West Seattle Blog…

2-hour citywide closure of Seattle Parks rec facilities tomorrow

Just announced by Seattle Parks, via their Parkways website:

Seattle Parks and Recreation will close all recreational facilities tomorrow, March 13, from 12:30 to 2:30 so that Parks employees can meet with their leaders and talk to Parks management about the shooting that took place at Parks’ Densmore Ave. N facility on Friday, March 8.

This meeting will give the recreation staff time with their management team and with counselors. Affected facilities are community centers, pools, environmental learning centers and the Amy Yee Tennis Center.

Update: Former West Seattle community-center staffer in custody after North Seattle shooting

(Photo of suspect Carolyn Piksa, added 3:47 pm – call 911 if seen)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 2:51 PM: Community centers in West Seattle are currently under lockdown because of a situation in the North End – a woman is being sought after a shooting at a Parks facility in North Seattle. Parks spokesperson Joelle Hammerstad confirms that all community centers in the city are under lockdown except for the ones closest to the shooting scene, which have been closed/evacuated. While waiting to hear back from her, we went over to our nearest center – Southwest Teen Life Center – and it indeed has a sign on the door confirming the lockdown (photo added 2:57 pm).

More info as we get it.

ADDED 3:02 PM: SPD tweets that the North Seattle shooting might be “a case of workplace violence.” The suspect they are looking for after the shooting – which sent a 70-year-old man to the hospital – is described as a white woman, 46 years old, wearing a blue stocking cap and beige or army-green jacket, might be driving a dark-colored SUV.

3:06 PM: Per the scanner, plate for the suspect’s vehicle is B03450D, believed to be a blue 2007 Chevy Colorado pickup or similar vehicle, and the suspect is a Burien woman.

3:25 PM: No additional information but police have circulated a name on the scanner. Cross-referencing that name with the city employee directory, it checks to someone who works for Parks in the North End. Waiting to see if they will distribute her photo.

3:33 PM: Per the scanner, the suspect has worked in the past at Hiawatha and High Point Community Centers. She is identified as Carolyn “Zoom” Piksa. The victim is identified as Bill Keller, executive director of the Associated Recreation Council, which runs programs at many centers. (Photo added at right from our coverage of Keller’s participation in a 2011 news conference announcing community-center changes.) He is reported to be in critical but stable condition.

3:50 PM: Photo of Piksa now added above. Commenters have shared e-mail they received from the school district saying that all Parks facilities are closed now and that children who would normally be taken to a Parks facility for after-school programs will instead be at their “schools of origin” awaiting pickup:

On Friday, March 8, the Seattle Mayor’s office closed all community centers, pools and Seattle parks facilities in response to an incident of violence in the north end.

Students citywide who were expected to be transported to a Seattle parks facility for after-school activities and were not already dropped off will be returned to their schools of origin to await pick up.

Thank you,
Office of Public Affairs
Seattle Public Schools

4:04 PM UPDATE: Tiffani from Hiawatha Community Center says that if you have kids there, please come pick them up ASAP, since the facilities are being closed for the rest of the day/night, and programs canceled, including Madison basketball.

4:16 PM UPDATE: Per scanner, the suspect’s vehicle has been found in Burien. She is not in custody so far. Also, we have added a photo of shooting victim Keller to this story, from the 2011 event at High Point CC announcing community-center budget changes.

4:25 PM UPDATE: New message from Seattle Public Schools:

Due to the City of Seattle’s closure of all community centers citywide, Seattle Public Schools is returning all students who were on buses bound for after-school programs to their schools of origin. In some cases, students were delivered to community centers before the closure announcement was made. In that case, the community centers are calling parents and asking them to pick up their students. Students returned to their school will remain at school with adult supervision until their parents can arrange for pick up.

Again, all activities are CANCELED at city-run centers for the rest of the day/night, not just afterschool events.

4:50 PM: The suspect’s in custody, police say. (Added – here’s video from KING5.com)

5:27 PM: The mayor, SPD, and Parks plan a briefing at 6 pm, and we’re told it will be streamed – we’ll add a video window here as soon as we find the code. (added – just click the “play” button around 6 pm)

(Substituted late Friday – archived video of briefing)
The victim was last reported to be in critical but stable condition.

