Station Puget Sound. The building was recently renovated and includes multi-purpose rooms, a renovated auditorium and an updated gymnasium.
Building 406 is the former Sand Point brig and the newest building on the former base (built in 1988). A Pro Parks Levy-funded restoration converted it into a community facility with rooms for activities, drop-in programs and meeting spaces.
Proposed names will be reviewed by a three-person committee using the following criteria: geographical location, historical or cultural significance, and natural or geological features. A park may be named for a person no longer living (deceased a minimum of three years) who made a significant contribution to parks and recreation in Seattle. The committee makes its recommendation to Parks Superintendent Ken Bounds, who makes the final decision.
Please submit suggestions for park names in writing by Tuesday, June 1, and include an explanation of how your suggestion matches the naming criteria. Send to: Seattle Parks and Recreation, Park Naming Committee, 100 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109, or by e-mail to paula.hoff@seattle.gov.
Fremont, Greenwood parks to expand
The Fremont and Greenwood neighborhoods will see two parks in their communities expand, thanks to unanimous approval on March 15 by the Metropolitan King County Council of the allocation of Conservation Futures Funds, a program dedicated to the purchase of open space, agricultural and timberlands.
The funds allocated to Fremont Peak Park will go towards the purchase of property between 1st Avenue NW and Palatine Avenue at NW 45th Street. The property will allow better street visibility and access to the park.
Greenwood Park is a new park development on the site of the former Otani Greenhouses at N. 87th Street and Fremont Avenue N. The Conservation Funds will go toward the purchase of parcels within the park. Two buildings located on those parcels will be removed to increase the open space available in the park.
The Conservation Futures Fund is supported by a countywide property tax, which by state law can only be used to purchase open space or resource lands. Recommendations on parcels for purchase are made by a Citizen Oversight Committee.