Councilmembers preview the future of Fauntleroy’s Cove Park

First of two updates from this morning’s City Council Transportation Committee meeting:

That’s what Cove Park just north of the Fauntleroy ferry dock is projected to look like after the Barton Pump Station expansion. This was a hot topic at this month’s meeting of the Fauntleroy Community Association, which has been working with government agencies a long time to make sure the station project doesn’t completely ravage the park and its distinctive art. The council committee had asked for a presentation on where the post-project park design stood. In addition to what they saw – here’s a PDF with the graphics – the plans also are detailed in the latest edition of the FCA newsletter, where Mardi Clements writes that the centerpiece will be a “stunning display of multiple new pieces of salmon-themed art created by noted sculptor Tom Jay …” They will include a “Salmon Bench” shown to the committee today:

The FCA newsletter article says the bench will be “cast bronze depicting a coho digging a redd in ‘the river of time.’ She will be installed with her tail touching a faux concrete rock carved with petroglyphs inspired by images of salmon from around the world.” Cove Park’s existing raven, canoe, and story rocks are to be returned to the park after the pump station project, which will be under construction for about two years, expected to start next summer (here’s the county information about it).

One point of contention for Fauntleroy community advocates remains the fencing between the project and homes on the beach; they wanted fencing that was more of a visual screen, but the team briefing the committee today said they’re going with the Design Commission recommendation of a more-see-through fence. SDOT has jurisdiction because this park is on a “street end”; it’s not a Seattle Parks site. No vote was taken today, it was just a briefing, but agreements related to the pump station project eventually will come before the council.

5 Replies to "Councilmembers preview the future of Fauntleroy's Cove Park"

  • heather September 27, 2011 (12:40 pm)

    Is that a BACON ramp???!!!!! (just a joke, of course)

  • Sonoma September 27, 2011 (2:48 pm)

    The Raven sculpture is one of my favorite pieces of public art in Seattle. Let’s hope they keep their promise to bring it back – we’ll be watching and waiting!

  • mardi September 27, 2011 (4:02 pm)

    Thanks WSB ! Great that the community now has easy access to these drawings and projections. It will take 3 years to build the station, and no, that is not Bacon. It is art work, “Stream Echo”, and provides handicap and small boat launching access to the beach.

    • WSB September 27, 2011 (4:22 pm)

      Ah. Their website says spring 2012 to spring 2014.

Sorry, comment time is over.