6:06 PM: The briefing has begun – hit “play” on the video window to see it live.

6:29 PM: The briefing is over. We’ll substitute archived video above when it’s available. Toplines:
-Victim now in serious but stable condition, an improvement from earlier report
-No word on the suspect’s potential motive
-Police tracked her through her cell phone
-She was arrested peacefully – they called for her to come out of her home in Burien, and she did, unarmed
-They are still looking for the weapon she used
-After shooting Keller, she threatened someone else and brandished a gun
-Mayor and police stressed that this was a “citywide emergency” because Piksa potentially had access to many Parks facilities (it was reported on the scanner and elsewhere that she had keys)
-The shooting happened at 1:52 pm; the arrest at 4:49 pm

West Seattle weekend scenes: Slacklining at Lincoln Park

Photos by Nick Adams for WSB

That’s Alan Thorne, left, and Jonathan Evans, right, tightening their slackline in Lincoln Park today, photographed by WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams. Slacklining – explained here – is legal in Seattle public parks, reports Nick; slackliners say the best practice to protect the trees from harm is to only put lines around thick trunks and also by padding the trunk. These two set up a 250-foot line. Here’s Evans, who usually practices on a shorter line, 150 feet:

And Thorne:

The sport kicked up some controversy two years ago …

Click to read the rest of West Seattle weekend scenes: Slacklining at Lincoln Park…

Roxhill Castle progress report: Help still welcome

(First two photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Inside the tiled turret on the Roxhill Castle play structure, that’s a view that soon only children will see. We got a peek when we dropped by the soon-to-open renovated playground on Saturday to see how “artist in residence” Mike Henderson and volunteers are doing:

There’s still work to be done, and more help would be welcome. The playground’s not ready to open yet, but that’s not because of the turret project – remember, there’s a skatespot going in next door, too:

(Aerial photo by Long Bach Nguyen)
From the air, you can see the scope of the project. Here’s the skatespot view from ground level:

(This photo and those below are by Nick Adams for WSB)
WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams photographed it during a visit to the site earlier this week. But the skatespot is a separate project, out of the playground volunteers’ control. So they’re working on the mosaic, which includes the face of a dragon …

… and the grace of an astronaut:

The tile work is proceeding under a tarp:

Mike told us they’re not ready to grout yet and would still appreciate help – e-mail him at centerforawesome@gmail.com to coordinate when and how you can assist. These are the finishing touches on the project, most of which went up thanks to days of volunteer work back in November, with the replacement “castle” accompanied by new features awaiting the go-ahead for playtime:

Roxhill Castle’s ‘artist-in-residence’ needs helping hands ASAP

The Roxhill Castle playground is close to opening at Roxhill Park (as noted during the recent organizational meeting for a new community council) – and this week, its “artist in residence” needs help for finishing touches. Mike Henderson e-mailed to say the main castle’s turret – which project organizers told us emerged as something special during the volunteer build last fall – is “in the final push”:

It’s going really well thanks in large part to a small group of great volunteers. We are in the final push this week and need extra people for mosaic work, sponging down the installed tile, and the final grouting. Every day, 10-2, with Saturday the 23rd being the day to grout. We have all the tools needed on site and all the tasks are easy to learn. The only limitation is having to climb a ladder to get onto the scaffolding.

He shared the photos of parts of the turret:

If you can help any day this week, please e-mail Mike at centerforawesome@gmail.com. (And since 10 am is fast approaching as we publish this, if you’re able to help today, you can likely track him down on site; the park is south of SW Barton, across from the southwest side of Westwood Village.)

Highland Park spray park on the way: Construction milestone

4:55 PM: Thanks to Beef and Mark, both of whom e-mailed notes and photos (that’s Beef‘s picture above) to let us know that demolition is under way at the old Highland Park wading pool, to make way for West Seattle’s first spray park, which will be built in its place. Back when the idea of converting the wading pool into a spray park was first proposed in 2009, construction was expected to start the next year, but there’ve been changes along the way, including extra Parks and Green Spaces Levy money to take the project beyond a bare-bones spray feature. The Seattle Parks project page says it should be done in mid-May and open this summer. That’ll be five years after the wading pool was last open; in late 2008, the federal government mandated safety retrofits that were never installed because Parks expected to redevelop the site. You can see the spraypark’s design plan on the Parks website.

