Thanks to Brian for the tip on this: He spotted a crew and equipment (photo added 12:25 pm) from Archer Construction at the Morgan Junction park site (former monorail land immediately north of Beveridge Place Pub); we just confirmed with Parks Department project manager Virginia Hassinger that this is indeed the official start of construction – she says work should be done by mid-March. Here’s the official project page; this is the final design for the park:

As we reported earlier this fall, a sidewalk-art project also is slated to go in as part of walkway work next to the park site (that work is under SDOT‘s jurisdiction). Work was also supposed to begin today on Dakota Place Park north of The Junction – we’ll be checking on that shortly. 12:51 PM UPDATE: Went by Dakota Place – as of about an hour ago, no sign of activity yet. Meantime, we also checked with the Parks Department re: one lingering Morgan Junction park issue – its namelessness. Read on to see what we found out:

As reported previously, community leaders including those who comprise the Southwest and Delridge District Councils have proposed naming the park after the late longtime West Seattle Herald reporter Tim St. Clair. That would require an exception from the city’s current park-naming policy because it says someone has to have been gone at least three years before a park can be named after him/her, and the councils have asked that an exception be made.

The naming policy is being reviewed right now, according to Parks spokesperson Dewey Potter, who tells WSB that no decision about Morgan Junction (among others) will be made till after that review:

Parks has put all park naming processes on hold until the Board of Park Commissioners has finished its review of and recommendations on possible changes to the policy. The issue is scheduled for discussion by the Board at its December 11 meeting.

The Board’s recommendations will go to the Superintendent, who will make a decision on whether to make changes to the policy. This likely will not take place until after the first of the year.

Parks will then begin naming processes for several parks.

The Parks Board meeting is at 7 pm Thursday, 12/11, at department HQ in Denny Park downtown (more info here).