Junction Plaza Park: Groundbreaking today, completion by June

From left, Susan Melrose from the West Seattle Junction Association (WSB sponsor) and Cari Day Day wielded the shovels this morning at the ceremonial groundbreaking for Junction Plaza Park (northwest corner of 42nd/Alaska). The park will have both grass and paved areas, as well as numerous native plantings, and work should be done by June. Here’s a rendering from last fall, showing landscape architect Karen Kiest‘s design:

As soon as the park’s done, there will be a special community event to help with plantings, and everyone’s encouraged to join in – to get on the notification list for that, e-mail Melrose at susan@wsjunction.org. ADDED 1:12 PM: Early this morning, a few hours before the groundbreaking, the park contractor was out taking soil samples; Christopher Boffoli spotted the work and got this photograph:

After the ceremony, Seattle Parks project manager Gary Gibbons explained in a short interview what the sampling is for, and what happens next:

As we’ve been reporting over the past year-plus (here’s our coverage archive), while Junction Plaza Park has been in the works for more than a few years – the site was purchased in 2005 – one last major community-contribution push involving WSJA and the Junction Neighborhood Organization helped make the long-held dream a reality.

5 Replies to "Junction Plaza Park: Groundbreaking today, completion by June"

  • Yeah-me April 12, 2010 (11:54 am)

    I am so happy to finally see this lot turned into an attractive public space. The Junction could use a bit of grass.

  • lori April 13, 2010 (4:05 am)

    Please Please Please Please put a fountain in!!! It would be nice to hear the peaceful sound of water while your eating your lunch or reading a book there..

  • grant April 13, 2010 (4:08 am)

    Lori- I agree with you. Maybe a small fountain with alternating lights beneath for a cool visual effect!

  • WestSeattleDrew April 13, 2010 (1:09 pm)

    $200,000….

  • how April 14, 2010 (9:30 am)

    I think that all these prices we hear have got to be mass inflated!!! How do we really know something would cost that much? Just like the new tunnel project-did anyone read that article? How it’s supposed to cost something like 500 million but there is another 400 million in reserve just in case there are cost overuns and such..and you know what? I bet there will be cost overuns- there ALWAYS IS! Everything is always inflated and we are dumb for believing it.

Sorry, comment time is over.