6:39 PM UPDATE: After Beef and Mark sent word of the construction work, we sent an inquiry to project manager Kelly Goold at Seattle Parks, to look for a few more specifics. Kelly’s reply:

Yes, it is exciting news that we are finally breaking ground. Current schedule is to have construction complete and the spray-park operational by May 27th (the typical opening day for spray-parks and wading pools).

Also, the art installation project is moving forward. The artist Leo Berk is doing great work on the project you have described in WSB in previous posts.

The art project involves the building at the site; here’s our report, with renderings, from last November.

For Valentine’s Day and beyond: ‘Not your ordinary speed-dating experience’

Looking for love? Or, at least, like? Your Seattle Parks and Recreation Department‘s West Seattle Community Centers (WSB sponsor) have Recreation Speed-Dating Social events lined up the next two Thursday nights at High Point Community Center.

First, this Thursday, it’s the Valentine’s Day Adult Speed-Dating Social, followed on February 21st by the LGBTQ Adult Speed Dating Social. Both run 5:45-7:45 pm, $20 per person, registration limited to 20 people. Here’s how they work:

Recreation Adult Speed Dating Social is for adults 28-42 to engage in a fun evening of casual interactions and exciting recreation games like nerf dodge ball, tug of war, steal the bacon, and three-legged races.

This is not your ordinary speed-dating experience; dating switches will be initiated by music instead of a bell. There will be 6-minute mini dates and 5-minute recreation game intervals.

Light refreshments will be provided. Waiver and ID will be required for participation. Dress comfortable and casual.

Call 206-684-7422 to sign up.

West Seattle artwork you won’t see unless you’re at sea

(UPDATED WEDNESDAY NIGHT with more photos – scroll down)

ORIGINAL REPORT, 3:33 PM: That photo is from the last item in acting Seattle Parks Superintendent Christopher Williams‘ scheduled briefing at tomorrow morning’s Seattle City Council Parks and Neighborhoods Committee meeting. It’s a sculpture that was privately funded but now stands on Parks-owned land in West Seattle, accessible and visible only from the water. It’s called “Illusion Dweller” and is a stainless-steel work by Gerry Tsutakawa (whose website shows a better view – choose “commissions”). Late last year, Williams’ briefing explains, it was dedicated on the shoreline of the Arroyos Green Space. It was commissioned by Tina Bullitt, widow of Seattle business mogul and philanthropist Stimson Bullitt, who, Williams notes, “donated the 5.7-acre Arroyos Greenspace on which it is situated” and so far is the largest single donor to Seattle Parks and Rec in its history, having also made donations including a 1.6-acre property on Capitol Hill.

Footnote: The writeup in the superintendent’s briefing also mentions the guest list for the sculpture’s private dedication last November. We just noticed, upon a second readthrough – that guest list included the West Seattleite who is making headlines for other reasons today, Sally Jewell.

ADDED 9:31 PM: After seeing this story, Bob Weeks shared photos of the sculpture from a kayaking trip:

And here’s the inscription – a quote from Mr. Bullitt – at its base:

If you check out the artist’s website, you’ll probably recognize more than a few of the commissioned artworks – including the big mitt outside the gates of Safeco Field.

North Delridge notes: Youngstown Flats update; mini-park support needed; NDNC meeting tomorrow

Three notes this afternoon from North Delridge, and two relate to that photo. It’s an aerial view of Youngstown Flats, the 26th/Dakota apartment building whose developers (who provided the photo) now say the almost-200-unit project is 90 days from expected completion in the first week of April. “It’s almost over!” wrote Legacy Partners’ Steffenie Evans in a note to area residents. The crane is expected to come down “within a few weeks,” she adds; workers are currently painting and installing fixtures to finish the apartments’ interiors. Youngstown Flats also will incorporate 14 local artists’ work inside and out, from sculptures to lobby decoration. And sidewalks and landscaping is getting under way along Dakota.

In the lower right of the photo, you see part of the city-owned grassy area known as the Dakota Street Right-Of-Way – an undeveloped street end. As reported here last month, the North Delridge Neighborhood Council is getting a $52,200 city grant for improvements, to make it more of a mini-park and to enhance its access to Longfellow Creek. Area businesses are contributing to the project – including maintenance promised by Youngstown Flats – and now NDNC needs something from you. The city wants the group to ask for community input on the mini-park’s design and materials, so if you have any thoughts on it, now’s the time to speak up! Here’s the park plan for your review. NDNC says even simple comments of support would be great. And if you don’t want to post a comment here, you can also have a say at one of two meetings this week at which it’ll be discussed: NDNC’s monthly meeting tomorrow (Monday, January 14), 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), or the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council on Wednesday (January 16), 7 pm, same building.

Speaking of tomorrow’s NDNC meeting – you’re invited, as always. Other agenda items, according to NDNC’s Kirsten Smith, include the council’s support for other community-grant applications, a visit from School Board rep Marty McLaren, and community crime issues. The meeting room is near Youngstown’s north entrance.

How this distinctive driftwood moved from Lincoln Park to Alki

What was something of a multi-part mystery is solved today. It involves three views of the same situation – and the Seattle Parks explanation. First, we received e-mail wondering about tire tracks in the mud near Colman Pool on the Lincoln Park shore and what looked like possible “vehicle vandalism.” Then, Rob posted the photo above on the WSB Facebook page and asked, “What’s this gigantic tree trunk for? And how much did we all pay for it?” later explaining that the photo was from Alki Beach, where he saw a crew drive up in heavy equipment and drop off the tree. Last but not least, WSB Forums member Debmark posted about missing the tree at Lincoln Park and then noticing it had turned up at Alki. So what happened? Parks’ Joelle Hammerstad replies:

It was a piece of driftwood that had been at Lincoln, and when we had the high tide, it was kind of moving around and we felt it could have been unsafe for park visitors. Fortuitously, we had been looking for some natural material to do a re-landscaping project at Alki Beach and 57th Ave SW where the restrooms are. So, we included it in the project. With it being up and out of the water, the driftwood will last longer, and provides an attractive and interesting centerpiece to the project.

No added cost to the project, Parks adds. Side note: At least one other distinctive piece of driftwood did move from Lincoln Park during the December king tides; we received a Beach Drive photo from someone who found the one that had been carved by artists on the LP beach last year.

West Seattle storm damage: Lincoln Park pounded

(EARLIER COVERAGE: Our as-it-happened morning storm coverage with video and photos is here)

With all of West Seattle’s west/northwest-facing shoreline getting pounded by this morning’s high-tide/high-wind double-punch, and Lincoln Park has suffered some damage, shown in photos by Trileigh Tucker:

That hole in the top of the seawall was being checked out by Seattle Parks workers while Trileigh was there:

Parks’ media liaison Dewey Potter is checking for us to find out if any damage has been officially tallied in local parks so far. Meantime, Scott Bessho also shared photographs from the north side of Lincoln Park:

That was the most striking view – debris all over the north end of the waterfront trail, just before the park makes way for the south end of residential Beach Drive. We’ll add any information we get later about park damage. we also have another set of photos coming up that shows how it went at Constellation Park – this area’s most-popular wave-watching spot – this morning.

Fauntleroy Community Association board sets date for Lincoln Park mega-meeting

First of two notes from Tuesday night’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting: The date’s set for a big FCA community meeting about Lincoln Park – April 23, 2013. When the board talked about it last month, they were focusing on something earlier in the year, but last night, president Bruce Butterfield pointed out that since they hope to follow up the meeting with a park tour a week or so later, April would be better than February. The board has formed a committee to plan the agenda, with presentations by Parks, animal control – given ongoing concerns about off-leash dogs, also discussed last month – and nature groups suggested, along with park history. (Update #2 later today will include the latest on the schoolhouse renovations.)

Council committee OK’s 40th SW parkland deal: ‘Dream acquisition’

Followup on Seattle Parks‘ proposed purchase of a quarter-acre at 4731 40th SW (map) for a future city park, across from the 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW mega-project: The council Parks and Neighborhoods Committee gave its unanimous blessing today to the $1.4 million purchase, to be funded by city Parks and Green Spaces Levy money. The committee, headed by Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, was told that Parks originally was focused on a parcel adjacent to Dakota Place Park, and might still pursue it in the future, but decided to go for this one right now; one city staffer called it a “dream acquisition” since it’s rare “open space” in the urban core. They also noted they had sought community comments (including via this WSB coverage). The committee was also told that assuming full Council approval is forthcoming, the purchase should close fairly quickly. (Money for actually developing it into a park would have to be found elsewhere.) You can watch the 10-minute discussion and vote by picking up the clip above at 19:30.

West Seattle wildlife: Lincoln Park owl; your chance to see more

Thanks to Trileigh Tucker for sharing her photo of a barred owl at Lincoln Park this past Saturday; Trileigh writes, “I went out to the park … to take advantage of the brief sunshine and got lucky! It’s been so dark and dreary that I thought an owl encounter might be just the thing. The eagles are also soaring around and calling, although they haven’t yet started working on their nest, so this should be an exciting winter…” Trileigh has written about her latest sighting on her website, naturalpresence.wordpress.com.

Also on the Lincoln Park owl front:

West Seattle naturalist Stewart Wechsler has just scheduled his first guided night hike in a while, heading out to look and listen for owls at Lincoln Park this Saturday night. More information, and registration, is available via his website – go here.

Proposed park purchase in Junction goes to Council committee next week

The City Council Parks and Neighborhoods Committee will be asked next Thursday to approve the proposed purchase of a quarter-acre vacant lot at 4731 40th SW, as a future park site. According to documents made public today, they would be authorizing a purchase price of up to $1,440,000. We first reported four weeks ago on the city’s plan to buy the property with money from the Parks and Green Spaces Levy, approved by voters in 2008, including a $24 million acquisition fund to buy potential parkland in areas that don’t have enough – including The Junction. The price tag does not include money to actually turn it into a park; that would have to come from some other source at a later date. If the committee gives its approval on Thursday (December 6th), the full City Council would then be asked for final approval.

Parks levy Opportunity Fund: South Park, Genesee Hill rate highly in staff review

Along the road to winning funding from the Seattle Parks and Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund, community-generated proposals from around the city have now been rated by Parks staffers. The levy’s Oversight Committee (which is chaired by West Seattleite Pete Spalding) heard the staff’s recommendations when its members met Monday night. In this region of the city, the two top-rated proposals were the South Park Plaza and Genesee Hill Park projects – the former recommended for its full funding request of $669,000, the latter recommended for $650,000 of its $750,000 request. The Genesee Hill project would develop a neighborhood park for the area, which currently doesn’t have one, and is blocked from using much of the currently vacant (but soon to be built on) Genesee Hill Elementary site; the South Park project involves creating a public park/plaza in the downtown area by the river and new bridge (scheduled to open in early 2014). This doesn’t mean other proposals are completely ruled out, nor does it mean these two are shoo-ins; as laid out in the timeline on the right side of this city webpage, presentations are planned in January, and the committee discusses prioritizations in February, with a public hearing in March and recommendations made to the City Council in April.

Parks to cut 22 ‘hazardous alder trees’ along West Seattle road

(Photo provided by Seattle Parks)
Seattle Parks says it’s hired a crew to cut 22 trees along SW Jacobsen, which runs east from Beach Drive at the south end of the Emma Schmitz Viewpoint waterfront. Spokesperson Dewey Potter explains:

This is to let you know that Parks is hiring a contractor to remove some hazardous alder trees along SW Jacobsen Rd., which runs through Me-Kwa-Mooks natural area. There are 22 trees identified for removal; all have either dead tops, advanced decay, severe leans and/or compromised structure. All have been rated at 11 points out of 12 on the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA): http://www.isa-arbor.com/ hazard evaluation form.

The trees have had signs on them for several months indicating that they are to be removed. One neighbor responded that she was concerned about migratory bird nesting, so Parks delayed the project until well after nesting season. In the field, several neighbors have expressed concerns about the trees because of falling branches or failing trees, and are happy that we are taking action. There is parking along the road and frequent pedestrian and vehicle traffic, which is endangered by falling limbs or whole tree failures. There have been several whole tree failures across the street in the past several years. The tree crew has done clearance and hazard mitigation pruning within the past year, but based on their aerial inspections, they report that the trees had defects that pruning could not correct. Given the species and conditions of the trees and site conditions, our professional arborists think that removing these trees is a necessary action to protect people and property.

Parks bid out the project, and the successful bidder is Asplundh Tree Expert Co. The contractor will be responsible for traffic control and chipping and removing logs.

Potter says the work will start on December 3rd.

West Seattle sports: Hiawatha Red Hots’ volleyball success

(L to R in front row, Emma, Regan, Anni, Tess; back row, Ci, Allison, Meredith, Megan, Coach Steve, Emily; photo by Izzie Lewis)
Congratulation to those nine intrepid volleyball players, the “Red Hots” from Hiawatha Community Center, and their coach Steve Fredrickson, who tells the story of what happened right before that photo was taken:

Seattle Parks & Recreation held their City-wide Girls Volleyball Jamboree last Saturday the 17th at the Rainier Community Center. The age brackets participating included 10-11, 12-13 and 14-17 years old. Eight Community Centers were represented, including Hiawatha and Alki. The Jamboree was an all-day affair, starting at 9:30 and wrapping up shortly after 7:00 pm. One of the Hiawatha 12-13 teams – The Red Hots – made it all the way to the Championship Match. They ended up taking second place, just falling short to a very good team from Magnuson.

I wanted to give a “supreme shout out” to our ‘red hot’ girls for the great effort they gave throughout the day, along with the other teams from Hiawatha and Alki; West Seattle was well-represented! I would like to acknowledge the girls who made the season happen: Allison, Anni, Ci, Emily, Emma, Megan, Meredith, Regan and Tess. Along with the girls, I would also like to thank all the parents for their support, and to Jack (Tess’s younger brother) for his tireless work shagging balls during practices and line judging at matches.

Has Lincoln Park gone to the dogs? Fauntleroy Community Association tackling topic

The subject of off-leash dogs in Lincoln Park – a violation of city/park rules – was the hottest topic on the agenda for this month’s Fauntleroy Community Association board meeting. A bigger discussion is on the horizon, and you’ll be invited. But in the meantime, violators are on notice:

Click to read the rest of Has Lincoln Park gone to the dogs? Fauntleroy Community Association tackling topic…

Roxhill Castle work party set for Tuesday: Can you help?

(WSB photo from last Wednesday)
After the five days of intensive volunteer work that built the Roxhill Castle play area, volunteer organizer Mat McBride mentioned that a work party would be scheduled for finishing touches. Tonight we just got word of the date – Denise Nelsen writes they are looking for “anyone wanting to help out with the final steps,” particularly “experienced craftspeople and volunteers,” this Tuesday (November 13th), 10 am till dark. “Just show up in warm clothing….they have tools, and gear. It is a great opportunity to help the community and do something different. The kids will love it for years and years!” Scroll through this archive to see previous WSB coverage, including the announcement that the grand opening is expected to be on December 22nd.

Roxhill Castle update: Grand opening planned for December 22

Another update tonight on the Roxhill Castle playground project, almost complete after five extensive days of volunteer work: Volunteer organizer Mat McBride says, “We are targeting the first day of Winter Break, 12/22/12, for the opening of the Castle Park.” (The adjacent skatespot, still under construction, will open separately, at another date.) The finishing touches include a new treatment for the “castle roof,” McBride explains: “Cool as the metal surface is, that’s only the superstructure for a mosaic sculpture. Originally, it was set to look like all of the other crenellations, but local amazing human Mike Henderson was assigned to work it. Mike had other ideas, which he shared with Barry [from Leathers and Associates], and we decided to go with it, on the spot. Because of the unique nature of this park build, we could do that.” He added that other “sculpture elements” are under consideration.

Followup: New slide in place & in play at Myrtle Reservoir Park

Thanks to Amy for sharing the photo from the Myrtle Reservoir Park playground and this report:

Eleanore and Mimi (were the) first kids to use the new slide after they removed the yellow tape about 12:45 pm today.

Checking the WSB archives, we are reminded that the Myrtle slide was taken out nine months ago after a nationwide recall following at least 16 injuries involving that particular type of slide.

Roxhill Castle ’99 percent done’: See what the community built!

After five days of hard work by volunteers – with lots of community support, from food donations to West Seattle Tool Library tools – only finishing touches remain at Roxhill Castle, the new play structure in Roxhill Park, right next to where a skatespot is under construction. Volunteer coordinator Mat McBride tells WSB some site cleanup remains, and “one last punch-list work party” will be scheduled.

A few volunteers, plus a rep from Seattle Parks, are on site again today. They described it as 99 percent complete. McBride says they’re also planning to create a “Friends Of …” group for the playground, so be on the lookout for that.

In this video mentioned in WSB comments on an earlier story, he mentions how he got involved – someone commented on a WSB report during playground-design meetings that no kids had been there to offer their opinion. So he brought his. And the rest was history – to be enjoyed by the generations of kids ahead who will play on the new Roxhill Castle.

Roxhill Castle, as day 4 ends: ‘We need more help!’

The guy in the navy sweatshirt and blue jeans in the center of that photo from the Roxhill Castle community-build site, about an hour ago, is Barry. He’s from Leathers and Associates, which made the play equipment volunteers are putting up, the replacement for a beloved structure that L&A also made, and that was also community-built back in the mid-’90s. He’s the guy who knows how it’s going, we were told. His summary: “We need more help. Tell people to get down here. One more day.” Volunteers have been working their hearts out, but they’re a cavalry, when this is a big-enough project for an army:

What happens if not enough show up? we asked Barry. “It won’t be as nice as it could be,” he replied, gruffly (his nickname is “Barry the Barracuda,” we learned). So if you can possibly spare some time tomorrow – help make sure it IS as nice as it could be; everybody who is and has been there has labored mightily toward that goal:

The playground is on the 29th SW side of the park, south of Barton, across from the south side of Westwood Village. Just show up – once they’re done for the evening, they’ll be starting up again around 8 am.

Progress report: Roxhill Castle, going into day 4

As former devotees of the old Roxhill Castle play structure – when our now-teenager was playground age – we were surprised to see, on a visit at sunset tonight, how much the in-progress new Roxhill Castle reminds us of its predecessor. Even the components alongside the main structure:

That was the point, of course – why community members and the project team ultimately fought to get a replacement structure that wasn’t “just like every other playground nowadays,” though it cost a bit extra and required the community construction work that is happening right now.

Two more days of construction are scheduled – and as one volunteer wrote in a comment on the photo gallery published here earlier today, “WE NEED YOU!” We noticed in our end-of-day visit that there’s plenty of room for more volunteers. Your help would be the icing on the cake – or perhaps, the turret on the castle:

They’re scheduled to be back at work at 8 tomorrow morning at the park along 29th SW south of Barton – more info here. If it’s any incentive – local businesses have been donating food, including a round of Zippy’s Giant Burgers (as noted on Facebook tonight) and Stuffed Cakes (as noted on FB last night).

Video: Roxhill Castle rising, as volunteers go into Day 3

In photojournalist Nick Adams‘ video updating the volunteer construction under way for Roxhill Castle, the voice you hear is that of Mat McBride, a longtime community advocate who has been the volunteer ringleader for the effort to get the play structure built. This afternoon will mark the midway point of the five-day build, whose roots go back more than 4 years, to the project list for the Parks and Green Spaces Levy, which included money for renovating Roxhill Playground. Now, the actual construction of the new Roxhill Castle is here, powered by hundreds of volunteers.

It’s also powered by tools from the West Seattle Tool Library:

See more of how Roxhill Castle is rising, in 15 photos ahead:
Click to read the rest of Video: Roxhill Castle rising, as volunteers go into Day 3…

Happening now: Roxhill Castle playground construction, day 2

Thanks to Joe Szilagyi for sending video and photos showing what’s happening today at the Roxhill Castle volunteer-powered construction site at Roxhill Park in Westwood. It’s day 2 of the project – with volunteers working all day (in shifts), rain or shine, for five days, to put up the play structure that replaced its also-community-built predecessor. Still lots of opportunities for YOU to help – this page on the Roxhill Castle website explains how, or just drop by the park (29th SW at Barton) and get going.

5:35 PM UPDATE: Just received photos from Lisa Stencel, who says, “It’s looking great!” as day 2 of (projected) 5 wraps up:

Every volunteer makes a difference!

In case you weren’t keeping track – a skatespot is being built right next to the Roxhill playground (though that one is NOT a volunteer operation), so this is going to be a recreation hotspot more than ever before.